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NEBRASKA STATE
DBc2o,19ovHISTOft!CAl SOCIETY The Commoner.
best. If the president threw. his strength to
Senator LaFollette, who stands for aggressive
reforms, it would be a pretty fight, but the presi
dent probably feels that very little reform can
bo hoped for from republican leaders, and ho
therefore selects Secretary Taft as the reformer
who will excite the least opposition. among the
representatives of predatory wealth.
While the democrats will bo glad to know
of the president's fixed purpose not to be a can
didate, their opposition to his candidacy waB not
on account of his popularity, for it is not at
all certain that he could have polled more votes
than any other republican, but President Roose
velt's candidacy would make it impossible for
the democrats to secure the support of Roose
velt republicans. The natural fight is between
the democratic party and the reactionary ele
ment of the republican party, for in such a fight
the democrats can take advantage of the edu
cational work that President Roosevelt has done,
and tho issue ought not to be in doubt. Senator
LaFollette would poll the radical strength of
the republican party but would lose even more
than President Roosevelt would among the
standpatters. Secretary Taft will, if nominated,
straddle the issues and seek to hold tho two
wings of the republican party together. He can
not hope to hold all tho radicals that the presi
dent would hold or LaFollette would hold.
Neither would he alienate as many of the stand
patters. With him as a candidate the aim of
the democrats would be to show that he does
not stand for any reforms worth mentioning, and
that his administration,-if in line with his utter
ances thus far would be colorless.
It is fortunate that the third term issue is
removed from politics, for it would have dis
tracted attention and prevented a consideration
of the economic reforms about which the country
is now thinking, rhat the president has acted
wisely no sincere friend of his will deny, for
he has nothing to gain by another term and a
defeat would bo disastrous. Those who have
insisted upon his nomination in spite of his
declaration have thought more of the party than
they have of the president, and it is not certain
either that they accurately gauge public opinion,
for the anti-third term sentimeut is a real senti
ment and one not to be lightly considered.
oooo
SECRETARY TAFT'S MOTHER
The readers of The Commoner will regret
to learn of the death of the mother of Secretary
Taft. Beneath all party differences there is a
human nature that links us all together, and
the questions that divide us in campaigns are
forgotten when death enters the household. Mr.
Taft hesitated about his departure because of
his mother's sickness, and he has hurried as
rapidly as he could in the hope of reaching her
bedside before the last summons came. The
news has been borne to him, and he wilL return
carrying a burden of sorrow which all of his
countrymen will share insofar as 'one can share
such a burden with another. Mrs. Taft's-death
at this time will be regretted the more if her
son reaches the coveted honor of a nomination,
for what mother does not rejoice in her son's
success? Tho whole country was glad that Presi
dent McKinley's mother survived his election
and was present at his inauguration; for Mr.
McKinley life, too, was made radiant by the
domestic virtues which are everywhere prized.
OOOO
THE KAISER'S POLICY
Following will be found a very frank state
ment of the kaiser's policy. Ho says:
"Germany's future development imperative
ly requires a powerful navy. We must export
the product of our industries and new and wider
markets are constantly necessary to us. As
much of our trade must be with semi-civilized
countries with, people to whom a nation's physi
cal strength is the test of its commercial great
ness we must show that we are strong. A
mighty navy will add millions to the volume
of our trade. We must develop our colonies.
To do this we need a greater navy. Germany
did not become a colonizing power until the
best countries for such development had al
ready be"en annexed by other nations. We had
no choice but to be contented with the best
of what was left. Yet our colonies may be
come, through German energy and persever
ance, of incalculable worth. We must not be
like children, however, who put a bean in the
ground and return the next day to see if the
plant has grown. Colonies are necessary to our
ever increasing population. Without them we
must lose millions of our people to countries
.which can better accommodate our overflow.
There aro no countries in Europo wo could con
quer and add to our possessions without danger
to ourselves. Denmark, Sweden and Norway aro
poor and undesirable. The Netherlands shows
much of the old Gonnanic strength and tenacity,
"mJ!1. ,g I)ol,tIcul national assimilation difficult.
This Is true of Belgium to a still groatcr ox
tent. Switzerland is tho best buffer state wo
could wish. It is truo the Baltic provinces wore
onco Gorman, but their Russillcatlon Is mak
ing greater progress daily. Wo aro mistaken
If wo think we would bo recolvcd thcro with
open arms. Even if wo could conquer thorn,
thoy would becomo a pormanent difficulty to us.
The extension of our eastern frontier would put
us in a more unfavorable strategic position thnn
at present, besides making of Russia an irre
concilable foe. Wo should nover, indeed, think
of such a conquest. We need Russia and Russia
needs us. We do not want anything from Eng
land and England can not tnko or oyoii wish
to take anything from us. England and Ger
many have every reason for helping ono an
other, so long as our vital interests do not con
flict. We have, in fact, every reason for wish
ing England's strength to increase. We would
ourselves feol any weakening in its power. All
we could expect from England ovon in tho event
of war, in which wo won, would bo some small
and undesirable colony. Any German states
man who would fight England on such a pretext
would not deserve a place at tho empire's helm.
All Germany wants Is peace, and again peace,
development of our commerce and Industries
and a constantly widening national culture."
The kaiser justifies his demand for a large
navy on tho ground that Germany wants
colonies. Ho is consistent; If ho is going out
to conquer and exploit the half civilized racos
he will need a large navy. But if wo are not
going to burglarize why must wo supply our
selves with a kit of burglar's tools? That is
the way ono democrat has expressed It and it Is
an apt expression. Wo aro not contemplating
a raid and have not, thoroforo, tho reason that
Germany has for wanting a big navy. Our
isolated position gives us a national protection
which no navy could supply. Why join In the
mad rush for naval supremacy?
oooo
KNOX ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY
Senator Knox has announced his candidacy
for the republican nomination for tho presidency.
When analyzed his speech will bo found to
contain no statement of policy, no promise of
remedy. It eulogizes the republican party,'
praises the president and expresses an infinite
faith in republican leaders. Those who trust
the republican party as implicitly as he does
will like tho speech, but what of those who
want relief and demand something specific?
They will have to look to the democratic party.
OOOO
A POOR SHOWING
A school teacher informs The Commoner
that in fifty-three cities which he has canvassed
having a registration of thirty-two thousand high
school pupils, only eight per cent are studying
American history and only three per cent aro
studying American government. This Is cer
tainly a very poor showing, and if it is true
throughout the country, it is high time that
books on history and government be sufficiently
simplified to Insure the study of these subjects
by all high school pupils; in fact, the study of
both history and government ought to begin be
fore the high school is reached, for a large per
centage of the children never get beyond the
graded schools.
OOOO
KENTUCKY
The republicans who are trying to extract
satisfaction out of the result in Kentucky should
examine the vote. They will find that the dem
cratic vote was thirty-two thousand less than
It was in 1903 and that the republican
vote was six thousand less than It was
that year. In other words, about thirty-eight
thousand voters staid at home not to speak
of the natural Increase in the vote. The repub
lican candidate for governor was elected, and
the republicans, though not securing control of
the legislature, made gains. This, however, was
not due to an actual increase in the republican
vote or even to the popularity of the republican
candidate, for he actually received fewer votes
than tho republican candidate of four years ago.
The trouble was that tho liquor question hurt
the democratic party In the cities while factional
fights within the party hurt it in the country.
Much as the result is to be deplored, there Is
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no reason to doubt that the democratic imrh
will carry tho state by a largt majority in lh
nroaldontlnl campnlgn of 1003, for all of th
factions are mil tod on national pollalos. Ken
tucky will bo in the- damocratlc column a guro
ns oloctlon day come.
OOOO
OPKNING TIIK CAMPAIGN
Tho campaign of 1008 In alrmuly opening,
although the convention Ik some six months off.
Tho first lmnquot aftor tho announcement of Mr,
Bryan's willingness to bo a candidate, If the
democratic voters desired It, was held at La
Fayotto, Ind. IDIght hundred men sat at tho
tables and some three thousand men and women
occupied tho galleries. Nearly all tho loaders
of tho Indiana democracy wore present, a num
ber of them taking part In tho program, Tho
bollof was everywhere oxpressod that Indiana
would bo found In tho democratic column In
1908.
On Novembor 20 tho United Democracy of
Washington held a banquet at tho Raleigh hotel;
whore more than flvo hundred wore seatod at the
tables and as many moro woro unable to obtain
tickets owing to tho limited capacity of tho
dining room. It was said to have boon tho most
successful political banquet over hold In Wash
ington, and there Is no doubt about tho hopeful
spirit that porvaded tho democracy thcro. Hon.
John Sharp Williams, leader of the minority In
tho houno of representatives, was ono of tho
speakers at this banquet.
At the Iroquois club in Chicago a ,
luncheon was given on tho 0th of Do- .
comber, at which tho various factions of
tho party wore represented and harmony pre
vailed. On tho ovoning of tho Cth a banquet
was held at Freeport, III., which was in many
respects remarkable. The city has between
twenty and twenty-fivo thousand inhabitants,
and is ono of tho few cities in northern Illinois
which has a democratic majority. Crowded
meetings were held at the opera house and at
tho court house, and then six hundred and ninety
porsons sat down to a banquet at J 1 o'clock.
Tho speaking commenced a little after twelve
and concluded at a quarter of five In tho morn
ing. When it is remembered that a considerable
number of tho banqueters were republicans, the
interest shown certainly Indicates a change in
sentiment since 1890. Frcoport is the home of
Hon. Douglass Pattorson, tho brilliant young
leader of the minority In the Illinois leglslaturo,
and Mr. Patterson acted as toastmaster at this
banquot.
On tho evening of the 7th a banquet was
held in Omaha under the auspices of tho Dahl
man Democracy, a club named after Hon. James
C. Dahlman, the present mayor of Omaha and
the present Nebraska member of the national
committee. Something over twelve hundred por
sons sat down to Uio banquet and soveral thou
sand heard the speeches from the gallery. This
was tho largest banquot over held In Nebraska,
and probably the largest In the west. Mr. Bryan
spokQ at each of these banquets and was grati
fied to find the democrats so enthusiastic and so
ready to begin the campaign work for 1908.
OOOO ..
THE VIEWS OF A VETERAN 0
Mr. O. O. Staley, tho veteran Washington. ,fc
correspondent of the Louisville Courier-Journal,
has published an exceedingly Interesting volume ,
entitled "Twenty Years in the Press Gallery."
His Intimate acquaintance with the public men
who have marched In procession before him and
whose public work has been dissected by him
gives him eminent fitness for the Judicial task
which ho has taken upon himself. Besides con
taining a review of important legislation and his
estimate of men and measures, the book con
tains pen sketches by prominent newspaper men
of tho leading statesmen of tho period. The ver
satile Watterson has written a characteristic in
troduction for the 'book, and Clifford K. Berry- ,
man has prepared the illustrations. The book
Is published by the author through the Publish
ers' Printing Company of New York, and ought
to find a large sale.
OOOO
FOR THE NORTH, TOO
The New York Tribune says that "Bryan .
is for the south" when he advocates a law with
drawing from the lower federal courts juriadlc- .
tlon and authority to suspend the enforcement
of state laws. If the Tribune kept up with the
times it would know the attorneys general of
tho various states have endorsed the same
proposition and most of these attorneys general
are northern men and republicans.
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