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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 4, 1908)
i The Commoner. DECEMBER 4, 1001 u SOLVING THE MYSTERY OF 1908 u It m j Walter G. Stewart, Reading, Pa. Many voters persuaded themselves that they could got the benefit of a substantial amount of Bryanito democracy through Rooseveltian republicanism, - without incurring the desperate hostility of pow erful interests (which they feared to do) or discrediting . Roosevelt's efforts (which seemed iinfair).' Cowardly avoidance of threatened p.unishnlent, excused by vain hopes of Roosevel tian remedies this, broadly, explains the lost battle of 1908. Tho war must go on until con ditions compel democratic republicans and dem ocratic democrats to unite on a fundamental issue such aa the initiative and referendum, ., perhaps James Bassel, Weston, W. Va. One Party gained 208 over vote of 1904 in. this county. Opposition majority cut 100, from 508 in 1904 to 408 this time. Two Party divided, I feareast from west, liko whigs in 1802, north and south. Three Hard to contend against a" combine of money and ignorance; only. hope, appears to bo in. a break, in the dominant party. As to best course to pursue, can't say, but looks as if-'the sheep and tho goats had best some, way or somehow separate. Plutocracy will now Btrivo to control the democratic organization, as it did from 187G to 1896. Election result recalls Hamilton, Carlyle, Macauley and Shillor ("30 years war in Europe seventeenth century," speaking of Henry IV, founder of the Bourbon dynasty in France, page 62 or 68) doubting the intelligence of the people. Schiller mentions Vbarbarism, superstition, and rapacity of men, that must be provided for in the measures of a statesman Wisdom alone will not go." B. P. Irish, Blandinsville, 111. I have taken some pains to find the reason and the five democrats. who voted, for Taft and the ten , democrats who voted forrthe prohibition candi-. dates, and the republicans who promised to vote for you and did. not all give the same reason, Viz, . that the election of Bryan would be a blow to the business prosperity of the country which you could not prevent, as all the wealth of big republicans could be locked Up or removed from , tho country. God help us. Go to the United ' States senate and do all you can to prevent the calamity which follows corruption. J. W. McClure, Sedalia, Mo. Complying . with your request to give cause for defeat of the democracy In the recent election, would answer but one thing, and that was the fear of busl- ' ness depression, such as- tho country expert- ' enced under the last democratic administration '. at Washington, A great many thousand people (enough to Have- elected Mr. Bryan) wanted to vote for him but were deterred by the thought of a' recurrence of hard times, such as they had under" Cleveland's last administration. This they were made to believe by the big Interests which are ruling this country, and will until a revolution. , .' J. P. Bradway, Warsaw, Ind. The demo cratic party made gains In our state and county, " but fell behind on the national ticket. The loss " to tho national ticket seems to have been in precincts where there was a goodly number of laborers and Catholics. In my precinct there were three Catholics all democrats, and there -were just three more votes for Mr. Taft this year than for Mr. Roosevelt four years ago. I find the same condition exists in other counties. In Catholic communities Mr. Taft made his largest gains. I believe through here the Catho lics voted for Mr. Taft, regardless of their po litical faith. I have faith in the democratic party that it will eventually gain control of the federal government, and fdught out on the prin ciples adopted in the Denver platform and so nobly' defended by one of the truest and noblest champions for the masses and the common peo ple this world has ever seen. M. J. Fruchs, Pittsburg, Pa. It happened, because from the dawn of history to the present day, men did not, and do not think for them selves. In olden times, it was a corrupt clergy which, by threats and entreaties, gained their masters ends. By awakening and nursing sui cidal passions In the hearts of the masses, It oori0 to riiatract their minds from any - effectual endeavor, to find out for themselves, "' ' the real cause pf their misery. By such means, "'"'tfwAin'n&taVi o ovatnm nf tvrannv. slavery, graft, , ' f "i""b,r" - "'.rr." ;' T : v th wnrid ,, exploitation ana auiKucaa. . , - - ; ?? several thousand years to open its eyes, and rid . '"itself' of sucli. nefarious Influence. Today corrupt V" press-hirelings of an Industrial, commercial, and political piracy, is continuing tho work of the THE SCOPE OF THE INQUIRY In its Isbuo of November 13, Tho Commoner invited contributions to a symposium, having for Its purpose an Inquiry Into tho causes of the results of tho 1908 election. Tho Commoner asked tho co-operation of its readers in every .section of the country, submitting theso questions: Did tho democratic party make losses In your county and precinct? If so, to what influenco were such Iobhob due? "What courses1 shall , reformers .adopt for tho'futureZ t.;! jl io.:i' -'' Can tho democratic party' hope ever to gnln' control of tho federal -government? Tho second Installment of this symposium Is printed in this issue. It should be understood that the-publication, of any particular opinion does not mean, that The. Commoner endorses. woro defeated. In my opinion tho principal- i! ) reasons were short-sightedness of thouRand nf i t American voters who wo supposed wero better supplied with brains; treachory in our ow party and last, but not least, nearly all the newspapers and money woro on the othor side. I bellovo that four years moro of tin "Roosovolt dynasty" will bo enough argument fr- tho farm ers and shop men. Two years moro of "Cannon" will mako a largo democratic ma jority In tho houso. You will bo elected In 191J by tho largest voto over given any president. R. M. Curponlor, Klostor, Minn.- In Fair bault county, this state, at the rccont election, tho democratic party showed a gain of more than 100 per cent and in tho precinct of iCicster tho gain was moro than 400 per cent. This gain was duo to the fact that tho democratic, platform was moro acceptable to the people and tho reforms it promised wero more applicable to tho condition and needs of tho country. The course for reformers to adopt is to spread true democratic doctrine, as sot forth in the plat form Of 1908. and await tllrt mrt-flln fnfltir nt the incoming republican administration to fuiai that opinion. In ordor that tho inquiry, shall, tho promises it made in its platform partlctt- It will bo necessary that wide scope ?S. ?' as 1reIttte" to. a rovlslon of tho tariff The4 do morougn it win oo necessary mat wide scope bo given tho contributors to this symposium, and these opinions are to bo printed with tho names of tho writers. For tho preparation of this symposium Tho Commoner must lay down certain unalterable' rules: First, replies must bo brief and tp tlie point. Second, tho writing must be plain. Third, the tono must be respectful, tho lan guage nonrllbelous and free from .epithet- -although tho widest possible latitude' will bo given for the description. of tho conditions. that, contributed to the result and tho expression of opinion as to the future course of reformers. Tho name of tho contributor will be used. Tho Commoner will contlnuo this sympo sium from week to week, covering sufficient time and space in which to clear up "Tho Mys tery of 1908." democratic party Is founded on pormanent prin cipies, tho carrying out of which means tho greatest good and greatest freedom for the masses from tho encroachments of antmnohmi wealth, and it will ngain bo victorious, tor "rree-'Jl viviju n utiuiu unco uugun, ucfjuonuica irum bleeding siro to son, though battled oft Is evor won." A. J. Anders, Oolwoln, Jowa. I answer the , questions as follows: Two Partisan projudice. Intimidation, treachery, Ignoraqt fear of a change, and activity of fcdoral officeholders. Three Figllt tho buttle out on lines of 19. Four Yen. Tho democratic party must gain control and a change be effected, or our liberty.; will bo lost and lifo without liberty Is not worth living. M. B. ChaBO, Marlon, Ohio. My precinct and county made democratic gains at tho last election attributable to tho good work of Tho Commoner, and tho thorough work dono In 1896. Many things and reasons mado up tho defeat of Mr. Bryan and tho democratic party. First, tho metropolitan papers of tho country, republican and some domocrutic woro against tho now democracy. Second, I'resldont Roose velt violating, In my opinion, both tho letter, and spirit of civil service reform directly and indirectly, ordered tho officeholders of his administration,- under the pay of the government, from their posts of duty thereunder Into the Held to fight tho battle for tho tariff and the powerful in effectiveness, and far reaching in trusts, and they wont forth and waged political influence than anything over adopted In the war against ns, while we paid half of their sal past by demagogues or tyrants for the purpose ,ary to run tho work of the government; and In of, subjecting the people.. Numberless, .genera- this connection the trusts furnished not less tions pf. men In the past allowed tiiomseives. to man j,uuQtui)Q to carry on the campaign. clergy of the dark ages, and while It may not use tho same methods, it serves, the same pur pose, and attains the same ends. Someone named the press the fourth power in a state. That may.havo been at one time. Tho press today Is the first and only power In a republic. More bo robbed and lashed. They hated their prose cutors, but were defenseless. Yet, accumulated hate, resulted in the' final overthrow of the system. Today free men are robbed and starved. They possess a powerful weapon their ballot, but they do not know their perse cutors, they do not hate them. They are edu cated to love them, and be gratefulfor their existence. Daily the vojter reads a lesson in liis favorite paper tho paper he befriended; he grows to see things, and believe In the actual outcome of problems as advocated by that paper. When hunting work, when going or com ing from work, he reads the samo paper, studies the same lesson, and on election day he votes, as it directed. Can anyone wonder how it hap pened when ninety per cent of the country, daily and periodic press, did hayo nothing to say about reforms, or platforms but just tho perspective of getting and keeping, or the dread ful alternative of losing tho country's meal ticket? What democracy should do? Why; keep on fighting, of course. Keep on adopting measures for Insuring the people's liberties, and material welfare. Identify Itself with tho peo ple's needs and become the people's party. Use every material and moral effort to organize and strengthen a press which would represent a now and truer .democracy, and make the same accessible - te, majority of voters, majority in the circulation of one party's papery, means a majority for 'in at party on election xjajr. Matt F.c fathers, Beloit, Wis. You have made" the grandest 'fight ever; made by,' any one for any cause. You ask for reasons why you Third, Tho manufacturers, principally of the east, fearing loss of profits vouchsafed to tbom by tho trust party, and too greedy to divide any benefits which tho tariff might brlute them, with their poor empIoyesthreatened that ' their mills and workshops would shut down or run depending upon which was elected, Jdr Bryan or Mr. Tariff Taft. Supporting this, at nearly every republican headquarters, was bill boarded, "If Mr. Bryan Is elected instant and continued depression in business, will result' False and fraudulent statement. Fourth, Early in the campaign in Ohio republicans started and;. clandestinely kept up the cry of "Taft anaJj Harmon, for tho purpose of defeating Mr. Bryan, as later In New York came tho cry of "Taft and Chanler." Fifth, Tho railroads with their moneyed influence were against us, both in, the east and in the west and northwest. Sixth, The labor vote of tho country was divided hr conditions not under the control of the democ-' racy. Seventh, There had been, during the time of tho governorship of Mr. Taft In tho Philip pines, a preparation by him for the presidency, in favoring and Ingratiating himself into the confidence of tho people who represented a large number of voters in the United States-, a groat many of whom I can but believe therefore stood by Mr, Taft and while they were mostly of dem ocratic tendencies, were not altogether so. Tfale vote I would estimate at not much less than. 750,000. Eighth, I . believe that Mr. Taft' charge upon tne "sonu soutn, lnuuoncen a great many votes in the middle (eastern) states. The industrial element in the couth, A Ut SB-? k. iWgu mmtaumttMmt MMMfciJMrnrifT r-rftiliif kiwnnHni Hwnatir