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The Commonero
CHARLES W. BRYAN, PUBLISHER
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VOL. 8, NO. 41,
Lincoln, Nebraska, October 23, 1908
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Whole Number 405
"OPEN THE BOOKS," IS A POPULAR CRY THESE DAYS
The people called upon both the political parties to "open the books" on campaign contribution. The democratic
party responded with a publicity plank unanimously adopted. The republican convention defeated a publicity plank
by a vote of 94 yeas to 880 nays.
The people called upon both national committees to "open the books" and make public their campaign contribu
tions. The democratic committee responded on October 15th, 16th and 17th by publishing the contributions to their
campaign fund. The republican committee promises to' open the books "AFTER the election."
FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE REPUBLICAN PANIC
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TODAY
BEWARE.! "
DKYM5 AUCTION
MEANS PANIC
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ONE YEAR AGO
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ClOSfTlfllK DOORS IN OHE OMfiYMk
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LET THERE BE LIGHT
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Speaking at Denver, October 16, Mr. Bryan
took for his text: "Let there he light," and
said in part:
The republican policies arc without form
and void. Darkness conceals their plans. The
awakened conscience of an aroused people calls
out: "Let there be light." What influences are
marshaled behind the republican ticket? What
debts are being contracted? What mortgages
are being given? Let there be light. The demo
cratic committee has set the example. For tho
first time in our national history a national com
mittee has taken the nation into its confidence
and given forth a list of its contributors. This
is in the Interest of honest politics and honest
government. It opens a new era. Will the re
publicans dare to defy a universal sentiment and
maintain the secrecy that has given predatory
"wealth its hold upon the government.
The republican national convention delib
erately voted down a plank pledging publicity
and the republican candidate insists that the con
tributions should not be known until after the
election, when tho information can be of little
service. '
We demand the election of senators by the
people, and this is in the interest of hQnest gov
ernment. Let senatorial elections be held in the
daylight, and not behind closed doorsjjn secret
caucuses, where corrupt influences can, -cheat the
people out of representation. The democratic
convention declared for the popular- election of
senators. The republican convention, by an
overwhelming vote, rejected the idea and the
republican candidate has merely expressed a
personal inclination toward this reform.
The public demands light on tho tariff ques
tion. Tho republican platform deals in gener
alities. The language employed may mean any
thing or nothing, and the speeches of the repub
lican candidate intensifies tho gloom that tho
convention threw over tho subject. Let there
be light, that the people may know whether
tho taTiff laws are to continue to be made by a
few beneficiaries In their own interest, or by
tho people's representatives for the people's
good.
What does the republican party intend to
do with the trusts? Let its plans be stated. Let
its remedies be made known. Let there be light
on this question also. We have-seen one of
the greatest of the trusts obtaining executive
permission to absorb a rival. Is this to be con
tinued as a settled policy of the republican
pa-rty? It is not sufficient to find fault with
democratic remedies. What is the republican
remedy? The people are entitled to know.
What is the republican party going to do
on the labor question? Here again there Is need
of light. The republican party claims to be the
friend of labor. Let it define the friendship
that it intends to show. If it is going to oppose
needed labor legislation, let it boldly declare
it and not betray the toiler with a kiss.
What is it going to do on the Philippine
question? It has enormously increased the ap
propriations for the army and navy in prepara
tion for wars that outfit never to come; It
has boasted of possessions in tho Orient, while
the Filipinos clamor for an announcement of tho
nation's policy. Let there bo light. Let their
national purposes bo proclaimed, that tho world
may know that we have not surrendered our
ideals or abandoned the principles of govern
ment that have given us pre-eminence among
the nations.
What is the republican party going to do
for the restoration of confidence among tho de
positors? What assurance is it going to give
that tho savings of tho people will be protectod
from loss? On every question the democratic
party announces its plan and sets forth in de
tail the remedies which it proposes. Thje. demo
cratic party takes the people into its confidence
and submits its policies to their judgment. Let
the republican party bo equally candid and open
its books and plans; let there be light.
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TAKE THE MONOPOLISTS OFF THEIR
RACKS
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President Roosevelt's benevolent pro- ,
posal to help the farmers by investigate 0
ing their condition Is not well received
by tho farmers who suggest that if tho
president would , make tariff and trust
monopolists get. off their backs they
could help themselves. St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
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