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The Commoner.
VOLUME 7, NUMBER 49
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tmtHUmmmm' fr iftti ft i m w "a -g f ' !rn m 8 " n ""'
Representative Fulton of Okla
homa has Introduced a resolution
providing for the establishment in
federal law of tho principles of the
initiative, the referendum and the
recall. Rotiuests for the submission
of. questions must be by petition to
the president and must be signed by
the .national chairman or secretary
of some political party, or by one
half of one per cent of the voters of
any ten states. To the president the
bill gives "the solo and ilnal author
ity to pass on" any question prayed
forj Mr. Fulton's proposal took the
form' of a joint resolution for an
amendment to the constitution of the
United States as follows: "Eight
per cent of the voters of not less than
fifteen of the states shall have the
power to propose by petition any
legislation and ten per cent of not
less than fifteen of the states Bhall
" have the power to propose amend
ments to the constitution and five
per cent of not less than fifteen of
the states shall have the power to
exercise the referendum by means of
petitions to the president." Another
measure proposed by Representative
Fulton provides for the recall of pub
lic officials, an election to be held in
obedience to a petition signed by one
third of the voters of any congres
sional district; the governor of the
state in which the petition originates
must then call an election within five
days to determine whether officials
complained of shall relinquish office
and to choose his successor in the
event of dismissal.
tired people out. Tho general feel
ing, if he should run again for the
presidency, would be like that of the
returned English officer in the story,
who, when .he was asked to go and
see the house of commons, inquired,
"Is that thing going on yet?" The
advantage of having a new man as
a candidate is often very great for
any political party. He provokes in
terest. The country is eager to hear
him. Everything printed about him
is read; his speeches are closely
scanned. This was the good fortune
of Mr. Bryan himself in his first
campaign. He had broken his way
to the front in dramatic fashion. Tho
old leaders of the party had been
superseded by a young and almost
unknown .man concerning whom the
country had necessarily a great cur
iosity. But after eleven years of it,
that curiosity is now rather more
than sated, Bryan is no longer the
younger generation, knocking at the
door, but is himself tho jaded and
disappointing leader from whom the
party would feel it a great relief to
be delivered. With a fresh nominee,
too, there is always the possibility
of enlisting hope. People are opti
mistic in the case of a new man. He
will do better the new broom will
sweep away the old cobwebs. But
with Mr. Bryan up again, all this
would be out of the question. In
stead of causing hope to spring eter
nal, he would make dejection sit
like an incubus on every breast.
During half a generation 'citizens
have now formed the habit of voting
against "Mr. Bryan, and such habits
are fearfully hard to break.
St. Paul Pioneer-Press It practi
cally follows from Mr. Bryan's as
surance that he will accept a nomina
tion under any circumstances that
may arise that he will be the next
democratic candidate. No one else
seems to have the ghost of a show
and few seem to covet the honor
much more than Mr. Bryan. If ho
is willing to extinguish himself none
will vigorously dispute his abundant
right to satisfy his ambition in that
direction.
PROPOSED NEW COIN OF THE REALM
Governor Hughes of New York -has
removed from office John F. Ahearn,
borough president of Manhattan.
Hemoval was based on charges filed
with the government.
At- the request of the Governor-of
Nevada the president ordered federal
trpops to Goldfield, where a clash
is on between the mine owners and
mine workers.
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Mrs. LiOuisa M. Taft, mother ot
the secretary of war, died at her
liome in Mllbury, Mass.
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The fleet of battleshins n.nrt rriiin-
ers left Old Point Comfort for its
cruise in Pacific waters.
George A. Hibbard, present post
master, was elected mayor of Boston
over present Mayor Fitzgerald by a
plurality of 1,900.
The Oklahoma leortalnturA fnniiw
olected Robert L. Owen, and Thomas
P. Gore to the United States senate.
A Tarry town, N. Y dispatch says:
"Major General Alexander Hamilton,
U. S. V., eldest grandson of Alex
ander Hamilton, died today at his
home in Legrand avenue, here, of
old' ago. General Hamilton - was
ninety-two years old on NovAmimr
1, and is believed to have been the
oldest of the major generals in the
service of the United States."
MR BRYAN AND NOMINATION
New York Evening Post Mr.
Bryan's announcement that he will
not spek, but is ready to accept, an
other nomination for the presidency,
will arouse almost every conceivable
emotion except enthusiasm. This
is one great trouble with him. He
has gone stale. Everything that ho
can say, he has already said a thou-
muiu umes. it is impossible to
uuicicen interest in him.
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He haa I really "artistic" Resigns and denominations for our coins that will have real character? New York American..
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