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OCTOBER 251907
The Commoner.
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ralorom. Tariff revision is a task which con
$t$&& must undertake in good time for the whole
country. It can not be accomplished in one
schedule and not In others that Is, the rovislon
6f one schedule at a time is Impossible under
the conditions which govern such legislation and
which have their foundation in human nature.
Understanding this, the publishers of newspapers
supporting the general fiscal system of the
United States will act with dignity and reason
ableness in the matter of the paper tariff, as in
other matters, notwithstanding the fact that
there are restless individuals among thdm en
deavoring to precipitate a stampede."
Some of the gentlemen who write the edi
torials are managing to "act with dignity and
reasonableness in the matter of the paper tariff,"
but the man In the counting room who has to
make both ends meet seems to have lost his
tlignity entirely.
The Wisconsin says "there are those who
doubt that paper would bo cheaper under free
trade than it is now," but evidently they do not
Inhabit the business office of a daily newspaper.
The "restless individuals" comprise the over
whelming majority of newspappr publishers and
The Commoner makes bold to say that even the
business office of the Evening Wisconsin is not
an exception to the rule.
OOOO r
SELF INTERPRETING
Senator Burkett of Nebraska, referring to
the published statement that President Roose
velt had bitterly criticised the anti-injunction
plank adopted by the republican state conven
tion said: "I am sure that upon a fuller under
standing of the real meaning of the plank of the
platform of the republican party In Nebraska"
he Is not so critical as might have been in
ferred from some of the accounts printed of the
interview."
The plank referred to is as follows: "We
favor the enactment of a federal statute, and if
need be an amendment to the federal consti
tution, which will forbid the federal courts from
Issuing writs of injunction against officers
charged by the law with the enforcement of
state statutes."
That plank is self-interpreting. "The real
meaning of the plank" can not be misrepresent
ed. Manifestly it Is a declaration in behalf of
the rights of the states; manifestly it Is a pro
test against Mr. Roosevelt's policy of central
ization. OOOO
EARNING THE TITLE
In his speech before the Philippine assem
bly Secretary Taft said that the policy of this
government "must logically result finally in .
ending the sovereignty of the United States un
less both peoples agree to retain the bond owing
to mutually beneficial trade relations."
In the same speech Mr. Taft said that he
did not think the Filipinoes would be fit for self
government for at least a generation.
In the opinion of Mr. Taft the American
people must have tariff revision; but not now,
not now. They must trust the republican party.
In the opinion of Mr. Taft the United
. States must withdraw from the Philippines, giv
ing the people of those islands self-government;
but not now, not now. The Filipinos must trust
the republican party.
Surely Mr. Taft is proving his right to the
title of "the Great Postponer."
OOOO
WHY NOT?
In his address to the Philippine assembly
Secretary Taft said that the present day policy
of the American government "must logically re
sult finally in ending the sovereignty of the
United States unless both peoples agree to retain
the bond owing to mutually beneficial trade re
. lations."
Then what objection is there to the propo
sition that the American congress shall frankly
say that the purpose of the American govern
ment is to deal with the Fillplnoaas It has. dealt
iiylth the Cubans, giving to the Filipinos the
right of self-government?
OOOO
WELCOME
The Philadelphia North American, a stal
wart champion of Mr. Roosevelt, says that the
president is now engaged in building up "a
new republican parjlfy." The North American
explains: "The new republican party, which
the supporters of the administration' will or
ganize if they control the convention, will be a
national party. Its aim will bo the upbuilding
of the nation with tho individual members of
the great population regarded as tho most im
portant component parts of the nation'
In other words tho authority of tho states
in local matters, so far as great corporations
are concerned, is to be blotted out. Welcome
to tho "now republican party" wolcomo "with
bloody hands to an hospitable grave."
oooo
AN HONEST GAME
Bnseball maintains its hold on tho Amer
ican public because it is not only a manly sport
but an honest sport. How honest It is has
been demonstrated by the championship games
between tho champion teams of tho two great
baseball organizations. Tho Chicago "Cubs,"
champions in their league, contested with tho
Detroit "Tigers," champions In their league.
Seven games were to bo played, and tho gate
receipts were to be divided among tho players.
Had the seven games been played probably
$125,000 would have thus been furnished for
division. Other sports might have been "fixed"
so as to keep tho public in suspenso and thud
get its money, but baseball is not "fixed." There
were but four games, for tho "Cubs" won four
straight games and the world's championship.
Nothing would prove more conclusively tho hon
esty of tho great national pastime. And that
is one reason why tho people love it and sup
port it royally. Managers of other sports who
look to the public for support might ponder,
over this fact with benefit to themselves.
OOOO
REGRET '
.The Chicago Record-Herald, a newspaper
that recently opposed Mayor Dunn and support
ed Mr. Busse, the republican nominee, says:
"Mayor Busse's course in Ignoring tho offenses
of tho hundred saloonkeepers recently convicted
in the criminal court of violating tho state laws,
and permitting them to retain their licenses and
continue their offenses, has just this effect. It
is a mistake to say that Mayor Busse Is tho
patron of tho liquor interests of Chicago. What
ho really is the patron of is the lawbreaklng
and persistently lawdefying elements In that
business."
If the Record-Herald can not lead any bet
ter than it did In the Chicago mayoralty cam
paign it would do well to do a little following
in tho future. Had tho Record-Herald thrown
its great influence to Mayor Dunne these tears
of regret would not be necessary.
OOOO
PUZZLING
The Santa Fe railroad has been convicted
of rebating and will be fined. This is not the
Santa Fe's first offense. It was found guilty
of the same thing two years ago, but tho legal
department of the government decided that as
it was the railroad and not an individual that
paid the rebates, nothing could be done. Where
upon the official who had admitted on the stand
that the rebates had been paid was made secre
tary of the navy. Now the Santa Fo Is convicted
again on the same charge and will bo fined.
There Is something puzzling abbut all this.
OOOO
NOT ALL POWERFUL
William Jennings Bryan is not in close
touch with the metropolitan dailies. Still that
doesn't hurt Mr. Bryan per eptlbly. New York
City is a big spot, but there is a mighty lot of
territory and a large number of people outside
of New York vho think a great deal of tbo Ne
braska statesman. Wheeling W. Va., Register.
OOOO
REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN FUNDS
The Houston (Texas) Post throws light on
a bit of republican buncombe in this way:
"It is announced from Washington that the re-1
publican congressional committee is preparing
to set up a great campaign thunder factory at
thtf federal capital for the purpose of conduct
ing a long, persistent campaign for the control
of the next congress and some people are won
dering where the money Is- to come from, since
it is not probable that tho 'yellow dog' funds
will be available; Don't be alarmed about the
. ability of tho republicans to get money and
plenty of it, and they will get it from the same
old sources in the same old way. So far as
this Washington bureau is concerned, however,
it will be apparent later on that the public itself
will pay the burden of the expenses. The ap
proaching session of congress will witness a
vast outputvof oratory. These speeches will be
printed by the tens of thousands at a nominal
cost and mailed- to all sections of the country
2
under tho congressional frank. Thousands of
tons of documents, prepared for campaign pur
poses, will thus go to tho votors. Tho voter
who gots thin stuff, togothor with seeds, books,
etc., may swell up whon ho thinks of tho cour
tesy of tho congressman In thus remembering
him, but It will not occur to him, perhaps that
ho .is paying for it himself. All tho preaching
wo havo hoard about civic righteousness will
count for little whon tho exigencies of tho cam
paign roquiro monoy. Tho republican manngors
may not got It from Mr. Harrimnn or from tho
lifo insuranco companies, but tho protecto-J
barons aro still lntorcstod In tho Dingloy law
and thoy will havo to pay tho cost of Its mnln
tonanco as usual. Thoy know very well that
tho republican talk of tariff revision is bun
combo and thoy will bo prepared to do business
with tho campaign manngors whon monoy Is
neodod. Of course, these contributions will not
como directly from tho treasuries of the trttHtu
nnd corporations, but It Is merely a raattor of
juggling tho books to transfer tho monoy to
tho hands of somo Individual who will hand it
over. All tho indications are that next year's
contest will bo fought between tho peoplo and
tho money power. Tho democrats will havo less
money than over beforo and tho republicans
Will havo all they need for Jegltlmato purposes
and an abundance with which to buy voters In
tho doubtful states. Tho problem of getting
the money is not troubling tho republican man
ngors In the slightest." i-t
OOOO
FISH AND JIARRIMAN
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Mr. Fish and Mr. Harrlman aro having' a'
dosporato struggle for control of tho Illinois
Central. Tho struggle is costing a lot of money,
but no ono believes that either Mr. Fish or Mr.
Harrlman will pay it out of tholr own pockets.
Who thon? Chiefly tho people who havo to pay
freight rates based on stock consisting largely
of wator. While tho stock Is hclng used as r
financial football between Fish and Harrlman
the peoplo who pay tho freight might Jut'ori
well reach for their pockotbooks and bo ready
when the expenso account Is presented. " '
PLAYFUL
How can a fellow read at all,
I'd like to havo you aay,
Whon you're a-tuggln' at his arm .
,n An' teasln' "Turn an' p'ay,"
r For how can any daddy
Remain seated whero he's at,
Whon a baby Is a-tuggln'
An' a-coaxln him like that? 4
.' There Isn't any story ...
Ever writton, or been planned, ;
That has got the stren'th to hold mo'
Like a baby's dimpled hand; ,
, , There ain't no book nor magazine.
At all around tho place
,'.'. ' That's half so dear an' half so queer
-&- A" sweet as baby s face.
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'Ah' so I lay my magazine
Or paper down an' go
The way ray baby wants mo to,
An' gallop to an' fro;
An' giddap when she ray giddap,
An' gee whon sho says geo;
She doesn't need no Unci at all
Or whip a-drlvln me.
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But when sho's straddle of my back
We havo the mostcst fun;
I scramble all about tho house,
An' bump myself an' run;
' But there ain't nothin' makes her cry,
Nor makes her baby fears;
"It's daddy's back she's straddle of,
She's holding' daddy's ears.
An' so she rides him round tho house,
An'tp an' down the stairs, ' ' .
Into the rooms, an' through the hall,
An' never baby cares
Tho-pace we take at all, at all; .f
Sho's frightened not a bit;
Her daddy Is the horse, an' she ..
'Is safe, an' sure of it.
V-'J
s
But when sho Is abed 'you'd think
I'd read a little then;
I do get out my magazines
An' try now an' again;
But taln't a bit o' uo at all,
For, where there ain't a stir, ' t
I git so lonesome I go In ' (
An' snuggle down by her. '; ", t
-7-J. M. Lewis In Houston (Texas) Post;
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