The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923, December 29, 1905, Page 6, Image 6
IT wwiT- 6 The Commoner, yOIjTJMB. 5, NUMBER ,-ir. 50 v"rK?? $ U :? INDIAN TERRITORY AND THE PRIMARY PLEDGE i sixty years old and feeble; not able to do much but will do what I can. My first vote was for Indian Territory stands tweirtli in the num ber of primary pledges returned to The Commoner ofilco. Indian Territory democrats have dbne great work along the lines of the primary pledge plan of organization. There arc, however, many democrats who have not helped in this work. The interest of these may be aroused if those democrats who have already assisted will renew their activities and bend their energies toward the enrollment in the primary pledge list of every Indian Territory democrat who oelioves that his party should win success by deserving it. The same appeal which The Commoner has made to the democrats of other states, it now makes to the democrats of Indian Territory. Every reador of The Commoner is requested to ask every democrat of his acquaintance to sign the primary pledge and call upon nis own neigh bor to do likewise. If a nuniDer of democrats in every section would organize for the purpose of circulating the primary pledge form, obtain ing the signature of every democrat who is will ing to discharge his duty to his party, the field would be covered in a short time, and the results would count. This work of organization is not to terminate with the signing of the pledge. The interest of democrats onco aroused is to be main tained, clubs are to be organized In every pre cinct, these clubs having for their purpose the promulgation of democratic principles. As this copy of The Commoner may be read by some one not familiar' with the details of the primary pledge plan, it is necessary to say that according to the terms of this, plan every . demo crat is asked to pledge himself to attend all of the primaries,, of his party to be held between now and the next democratic .national convention, unless unavoidably prevented, and to secure a clear, honest 'and straightforward declaration of the party's position on every question upon which the voters of tho party desire to speak. Those desiring to bo enrolled can either write to The Commoner approving the objert of the organiza tion and asking to have their1 names entered on the roll, or they can All out and mail the blank pledge, which is printed on this page. Extracts from letters to The Commoner, fol low: N. W. Cochran, Waterford, Ky. I have long since signed and sent the primary pledge. " The effect of the primary pledge is seen in the' re cent elections in Ohio and elsewhere. All good democrats are now cheering the plan. J. H. Chandler, Des Moines, la. Enclosed find six signatures to the primary pledge. C. W. Bell, Lineville, Ala. I enclose twenty six signatures to the primary pledge. C. W. Ludtke, Dartford, Wis.- Find en closed the signatures of twelve good democrats. They all live in Green Lake county and repre sent in main the county .board. I went to the court house while they were in session and pro cured their names. D. F. Thompson, Kent, 111. Enclosed primary pledge signed. It is a great pleasure to me to sign it. I am also proud that I am a democrat. In 1896 the enemies of democracy and the haters of the Declaration of Independence told us that it would be lowering the standard of honor to elect the democrat candidates. By such false statements as these and others they won the presidency. One of the features of that victory is a prolific crop of degenerated statesmen and officeholders. As soon as a public scandal is probed, among the first to show up, is a gold standard United States senator. Col. Bryan was right when he declared for publicity in all the dealings of public corporations. This would give a wholesome growth for honesty in all our pub lic industries. The country is under great obli gations to William R. Hearst for the influence that he is wielding for publicity through his great chain of newspapers. Let every one who is in terested Jn the enforcement of all laws and a square deal for all, pull off his coat and roll up his sleeves and resolve that we will see that none but honest men are placed upon tho demo cratic ticket from president down to coroner, then put forth every humble effort to elect it. Then - and not until then will success perch upon our banner and victory smih, upon our efforts. W." E. Plauger, Seven Fountains, Va. En closed find primary pledge signed by 20 democrats in my precinct. I would urge all democrats everywhere to fall in line with the organisation plan as sot forth in the primary pledge. Though s'mple in language it is the great central power to victory. I realize the good work The Com moner is doing, -and would urge all who are in terested in sound, clean politics, to read The Commoner. John C. Lawyer, TJrbana, Ul.Before I left homo some six weeks ago I signed ithe primary pledge, and two or three days before I left I re ceived the enclosed blank. I had. .only time to get a few signers. But there are many ready tc sign if some one lays it before them. T. J. Warren, Girard, Kan. I enclose list of signatures to the primary pledge. Please send mo another blank, and I w'll try" to get more. G. W. B. Faurot, Kenton, Ohio. Enclosed find a list of signers to the primary pledge. I have been kept so close at home on account of sickness and 'my work on the farm that I could not spare the time necessary to secure more. I trust that the good work will continue until the voting classes will be aroused and. they will be permitted to take an active part in all primaries. I have advocated this doctrine for years, and am truly glad that The Commoner -has taken hold of the good work, and that the people .seem to take that interest in the movement which speaks of better things to come. S. G. Buchner, editor Industrial Tribune, Co rona, N. Y. Enclosed you will find my primary pledge. I hope Mr. Bryan will succeed in restor ing the party of the people to its rightful owners. The fact that the leaders of the political trust are becoming alarmed over his successful efforts is a fair indication that he will accomplish his desires. There is no doubt that the "God and morality" party has fallen upon dangerous lines. The Phariseeism of the political charlatans and the pious, religious frauds has about run its course irt this country. Fortunately the people are beginning to wake up. The coming exposures concerning -Tammany hall's attempt to steal the recent elections in this greater New York City, will be another powerful educator in the work of political redemption. Let the truth be Imown and the truth will make the people free. G. L. Goodin, Calhoun, Mo. I herewith send my pledge, with seventeen others. I think the plan all right, but the central committee should give at least thirty days' notice in order to give the voters amrle time. I also think that they should post bills notifying them of the call, for" there are so many that do not take any paper and know but little of what is going on. I also send a club of subscribers for The Commoner. Frank W. Stafford, Tarkio, Missouri. I think your primary pledge a good thing, for it may possibly cause the more Intelligent and bet ter class of men to be at the primaries. The great trouble is that the brighter men who would be discriminating in their judgment of men and public questions attend to . business and allow others to look after the preliminaries, and allow those who are totally ignorant of the basic prin ciple's of government or economics to be the foun tain from which we drink the carefully compound ed ingredients of democracy. R. S. Breeden, Philadelphia, Tenn. I am dun. jjiiviB, uuu j. iiuvu not misseu a chance to vote. I. N. Campbell, Denver, Colo. Please find enclosed twenty-eight name's signed to primary pledge. I will vouch for every one of them as true blue democrats, and all indorse Mr. Bryan's plan of organization and Lope it will be successful. Ira F. Cowger, Pugh, W. Va. I take plpasure in enclosing you a list of names of democrats who in my opinion ar the true "grit" and will stand by their party through "thick and thin." I have not interviewed all these parties since re ceiving the pledge, but I have taken an active part in every campaign for the last eight years, and I know the true and untrue. I would bo pleased to do anything that will further tho interests of my party, and "anything th-" I can do, you have only to command me. C. C. Rowe, Orrick, Mo. 1 sent you my sis nature to the primary pledge some time ago, and I herewith send you 43 signatures to the same. I cast my first vote for president for Bryan in 189G and in 1900 I voted for him again. In 1904 I voted for Parker. W. L. LaFollette, Butler, Mo. Enclosed find primary pledge with 28 signatures. J. R. Hopper, Neoga, 111. I enclose list of sig natures to the primary pledge. I am almost 74 years old, and a lifelong democrat. H. N. Keethler, Mt. Ovab, O. Find enclosed primary pledg 3. All the signers are true demo crats. We live in a county that has always i)ne democratic by seven or eight hundred, but in the landslide Just passed, we carried it by 1,025 ma jority. George Hudson, Jamesvil e, Va. I send a primary pledge signed' by 8 d-mocrt.. . E. J. Singhans, Osmond, Neb. Enclosed find primary pledge signed by 11. I may be able to getmore this winter. Keep the good work mov ing, and all will be well. T. R. Spalding, Howardstown, Ky. I need no urging to comply with any request made in behalf of tru- democracy, having voted for it in 1896 and 1900, and being willing to - tinue along the same lines till Gabriel toots. When I think and see the people are so blinded to their own interests I'm astonished. The West fooled me, with the East I was not surprised, the North was conceded, but, thank God, the South remained true to the faith of the fathers. I have now passed the meridian of life, but I hope to live long enough to see an honest democrat in the White House. We were defeated in 1S9G by both money and treachery. With the McCalls, the Wattersons, the Hills and eKry trust against us, we carried nearly seven million of honest democrats. Our little town is the banner town. Every one to a man stands for principles advocated by The Commoner. I. sendyou eighty four signaturex to the primary l "edc - I nave but little tiirie to canvass, and am nearly blind, having to wear the best of eye-glasses to see how to write, but I hope that what I may do will be of some assistance to The Commoner and its editor. - ' THE PRIMARY PLEDGE i,. I promise to attend all the primaries of my party -to be held between now and tfye next Democratic National Convention, unless unavoidably prevented, and to use ray influence to. secure a clear, honest and straightforward declaration of the party's position' on every question upon which the voters of the party desire to speak. Street. Signed Postoffice. State. County. Voting precinct or ward. IST, Fill out Blanks and mall to Commoner Office, Lincoln, Nebraska; - j..- i.J .u. U4lJ'.Ajf,Mlfe 4kt &&