The Commoner.
WILLIAM J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
Vol. 6. No8
Lincoln, Nebraska, March 9, 1906
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Whole Number 268
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CONTENTS
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.u iJL Mil. Bryan?s ,v Letter
" ". Tillman in Chaege
The "Cutest Thing"
. . - Lessons in Teagedy
The Mysterious Cromwell
. Commoner Day" A Great Success
Primary Pledges ,
"In the Heart of a Seed"
Washington City Letter
Comment on Current Tones
Home Department
Whether Common or Not
News or-the Week
Is the Measure thei Special Property of the Republican Party that is-
'"! '
SENATOR TILLMAN IN CHARGE
The selection of Senator Tillman to manage '
the railroad rate bill in the senate was a wise
one. It is true that Mr. Tillman was chosen at
the suggestion of Senator Aldrich, and by
the vjotes ,of men who are opposed to rail
way rate 'legislation. Doubtless these gentlemen,
had two ends in view. They thought that by
placing the measure in the hands of ademoc"rat
and one between whom and he president friendly
personal relations do not exist, they would, ad
minister a rebuke to Mr. Roosevelt. They also
thought that by putting the measure in charge
of a democrat they would be able to say that it
was not a republican measure, and therefore not
deserving of republican votes.
It is to Mr. Roosevelt's credit that he has
accepted the situation gracefully. He does not
appear to have been at all hurt by the attempted
rebuke. It is true, also, that the fact that the
measure is "in charge of Senator Tillman
inspires confidence among the friends of railway
rate legislation. Whatever Mr. Tillman's critics
may have said, it has never been claimed that
he is under the control of corporation influences.
It is generally agreed that he is a free man, able, .
honesj, and plainspoken, and that he will make
a vigorous fight in behalf of railway rate legisla
tion. Senator Tillman is in .favor of amending
the Hepburn bill, but the amendments he pro
poses will only nlake it more effective in the
way of serving the public interests.
Already it is beginning to dawn upon the
enemies of rate legislation that they made a mis
take when they selected Senator Tillman as the
leader in the senate, and already the American
people are congratulating themselves that for
once in his life Senator Aldrich rendered dis
tinct service to the public. True, in suggesting
Senator Tillman as the manager of th6 fight for
rate legislation, Senator Aldrich did not intend
to act in the public interests. But whatever his
motives may have been, the measure was placed
in the hands of a man in whom the friends of
rate legislation have implicit confidence.
It was the wisest possible selection made at
the suggestion of a man who acted with the
worst possible motives.
JJJ
TELL IT TO YOUR FATHER
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In his Bible class at New York, February 25,
John D. Rockefeller, Jr., said : "Let us so live
that we can walk along the street and look
every one in the eye unflinchingly." Mr. Rocke
feller would do well to give that advice to his
father who is just now a fugitive from the of
ficers of the law. The elder Rockefeller cannot
even "walk along the street," but is hiding
none of the authorities know wherein order
to avoid the service of a writ commanding him
to appear and tell the truth.
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! ' DEMOCRATIC
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RAILROAD
REGULATION 15
A DEMOCRAT'S
SEVAT0K
FORAKER
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First Endorsed by
Democratic Platforms,-
-""Earnestly Denounced by a great
Leader of the Republican Party,
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Rescued from a Hostile
Committee by Democratic votes
and officially championed by
a Democratic Senator?
KOREA--"The Hermit Nation"
MR. BRYAN'S EIGHTH LETTER
Poor little Korea! One hardly knows whether
to be amused or grieved so strangely have comedy
and tragedy been blended in her history.
Mr. Griffiths in his very comprehensive book
bearing that title, calls Korea the "Hermit Na
tion," and-the appellation was a fitting one until
within a generation. Since that time she might
bo described as a bone of contention, for she
has been the cause of several bloody quarrels.
The position of Korea on the map of Asia
very much resembles Florida's position on the
map of North America, and Japan's relative po
sition is something like that which Cuba bears
to Florida. Separated on the south from Japan
by about a hundred miles of water and joining
both China and Russia on the north, it Is not
strange that all three of these nations have looked
,upon her with covetous eyes and begrudged each
other any advantage obtained. The surface of
Korea is quite mountainous, the ranges and val
leys extending for the most part from the north
east to the southwest. Until recently the coun
try was inaccessible and few of the white race
have penetrated the interior. A few years ago
a railroad was built from Seoul thirty-five miles
west to Chemulpo, the nearest seaport. Since
then the Japanese have built a road from Seoul
north to Peng Yang, and southeast to Fusan.
The last line, which has been finished less than
a year, is two hundred and seventy-five miles
long and connects the Korean capital with the
nearest seaport to Japan. This railroad is of
such great military importance to Japan that she
aided the building to the extent of guaranteeing
six per cent interest on the investment for fif
teen years with the provision that the cost o
the road should not exceed twenty-five million
yen. The Korean government gave the right
of way for the road and the free admisslonof
material imported for its construction and equip
ment. The engines and cars are of American
style and make and the road is standard guage.
It Is now so easy to pass through Korea in go
ing from Japan to Peking that the tourlat
should not miss its strange and interesting
sights, but the trip should be made before No
vember. We took the train at Fusan and made
the ride nearly all the way in daylight, thus
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