FEBRUARY 14, 1908
The Commoner.
7
Iti''
atasam
etill bo the vehicle the party organization will
romain the machinery of the contest but men
are thinking today more than ever before.
Mx. Roosevelt himself has opened millions
of republican minds to the democratic philos
ophy, millions of republican hearts to the demo
cratic evangel. He has made the idea of an
income tax respectable. He has proclaimed its
justice, proclaimed in his messages the old
democratc doctrine that swollen fortunes should
be fairly taxed to support the government under
which they flourish. What will their platform
say- and what will the republican masses say
upon that subject?
Ho has cast a doubt upon the fetich of a
high protective tariff a sacrilege which has
already bred a widespread heresy among its
worshippers. Will they dare go to the people
again on a "stand pat" platform? And will
the people listen to them when they promise
that this tariff shall be revised by its friends
and beneficiaries?
You remember a short time back the re
publican theory was that the trust was an
economic device and development, almost heaven
inspired, and as Senator Beveridgo told you
people of Lincoln in 1900, as grand a develop
ment over the old methods of competition as the
Pullman car is over the stage coach. Well, Mr.
Roosevelt has made that dbctrine a hard one
to preach in the next campaign. He is admir
ingly called the "trust buster" although I do
not recall a trust he has busted or a trust male
- factor he has sent to jail. Not one trust that
he has eliminated except the "trust in God"
oa our new gold coins and a republican congress
is proposing to restore that. They may say
they will do it out of love of the Lord but it
seems to mo they are moved by a superstitious
regard for the "trust."
But I want here to bear the testimony of
a democrat in a democratic assemblage, to the
credit we feel is due the president.
Educated in the school of Hamilton, a de
tractor of Jefferson, politically obligated to the
business interests that dominate his party, sur
rounded by sinister advice, embarrassed prob
ably by being called a democrat, he has gone
far in speech if not in conduct.
Above all other things he has shown that
he sees that he understands that this is funda
mentally a fight to rescue our government from
the control of corporate wealth. Ho has made
this plain to thousands of his party and I say
to you that a little serious thought along this
line will make a democrat out of most any re
publican not an office holder.
Since the day of Saul of Tarsus, the world
has never seen such a conversion as that of
Theodore Roosevelt. You must remember that
he was educated in the old faith with all its
prejudices and superstitions; that our priests
have not had fair access to him, that he is ever
nurrounded by their ministers; and yet dimly
groping in the republican twilight, bewildered
by republican precedent, confused by republi
can advice, pushed and pulled by cabinet minis
ters like Cortelyou and Root, denounced and
defied by republican senators like Foraker and
Spooner, he has nevertheless spoken at times as
though he, too, were indeed inspired.
And why was all that talk about Mr.
Roosevelt for a third term? In spite of his
obvious wish and interests, in spite of his de
claration, in spite of the deep rooted American
prejudice against a third term in the White
House, in spite of all these things there was
the demand of the republican masses for Roose
velt which was hardly to be lulled even by his
extraordinary approval of another candidate, an
approval which he justifies by a fear that the
leaders of his tfarty are not in sympathy with
his policies that these policies may fail with
the ending of his administration. I don't know
how it is here, but in our state thousands of
republicans have been whispering and hundreds
have lost their voices shouting that if Roose
velt were not nominated they would vote for
Bryan. You ask why was this demand for a
third term among his party masses? Why?
Because where, indeed, among republican lead
ers can they find one who can be depended on
for one minute to carry on even the pretense
of a fight against the syndicated wealth that
controls their papers, owns their congress and
finances their campaigns?
Is it to be Knox or Foraker who have spent
their lives as the defenders of these interests?
Is it to be Taft whose utterances you search
in vain for one plain message to the people
and who is only known to have a fixed conviction
on one subject the labor question? Or is it
to be Fairbanks with his cheery smile? We
realize, that his nomination would mean an ex
traordinary effort to carry Indiana, but wo
Iloosier democrats aro willing to fight it out
in the heat of the battle's heart if the country
may bo given a chanco to choose between Bryan
and this finished product of republican policies.
No, tho republican demand for Roosovolt
once more grew out of the recognition that ho
has educated his own people to look approvingly
upon tho things we stand for, that there aro
countless republicans who, like him, have seen
the light never again to worship idols and falsd
gods; who aro Bryan democrats at heart and
whom only Roosevelt's candidacy could have
hold in line.
My friends, It scorns to mo that Mr. Roose
velt has already made his political will, and
that his legatee is not Secretary Taft, but Mr.
Bryan. Why do I say this? Because Mr. Roose
velt has made our views acceptable to his party,
because our anarchy of 1896 has become their
patriotism today. And it is only poetic justice
after all, for Mr. Roosevelt can never repay tho
debt he owes our leader. Tho garments he has
borrowed, the principles he has adopted from
Mr. Bryan, these, and these alone, will give him
historic immortality.
, For what are ofilces and titles and tho
ephemeral insignia of power? They but chal
lenge passing attention and "fade liko tho snows
of yesteryear." Tho proud dukes of Florence
live no moro while Savonarola tho monk shall
live forever. Tho memory of English kings
shall pass away but the name of tho English
Sidney shall last and be lovingly remembered
as long as men shall conjure up tho spirit of
free government. The names of many presi
dents of this republic shall linger only in tho
tired memory of the students, grouped as they
shall be under tho lustrous name of some man
some statesman somo leader, truly great.
And Mr. Roosevelt although twice presi
dent, may expect to attain the Immortality of
historic greatness only in tho measure that dis
passionate posterity shall associate his name
with this fight to rescue our government from
the control of corporate wealth. And who Is
there who doubts that when in future years
posterity shall dwell upon that struggle, It shall
see as its one dominant figure, as tho one great
leader of the people In it looming far above tho
presidents of his time loBlng nothing from the
honors denied him and borrowing little from
the honors yet to come radiant through tho
years only from his own militant democracy
Nebraska's splendid son, whose memory somo
time will be her proudest heritage. And men
of Nebraska, what will you do? Today I was
at Mr. Bryan's homo and when there I could
not help thinking that here in this beautiful
prairie city, one of the miracles that mark tho
westward sweep of our American civilization,
lives the first citizen of this republic, whoso
career illustrates the splendid possibilities of
our democracy, whose merit and diligence have
enabled him to "stand before kings" and whoso
unfaltering devotion to the common people has
crowned him with their deathless love. I said
to myself Virginia has her Monticello; Tennes
see has her Hermitage; and Nebraska has her
Fairviow about which cluster today a people's
hopes and prayers and to which future genera
tions shall journey as to a shrine.
A NEW RECRUIT READY FOR WORK
Hayesville, N. C, January 27, 1908.
Editor Commoner: Please send mo twenty-five
of tho one million membership cer
tificates. I joined one month from today,
and I want to place twenty-five more new
members, and oblige
C. W. EVANS.
DEMOCRATIC CLUBS
"The Bryan Democratic Club" of Colorado
held a meeting at Denver. Representatives from
all portions of the state were present. The vice
presidents of the club, representing the various
counties of tho state aro as follows: Adams,
James P. HIggins; Arapahoe, Charles A. Berdel;
Baca, William Hooker, Springfield; Bent, John
R. Sullivan, Las Animas; Boulder, L. C. Pad
dock; Chaffee, G-. K. Hartenstein; Cheyenne, W.
E. Redmon, Cheyenne Wells; Clear Creek, E. L.
Regenitter, Idaho Springs; Conejos, W. B. .Bar
low, Conejos; Costilla, J, Gabriel Olivas, San
Pablo; Delta, C. T. Rawalt; Dolores, J. R. Theno,
Rico; Denver, John A. Rush, Denver; Douglas,
E. M. Ammons, Acequla; Eagle, James Collins,
Minturn;" Fremont, Joseph H. Maupin, Canon
City; Elbert, J. A. Myers, TDlbert; -El Paso, H.
I-I, Seldomridge, Colorado Springs; Garfield, S.
J. De Lan, Glenwood; Grand, Thomas Harriott,
Kromling; Gunnison, Doxtor T. Sapp; Illimrlalw.
P. C. McCarthy, Lako City; Huerfano, T. M.
Hudson, Gardner; JofTeraon, C. P. Hoyt, Golden;
Kiowa, Goorgo W. Franco, Eadu; Kit Canon,
A. J Pugh, Stratton; Lake, Daniel J. Ilcaly;
La Plata, George McGregor, Durango; Lnrlrn- r,
A. W. Scott, Fort Collin; Lna Anlmaa, W B.
Morgan, Trinidad; Logan, J. M. Uuvia, Stirling;
Mesa, William Wciaer; Montrose, John C. BH1;
Montezuma, It. It. Smith, Cortoz; Otero, J, H.
Crowley, Rocky Ford; Ourav, W. W
Rowan, Ouray; Park, M. I. O'MaiUa, Falrplav;'
Phillips, George B. Weir, Holyoke; Pitkin, t W.
Judkins, Aspen; Prowers, George It. Thorno,
Lamar; Pueblo, John A. Martin, Pueblo; Routt,
A. M. Gooding, Steamboat Spring; Rio Blanco,
Colonel B. F. Montgomery, Meeker; Rio Grande,
H. II. Abbott, Monte Vista; Saguache, M. M.
Sutley, Center; San Juan, Thomas II. AniK-ar,
Sllverton; San Miguol, Jnmca McWilliams, Tel
lurido; Sedgwick, J. H. Parker. Julcburg;
Summit, Harry T. Hamilton, Dillon; Toller,
JoKoph E. Ferguson, Victor; Washington, Isaac
Pelton, Akron; Wold, W. L. Clayton, Greeloy;
Yuma, T. 13. Groves.
Wayne C. Williams, secretary of tho club
writes: "We havo formed an active and enthu
siastic Colorado Bryan club. Outside of a small
corporation element which has never been truly
democratic, this state seems unanimous for W.
J. Bryan. But our club will leave no stone
unturned. We shall perfect an organization In
every county and ask for instructed delegates
to tho state convention thon for instructed dele
gates to tho national convention. The pooplo
must take no chances this time. In caao wo
havo other club news I shall seo that It reaches
your paper.'-1
Tho board of directors of tho Colorado
Bryan club is as follows: John F. Shafroth, E.
T. Wells, John A. Rush, J. J. MoFoely, F. V,
Bailey, W. C. Williams, W. If. Bryant.
The democratic league has been organized
In tho state of Pennsylvania. Jero S. Black of
York county was elected chairman; Warren
Worth Bailey of Cambria county was eleetod sec
retary; and William II. Berry was chosen treas
urer. The following is taken from tho Phila
delphia North American's report of the league's
meeting:
A formal declaration of purposes was mado
by tho adoption of the following resolutions,
which were later signed by all hands:
"Resolved, That tho Bryan Democratic
Lcaguo favors tho nomination of W. J. Bryan
for president, and to this end it will co-oporato
with all in sympathy with its purposes in secur
ing delegates in each congressional district
pledged to support Mr. Bryau at the Denvor
convention. It is further
"Resolved, That everything points to the
wisdom of the course here advocated. That
Mr. Bryan is the logical man for 1908 is beyond
reasonable dispute. Ho is manifestly the ono
democrat who appeals to the democratic heart
of tho nation. His strength is not local or sec
tional. It is universal, and the democrats of
Pennsylvania feel that in advancing his cause
they are advancing that of tho party and of
good government.
"Resolved, That all democrats of the state
are cordially invited to participate in this move
ment, and they aro urged to take instant steps
to perfect organization and to avail themselves
of every opportunity to make Its purposes
effective."
Authority was given Chairman Black to
name an executive cemmitteeman In each of the
thirty-two congressional districts, and in addi
tion to this body of district leaders there will
be a general state committee with every county
represented.
To say that the leaguers are enthusiastic
in their cause is putting it mildly. They claim
that the democracy of tho state is running over
with Bryan sentiment, and only good manage
ment is needed to bring the results.
IT MEANS WORK NOW
Hero is a hint from Ohio: "Newark,
Ohio, January 29. Editor Commoner: In
closed find order for $1.20 in payment for
two subscriptions for Tho Commoner sent
to the named parties on tho certificates.
Send mo some moro blanks. We appre
ciate tho time for effective work is on
and that if we win it means work now.
"Very truly,
"J. H. MILLER."
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