The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923, April 10, 1908, Page 2, Image 2

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VOLUME S, NUMBER 13
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2
remedies shall be ndded to stato remedies, not
substituted for them. There Is no disposition
anywhere to deny to the federal government Its
constitutional authority, but the jurisdiction of
tho district and circuit courts of the United
States is regulated by congress and congress
ought to withdraw the jurisdiction which the
lower federal courts are now using to the preju
dice of tho states and citizens of the states.
t ! v W
"REST AND PEACE AND REASSURANCE"
In a letter addressed to the New York
World, Grover Cleveland, of Princeton, N. J.,
said:
"Our people need rest and peace and re
assurance; and it will bo quite in line with true
democracy and successful policy to impress upon
our fellow-countrymen the fact that democracy
still stands for those things."
Yes, rest and peace and assurance! And
for all of that democracy stands!
But that does not mean reassurance to the
men who manipulate the money of insurance
policyholders or the wealth in the public treas
ury. It does not mean that they are to enjoy
rest and peace so long as they persist in their
evil practices. It does not mean that the Amer
ican people arc to be asked to closo their eyes
to these iniquities or, through an appeal to a
false conservatism, grant immunity to those who
conspire against the public welfare.
5 fr
AND HISTORY WILL REPEAT
Tho Sioux City (Iowa) Journal, republican,
Ueems to be fearful lest tho tariff barons obtain
(he impression that they have something to fear
by reason of the tariff revision promises of re
publican lenders. The Journal says that the
Ohio-Iowa republican tariff plank of 1908 is in
no sense a departure from the republican prac
tice. It adds:
"In 1884 the Chicago platform pledged the
party 'to correct tho inequalities of the tariff,'
and its promise was to do this 'by such methods'
rs will relieve the taxpayer withp,it''injuring
tho laborer or the greats niG&YtcUve interests of
tho country.' EhatrVs what will be done, next
year if ,A1C republican party is continued in.
commission."
Since 1884 the republican, party has re
vised tho tariff twice and in both instances it
was a revision that benefited the tariff barons
rather than tho consumers. In its day the Mc
Kinley bill was regarded as a very high measure
of the protective tariff but it was not to be com-
f tared with the Dingley law enacted seven years
ator.
All the world knows, or ought to know,
that at the very timo the republican party was
promising "to correct the inequalities of the
tariff" or to do something that "will relieve
the taxpayer" that party was deriving its cam
paign funds from the men who have grown rich
through tho high tariff fostered by tho repub
lican party.
Devotedly tho republican leaders have pro
tected the tariff barons after the election and,
borrowing tho Sioux City Journal's language,
, that Is what will be done next year if the re
publican party is continued in commission."
O v O w
WHO PAYS TnE BILL?
Tho American Protective Tariff League has
issued Circular No. 216 which shows that the
loague has issued a good many circulars be
fore and this circular is in the form of a let
tor asking for the name and address of one
porson who will cast his first vote in the presi
dential election in 1908. The league wishes "to
forward literature on the subject of protection "
and wants tho "homo address" only, it costs
money to keep an ofilce on Broadway in New
York and furnish literature on the subject
of protection. The Protective Tariff League has
for a good many years been sending out this
literature, and those who get it are helping to
pay for it. Like tho tariff tax, the payment is
concealed but somebody must pay it. The pro
tected industries have used a small part of the
money that they get from tho people to pay for
o the literature with which to send out arguments
in support of protection. Tho Protective Tariff
League, however, is more interested in the voter
just now than it is after the election, for after
tho election the voter is completely tenoroft
The beneficiaries of protection are deaf tc .the
entreaties of the masses on the subject of taxa
tion. When it is proposed to put upon the frp
list imported articles which come Into competi
tion with articles controlled by the trusts, the
The Commoner,
Protective Tariff Leaguo Is quick to protest.
When the democrats talk about reducing all
schedules which are above one hundred per cent,
the Protective Tariff League resists the reduc
tion of a one hundred and twenty per cent duty
a duty provided for the protection of the
Standard Oil company. Tho Protective Tariff
League is looking at the question from the stand
point of the tax-eaters, but during the campaign
it is quite anxious to spread its literature before
the taxpayers. It ought to put on each piece of
literature: "This document is paid for by the
protected industries which have been getting the
benefit of the high tariff."
2 W O ,- m .
FOOLISH THREATS
And now the New York World seeks to
bring southern democrats to its way of thinking
by the threat to reduce southern representa
tion in congress. In an editorial entitled "A
Warning to the South," the World concludes
in this way:
"If the southern states expect to stay rid
of the negro vote and maintain their present
basis of representation, they must help rehabili
tate the democratic party in the north and west.
The Ohio platform is what the World said it
was 'a warning to the south.' The south is not
obliged to heed the warning, but if the southern
democrats again allow populism to control the
national convention, if they permit the nomina
tion of Mr. Bryan, thereby sending the party to
another disastrous defeat, they will have to take
the consequences of their own folly."
The World has grown desperate, indeed, if
it imagines that it can threaten southern demo
crats into the support of plutocratic influences.
it it t 4
TnE BOARD OF TRADE
Wliile in Chicago recently Mr. Bryan vis
ited the Board of Trade. He wjis called upon for
a speech and responded, being introduced by
Eresident Sager. The Inter Ocean quotes Mr.
'' Bryan as saying:
"The farmer needs the board of trade,
said Mr. Bryan. "He needs a place where the.
purchasers and the producers of grain may meet,
and where sales may be made. The farmers "will
never organize against the boards of trade as
long as these' boards remain honest. The legiti
mate functions of the board of trade and the
chamber of commerce are recognized by the
farmer, but
"The farmer objects to the gambling on the
board of trade, because such gambling suspends
the law of supply and demand and disturbs
natural conditions.
"Gambling is gambling," he argued,
"whether it is carried on in a back room off some
alley or in the grain pit. You men who are in
terested in an honest business and legitimate
transactions ought to join hands with the
farmer and purge these institutions of this evil,
and thus retain the good features of the busi
ness. All the farmers ask is to have the busi
ness done on an honorable basis and that prices
aro not juggled up and down by mere specu
lation." tw &v w w
"UNDUE FAVORITISM"
Several years ago it was reported that
Andrew Carnegie had offered to pay $20,000,000
for the Philippine Islands, provided he was. per
mitted to assure the Filipinos that they would
be given their independence.
Commenting upon this story, the Chicago
Tribune said that the steel magnate "has tried
the patience of his friends severely in some of
his late bids for notoriety." It expressed the
opinion that Mr. Carnegie is constantly posing
and said "ho has scattered libraries throughout
the country, all of which are to be called for
him, and every one of them is 'a contribution
to the conscience fund.' "
Then the Tribune said: "Mr. Carnegie
made his money in a magnificent way but ho
should never forget that he made it through
the undue favoritism of the government of the
United States. Owing to the discrimination
practiced in his favor by the tariff, he was en
abled to amass a fortune of $200,000000 or
more, most of which came out of the' pockets
of his countrymen through the operation of un
equal laws. Much-has been said of the benefit
arising to the workingmen from the establish
ment of the Carnegie works. The beneficient
tariff system permitted the works to survive and
flourish, but there aro some people who have
not forgotten the Homestead strike, nor the
outrageous manner In which the workinemen
were treated at the time by employers whose
brutality has seldom been exceeded In the his
tory of labor agitations."
Now the Sioux City Journal and other re
publican papers must not forget that the repub
lican party has, in very presidential campaign
and congressional campaign, been financed by
the men to whom they have granted -what the
Chicago Tribune calls "undue favoritism."
Does any one imagine that the tariff barons will
withhold contributions from tho republican
campaign fund this year? Does any one believe
that the republican party will eyer revise the
tariff in the interest of the consumers so long
as it obtains its campaign . funds from -the tariff
barons? . ....
3 3 i 5
THE FUJjIi DINNER PAIL
Referring to the happenings in Union
Square, New York City, Saturday, March 28, the
New York correspondent for the Chicago Inter
Ocean said:
"They have brought many carts into
the square to serve as speaking stands," re
ported a policeman.
"Drive them away; use your clubs if
necessary," replied the inspector.
A man from the crowd, hearing the
command, advanced, pulled a paper from his
pocket, and tapped it with his finger.
"That," he said, "is the strongest thing
in America. It is the constitution of the
United States. It says tat the people have
a right to peaceable assemblage."
"This is the strongest thing in Union
square," replied the inspector,, holding aloft
his club.
Suddenly the demonstration fell -back
before the bluecoats. Then a man . in the
throng started the "Marseillaise." The
great throng took it up. In an Instant the
defiant battle song of the -French revolution
was echoing through the vast square. Surg
ing .in and! out? keeping ahead, of the clubs
of the police, the red hats dodged. They
bore mottoes like this: .,.,.
"We demand work." , , . ' . .
"Why should we go. hungry ?".,U;'Kk:
"Public thievery makes private .pojr-,
erty." - : '"'.a'iy
All at once -there appeared tjie, magnifi-;
cent mounted police., These splendid , offi
cers bore down upon tie multitude like so
many mounted soldiers of the Ney division.
"Drive them into the East river!"
commanded the inspector.
The horses turned into the .crowd.
Many fell beneath the hoofs of the animals.
In panic the red hatted columns dashed
backward. , They massed upon the side
walks. 0,n came the charging police cav
alry, pushing on, on to the sidewalks with
the curveting steeds.
Referring to this dispatch the Omaha
World-Herald said: "It reads like a page from
Carlyle's 'French Revolution,' or like an account
of what might have happened somewhere in
darkest Russia. It doesn't read like the story
of what happened here in free and enlightened
America, in the early years of the Twentieth
century." ..
And the slogan was "Four years more of
the full dinner pail'."
HEY, LITTLE LAD
Hey, little lad, with your bonnie blue eyes,
Come with your laughter we'll dream -of the
skies
That are waiting for ms in the Land of No Care,
So come to this heart with that curling gold hair.
Come, and we'll float on the beautiful sea
In the Dream Ship that's waiting for you .and
for me! '
Hey, little. lad, with the wee wearied feet -Up
in these arms! My, those kisses are sweet!
Come and I'll tell you a story4 'or two
That will make heavy eyelids fail over the blue.
One little arm round my heck, and we'll float
On the River of Sleep in the little Dream Boat!
Hey, little lad, but how heavy you've grown
You've slipped to your dreaming and left me
alone! ' - - -
But I know that the skies In 'your dreams are as
As the blue of your eyes aha1 the gold, of your
hair. u ''
And O, little lad, in your garments of white,
Your dreaming, I wish I might know it good
night!
Will F. Griffin. in Milwaukee Sentinri.
.