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XUQUST 21, 190r-
The Commoner.
f QURK6NT TOPICS
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THE DEMOCRATS of Illinois have nominat
ed as their candidate for governor Adlal
E. Stevenson, former vice president. The dem
ocrats of Illinois are jubilant over the prospects
of carrying that s'tate. The Chicago Record
Herald says: "It has been a decade since the
democrats of Illinois had a love feast, but it
now looks probable that they will have one at
the next meeting of the state central committee
or at the state convention held September 9."
Mr. McGoorty, speaking of the nomination, says:
"The party has honored itself in the nomination
of its most commanding figure, Adlai E. Steven
son. I hold him in the highest respect and pre
dict his success at the polls- in November."
Q PEAKING- OP Mr. Stevenson to newspaper
O' correspondents, Mr. Bryan said: "While
1 take no part In the contests between demo
crats, either in convention or primaries, I am
sure I will be pardoned in this case if I say
that while we had a number of worthy demo
crats aspiring to the governorship of Illinois,
no one among them was superior in his quali
fications to Mr. Stevenson. I believe he will
make a very strong candidate and will greatly
aid the national ticket. The dissatisfied repub
licans, and there are many of them In Illinois,
will feel that no harm could come to the state
from Mr. Stevenson's election. His large public
service and his sterling qualities combine to
make him the ideal candidate, and he will make
an ideal governor."
EEFERRING TO the Hearst independence
party platform, Mr. Bryan made this
statement: "It contains a number of planks
Which are identical with or substantially simi
lar to the planks of the democratic platform.
For instance, it demands the election of sen
ators by the direct vote of the people, as the
democratic party does; its tariff plank is quite
like our tariff plank; its plank on the trusts,
while opposing private monopoly, is not as
specific as ours; its railroad plank does not
differ much from ours; its plank on Asiatic im
migration is quite similar, and its labor plank,
like ours, contains a declaration A1n favor of
trial by jury and in regard to the exemption
of labor organizations from the operation of
anti-trust laws. Like our platform, it condemns
the extravagance of the republican party and
demands greater economy. It does not advo
cate, however, the establishment of a depart
ment of labor with a secretary in the cabinet.
It does not oppose Imperialism, which has been
used to justify the increase In our standing
army, and its plank as to publicity of campaign
contributions Is not nearly so strong as ours.
The question that must confront the member
of the independence party is this: Will he as
sist in the defeat of the democratic party, which
stands for so much that he favors, merely be
cause he can not get all that he would like?
Either the democratic party or the republican
party will win, and the voter, who, preferring
the democratic platform to the republican plat
form, joins with the independence party, merely
assists the republican party, and thus defeats
several of the reforms in which he is interested.
Take, for instance, the plank in favor of the
election of senators by the people the demo
cratic party has indorsed that reform in three
campaigns; the republican convention defeated
the proposition by an overwhelming vote. If
the democratic party succeeds its members are
pledged to this reform. The republican party
is not pledged to it, and the republican candi
date has gone no farther than to say that he is
personally inclined toward it. This reform is nec
essary before any other reform can be secured.
Is not the independence voter justified in help
ing the democratic party to secure this reform?
So in regard to the labor questions. The demo
cratic party is in favor of remedies demanded
by wage earners and a wage earner who votes
with the independence party simply defeats the
reforms In which he is interested. And the
same argument might be made in regard to
those who favor tariff reform, the extermina
tion of the principle of private monopoly, and
the remedy of other evils which have grown
'4U
up under republican administrations. The
question is not whether one can get all the re
form that ho wants, but how -ho can get the
most reform. The democratic party offers him
the best opportunity to sqcure that which is
obtainable at this time."
UNDER DATE of Lincoln, Neb., the Asso
elated Press carried the following dis
patch: "Enthusiastic over the prospects of
democratic success in November, Representa
tive Henry D. Clayton of Alabama, chairman of
the committee on notification of William J.
Bryan, arrived today. Ho was accompanied on
the Journey from St. Louis by Dr. J. V. Mc
Clure of Sedalia, Mo., a member of the com
mittee. 'I have every confidence in the elec
tion of Bryan and Kern,' said Mr. Clayton. 'The
whole sentiment of the country is in that direc
tion. On the way to Lincoln from his Ala
bama home Mr. Clayton engaged many men in
conversation as to their political views. 'I found
a majority of those with whom I talked for
Bryan,' said he. 'I met many traveling men
and only one declared himself out and out for
the republican candidates.' Mr. Clayton said
that the 'rock-robbed' democrats were not much
interested in the election because they Intended
to vote the democratic ticket anyway, 'but,' he
declared, 'tho men who have not heretofore
voted for Bryan and who propose to do so this
year are tho ones who are enthusiastic.' Chairman-Clayton
criticised Mr. Taft's speech of ac
ceptance for having, as he said, 'dodged the Chi
cago platform. 'That speech is weak and In
ane,' he declared, 'but it established one fact
and that is that the republicans have beat a
retreat and that they are on the defensive.' "
riinm unAivuoiio .-r. --.-,'- ... .....
X copy of a letter written by J. C. Garling
ton, member of the executive committee,
Hearst's Independence league, to Charles W.
Walsh, secretary of that league. Writing from
Greenville, S. C, Mr. Garllngton says: "You
recently expressed a sentiment, in which I con
curred, that when a man does not like the
policies and methods of a party,' it is his duty to
get out. I went into this independence move
ment believing that it was laboring for certain
well defined policies, chief of which was the
elimination of the boss and larger opportunity
for the individual. In the recent assemblage in
Chicago there were men from many states who
were impressed with the same idea. Before the
convention met they were outspoken in the be
lief that it would be suicidal to the party and
treachery to its principles to place an electoral
ticket in the field in opposition to the party
which has certainly given tho independence
movement 'half a loaf.' A national convention
is a sovereign body. It is supposed to hear all
sides and abide by the majority. This majority
was not allowed to be heard. When Jacob I.
Sheppard, of Kansas, attempted to express his
views, he was dragged from the platform with
your aid, connivance and approval. The con
viction is inevitable that the independence party
is working in the interest of Taft. If it is done
wittingly, it has betrayed its trust; if unwitting
ly, it is too weak to be trusted. On fundamen
tals the Independence and democratic parties
are agreed. The placing of electors in the field
can only have the effect of strengthening Taft.
The part I took in organizing South Carolina
was not on the understanding of any such pur
pose. Having lost faith In your movement and
having no desire to aid in perpetuating a party
that is not serving the best interests of the-people,
I beg to herewith tender my resignation
from the executive committee."
THE NOTIFICATION ceremonies in Lincoln
on August 12 were attended by a crowd
estimated at from 20,000 to 35,000 people. As
nearly as possible they were made non-partisan.
Governor George L. Sheldon and other state
officials, and E. R. Sizer, postmaster at Lincoln,
were prominent among the guests upon the
platform. There was no attempt- at a parade
of political marching clubs. - The parade started
from the postofllce square at 2 o'clock, headed
r
by a platoon of mounted police. Following
came the Nebraska state band and the Beatrice
mi Itary band. Following came the local recep-
Hhin ST,ftTnlfl,d aml ,,m,t'r th0 iS?-
Hhlp of E. H Westervelt. Then came carrlaces
SrK?1?!? thVIomocrftt,c candidates, the oill
tho no innoHnat,nnl c,?r,,,Uc'0 amI members of
ni?i nn ? aJ,on c,0,mn,ltcc Citizens in carriages
cession ?Ln,nnHM,Mh0 the ro
nn h?I . Vlc,not,nc,lUon ceremonies wore held
Seen humten,0nK BroXna' a p,fUfo having
been built at tho north entrance. Upon the
Platform were seats for the guests and the notifi
cation committee; Immediately in front o" tho
bearHfnfn,t,Wa8h0 80cUon Het iP" "or mem
bers of the press. Dr. I L. Hall of Lincoln
vice chairman of the national In ilttoS
traduced Chairman Norman E. Mack of Buffalo
JS vroMa' Chairman Mack Immediately in
troduced Rev. Father Nugent of Des Moines,
who invoked the divine blessing, the grea
audience joining with him in repeating tho
Lord s prayer. Chairman Mack Introduced John
W. Kern, democratic candidate for vice presi
dent, who spoko briefly, and then Congressman
SSfnJn?' CIaytV? f A,abaina. chairman of the
national convention at Denver was Introduced
and dellvored tho address of notification. This
was followed by the reading of tho notification
committee's letter, llumvhrcy O'SullIvan of
Massachusetts, secretary of tho committee, read
ing it. Chairman Mack then arose and in a
half-dozen words introduced Mr. Bryan, who
immediately proceeded to deliver his address of
acceptance.
, r .
AITER THE notification ceremonies Mr. and
Mrs. Bryan shook hands with thousarfdtf,
the reception being held in the rotunda of tho
etterIPJ?o.TeMbajr;.ls jmdertfldi.n?jJ!?4tfjpjr
Bryan entertained the members of the notifica
tion committee and those of the national com
mittee who were in Lincoln, at luncheon on tlje
lawn at Fairvicw. The tables were spread un- "
der the trees, Mr. Bryan presiding at one, Mrs.
Bryan at another and Congressman Clayton at
another.
TT-1E BOSTON Globe says: "Mr. Taft, in his
letter of acceptance takes up the question
of tariff revision, on which subject it was ex
pected he would have something definite to say,
What he said was definite enough, but it is frank
beyond all expectation. The tariff, Mr. Taft ad
mits, ought to be revised, and certain schedules
ought to be reduced. 'On the other hand,' says
Mr. Taft, 'there are some few other schedules
in which the tariff is not sufficiently high to
give the measure of protection which they should
receive upon republican principles, and as- to
those the tariff should be raised.' It Is easy to
imagine the attention which this statement com
manded in certain quarters, and to picture tho
satisfaction with which it was read by those who
are tariff revisionists when the revision Is up
ward. And it is easy, also, to see that the Inno
cent promise of Mr. Taft's observation may be
used by the republican campaign managers, who
will publish all contributions after election
to awaken in the breasts of tariff beneficiaries
so lively a sense of favors to come that the cele
brated fat-frying operations of former, cam
paigns may be repeated this year with some
show of grace and effectiveness."
ONE PARTICULAR bale of. Georgia cotton
is destined to become fam&us. A Savan
nah, Ga., dispatch carried by the Associated
Press, says: "The first bale of 'factors cotton,'
or that received in the ordinary course of busi
ness for this season, was bought today at tho
Savannah exchange by Murray M. Stewart for
the Bryan democratic club. It was Immediately
compressed, placarded and shipped to Charles
F. Murphy, leader of Tammany Hall, New York.
The placard announces that it is the first bale
and concludes: 'As surely as cotton is king
Bryan will be elected president.' The bale is
to be auctioned off in Tammany Hall and the
proceeds will be devoted to the Bryan campaign
fund."
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