w I i It 1 K 'l '5JP IF Missouri Yet Leads in The Commoner. the Primary Pledge VOLUME' 6, 'NUMBER J List i Now InloroBL In Jill sections of tho country luiB recently boon awakened In The Commoner b rimary ploilgo plan and as a result of tho friend y confpetitlon among democrats some changes havo li kon place In tho standing of Btntos with respect to Uio number of pledges returned to Tho Commoner olllco. Missouri yet stands at tho bond of tho column and West Vlrg n la io tulns unchallenged the second place. But Indiana, which u few months ago atood eighth on the list, lias by ronflon of tho activity of Indiana demo cruts moved up to third place. Kentucky, which was so far down tho list that its position was not designated has now taken seven h fo, whilo Jown, which was tenth in the lino now comofl otolith. Tho Htanding of tho respective states and ter ritories in tho number of primary pledges re turnoil to Tho Commoner office is as follows: 1 Missouri 2 West Virginia 3 Indiana 4 Ohio r Oklahoma G Illinois 7 Kentucky 8 Iowa 9 Indian Territory 10 Kansas 11 Pennsylvania 12 Tomicssoo lii Arkansas 14 New York 15 Nebraska 10 California 17 Oregon 18 Virginia 19 Minnesota 20 Wisconsin 21 Now Jersoy 22 Michigan 23 South Dakota 21 Washington Tho actlvo interest in connection with tho already had say nothing 25 Alabama 20 Colorado 27 North Carolina 28 North Dakota 29 Montana 30 Florida 31 Louisana 32 Mississippi 33 Maryland 34 Connecticut 35 Now Hampshiro 30 Nevada 37 Idaho 38 Arizona 39 Vermont 40 Georgia 41 Now Mexico 42 Mnlno 43 Utah 44 Delaware 45 Massachusetts 40 South Carolina 47 Washington, D. 48 Wyoming 49 Rhode Island C manifested by democrats primary pledge plan has good results in various states, to ? or tne uencnts certain to accrue to tho party gonorally because of an aroused inter est on tho part of tho rank and file In tho party's primaries. The Commoner renews its appeal to every domocrat In the United States to co-operate with tho primary pledgo plan, and to organize to tho end that party conventions may bo controlled by tho rank and file and party platforms written and candidates chosen with an eye single to the public welfare. As UIb copy of Tho Commoner may bo read by some one not familiar with the details of tho primary pledge plan, It Is necessary to say that according to tho terms of this plan every domo crat is asked to pledgo himself to attend all of tho primaries of his party to be held between now and tho next democratic national convention, unless unavoidably prevented, and to secure a clear, honest and straightforward declaration of tho 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 object of the organiza tion and asking to have their names entered on the roll, or they can till out and mall tho blank pledge, which is printed on this page. JUxtracts ' monor offlce from letters follow: recelvod at Tho Com- primary 1908 bo I cast inate a man not have to disgrace A. M. McBrlde, Ava, I11.-I enclose a list of signatures to tho primary pledge. This makes llfty-six T havo sent In. J. O. Jones, Birta, Ark. Enclosed you will find list of tho voters who reside in my town ship. Not having tho time to personally inter view them regarding tho primary pledge plan, I send you their names that you can send each a sample copy of The Commoner which will speak for itself in this regard. I am giving my Commoners to others to rend as soon as I finish them myself. I have always attended pri maries since T havo been of legal ago. W. H. Tisch. Grass Lake, Mich. -I enclose a subscription card Avlth amount to pay for same I have ono card loft, and will try to dispose of It as soon as possible. I nlso enclose two pri mary pledges, properly signed, ono bv mvself and tho other by Mr. Fred Artz. Mr. Artz is an old gentleman about seventy years old. He has always voted tlu democratic ticket, and alwavs attended primaries when hnni.h Wni,i 'ti ' I lii his democratic neighbors to sign the n edge the democratic party would in pieugo, uu- u n,fnvxvhn) mtnr v ctory. my E vote at the last election. I nop the SnoS .r.farty wl.1 adopt a plattprm an nom- in 1908, SO tnai rum uuuiw-1 "" themselves ny vuuhb - r .1 An in fiivjinl'ed narty as tnoy were iuicuu jv 1904. Please send me twenty-five primary pledge blttUII ' H. Reitz, Donnellson, Ia.-I enclose a pri mary pledge signed by thirty-five voters. E. F. Penrod, Sterling, O.-Register my name as a signer of the primary pledge plan. I would bo greatly pleased to learn that there were at least one hundred Commoners sent to every post office in. this country, for were such the case the reform movement would soon be a settled tact solemnly written on the statute books of our nation. , . J. W. Whitney, Melvern, Kans. Enclosed find tho names of nine Jefferson democrats. As soon as I can find the time will try to get more signatures to the primary pledge, as I think it is of vital interest to all good citizens, whether democrat or republican, white or black. Ben N. Moore, Flushing, N. Y. I pledge my self to work for democratic principles in 1908. There are some democrats who think they should break away from the democratic party in 1906 and nominate a municipal ownership man for governor of New York state. If they do this it will only be a great republican victory in the state. The only way to do is 'to get the reforms in the democratic party. If there were a mu nicipal ownership party it would take years to get' the party strong. We must get those reforms in the democratic party. This year was my first vote. It was a straight democratic ticket. The last election from Ohio means a democratic vic tory in 1908. L. W. Timby, Salt Lake City, Utah Enclosed find primary pledge with thirty-five names at tached, the result of one evening's work while attending the Democratic One Dollar Banquet, given in honor of our chairman and secretary. Covers were laid for 250 and every seat was occupied by a democrat. May The Commoner live long to spread the good old Jeffersonian democracy, is the wish of your co-worker. I hope that the democrats of the nation may realize the importance of attending the primaries before it is too late. Alfred Moore, Los Angeles, Calif. I enclose primary pledge petition signed by six good demo crats. ,, J. H. Warrick, Elkton, Ohio I enclose primary pledge with eighteen signatures. John Roush, Lewis, la. Enclosed I send pri mary pledge with twenty names of good and true democrats who will always be ready to give a good account of themselves when opportunity offers. W. F. Gum, Palmer, W. Va. Find herewith primary pledge with thirty-five signatures. Lewis Strong, Myrtle Point, Oregon The po litical pot will soon commence to simmer in Oregon, and as a democrat I deem it my duty to sign the primary pledge and do what I can which years. as tho a for tho success of the democratic party for t hnvn voted and worked the last forty mMn nro .looking brighter in politics nninmon neonle seem to be coming to their senses. It will soon bo time for boodlers and grafters to walk the gang plank. President Roosevelt, I am glad to say, has done much but there Is much more that he can and no doubt .will do to better conditions in the government, gf D. W. Clark, Julietta, Ind. I enclose a pri mary pledge signed by twelve democrats. M. A. Neff, president Guarantee Advertising Co., Cincinnati, Ohio Enclosed please find my primary pledge. I hope to be able to send you in a number of pledges as soon as. my business rush is over. O. M. Frasier, Fort Gay, W. va. I enclose a primary pledge with thirty-five signatures; O. E. Hulehan, Deer River, Minn. Find here with primary pledge. I have signed this pledge because I am in favor of the plan and think it a step in the right direction. Bert McMullen and R. Cook of Richwood, Mo. send a nice list of signatures to the primary pledge. F. M. Whittaker, Covington, Pa. Find en closed a list of twenty-six names of democrats who have subscribed to the primary pledge. I also send three new subscribers for The Com moner, and hope to send more in the future. C. H. Ayers, Lakenan, Mo. Enclosed you will find primary pledge signed by twenty-two demo- R. A. Wapper, Bonnie, 111. Find herewith pri mary pledge signed by twenty. Milton Nees, New Ross, Ind. I sign this pledge because I believe it to be the best anti boss and anti-ring movement before the common people. It is genuine democracy. W. J. .Montgomery, Longton, N.M. Enclosed find my primary pledge. I am a democrat as taught by Bryan and Jefferson. Father and I have read The -Commoner for four years and believe in all its teachings. Please send me twenty pledges that I may do some missionary work for democracy. J. P. McEwon, West Tampa, Fla. Enclosed find primary pledge signed by nine; good men; they all like Mr. Bryan's-, plan r-for uniting, the democratic party. J. T. Vaughan, Alvardo, Tex. Put me on your list as a strong believer in the primary pledge plan. The Commoner is the best moral political paper I ever read. I like Richard L. Metcalfe fine. He writes such good, wholesome pieces. J. W. Canaday, Neeses, S. C. Herewith primary pledge with eighteen signatures. I can vassed just one block and got the eighteen signers. F. H. Bode, Springfield, 111. Enclosed find primary pledge which I signed merely "to be in line," as I have never allowed myself to miss voting. George H. Thompson, Lake, Ind. I enclose primary pledge bearing thirty-five names of Jef fersonian democrats. I feel proud to see so 'much enthusiasm shown among the democrats in our precinct. May the good work of The Commoner's plan of organization move on until every demo crat's name is enrolled on the list of pledges. THE PRIMARY PLEDGE I promise to attend all the primaries of-my party to be held between now and the next Democratic National Convention, unless unavoidably prevented, and to use my influence to secure a clear, honest and straightforward declaration of tho party', position ou every question upon which the voters of the party desire to speak. Street. Signed . Postoflice r State. County. "Voting precinct or ward. Or Fill out Bhutto and mail to Commoner Offlce, Lincoln, Nebraska. puiqjt is my morelW idea thak if overv rtmrmnt ii l ' " ""' -uiu Bt vfr sbmo: - some 'k 4 -. 1V , .. . - -V VV. "' l "-HywMW4 III , ,, , I .f U i .