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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 4, 1908)
'DECEMBER 4. 1901 on one side and the Increasing difficulty of the many to secure for themselves the bare neces sities of life on the other. Again the aping of the wealthy after aristocracy and their hunt for titles; also their wdeslro to sojourn for many months in each year in European capital, whose society members have nothing but con tempt for the principles of a free and full de mocracy as advocated by Thomas Jefferson. Alter the late election all the leading papers of every monarchial country In tho world com mented on tho result and rejoiced in tho suc cess of William Howard Taft and the defeat of .William Jennings Bryan. This is more re markable when wd consider the more than lib eral praise they gave him everywhere ho went during his recent trip aTound the world, which would lead one to believe it was not the man, but the principles he Brands for that was objec tionable. How did it happen? Mark Hannaisra. To him and not Theodore Roosevelt, the victory Is due. In 1896 he introduced a new policy in American politics, and showed his party how to win elections. He said to the mannufacturers, especially those who profited by tariff legisla tion, see to it that those men who work for you vote for you; those who won't, turn them adrift. And as George Ado tritely puts It, "Tho working man wants a master." He has one. J. E. Lemon, Nashville, . Okla. So far as Oklahoma" Is concerned, it was merely a matter of stay-at-home democrats. The republican vote showed no increase in this state, but tho democratic vote fell away, owing to nice weather for cotton picking in southern Oklahoma, where the democratic yote is heaviest.. In my own county of Grant where the vote is always ex tremely close, the democratic electoral ticket carried by ninety votes, running ahead of the state ticket. As to. the causes of republican vic tory in so many states, surely the blind can see and the merest tyro in politics can not fail to understand them. First, 90 per cent of the leading daily papers are in the liands of tho enemy, aud the political newspaper is the only mentor of millions of people. Second, The re publican organization Is the most powerful and effective political machine that has ever been fcnown to this eartbf. Third, The fear of busi ness depression in the event of a change of parties caused a half millldn democrats to vote the republican ticket. These three facts, taken together with the personal popularity of Presi dent Roosevelt, based upon his attempt to en force the law against the anarchists of dishon est wealth, and which popularity he so adroitly passed on to his successor, explains "Tho Mys tery of 1908" which is not a mystery at all, but a phenomenon whoso cause Is easy of per ception. "May the democratic party ever hope to obtain possession of the government?" Most assuredly. There is only one thing certain In the universe and that is the Inevitable triumph of right over might. "Truth, crushed to earth will rise again. The eternal years of God are her's, but error, wounded, writhes In pain and dies amid her worshippers." Let those demo crats who are discouraged at our present pros pects leave the party, for they are a disgrace to the party, and let those in whose hearts is the courage of honest convictions go forth to battle with renewed faith and redoubled energy. We have only one thing to fear; that is that our leaders discouraged by repeated defeats may abandon some of the progressive and' radical principles for which our great champion has fought and suffered defeat for twelve years. Let us put none but loyal democrats in positions of party. trust, and jealously guard our party councils against the deadly blight of treason. By this course only can we deserve success, and by deserving success only, can. we hope to win it - Thomas J. Wilson, Clinton, 111. Course for reformer in tho future: Forward, march! Can democrats hope to win? "Finally Justice triumphs." . Charles L. Hyde, Pierre, S. D. For three campaigns. I have followed your reverses, al though formerly always a republican. I helped nominate you at Kansas City and I am still of the opinion that some day you will be presi dent of these United States. Among the causes that led to your defeat, I am certain, was the fear and dislike of the labor unions among the great number of business men, professional men, farmers and non-union laborers. The closed shop is un-American unbrotherly and un just; it is selfish and cruel. The American peo ple' are more intelligent, as a mass, than we fully appreciate, and as a body they are un alterably in favor of justice and the "square deal." The labor union when it advocates the closed shop is more narrow and selfish than any leligous sect who may damn all who differ in The Commoner opinion and judgment from them, for It would starve or even kill those who will not or do not join them. I givo theso few expressions as cov ering one of the causes that may no bo brought out by others. E. B. Luce, Little Valley, N. Y. Tho dem ocratic party mado gains In this county (Cat taraugus) and In this oloction district. Thoro were 81 votes for Parker in 1904 and 123 votes for Bryan in 1908, a gain of over 50 per cent in this district. Reformers in tho futuro should talk prosperity more as a natural and cor tain sequence, should make conspicuous this idea by means of testimonials, etc., etc. Strange as it may seem, I believe tho masses wero fright ened from voting for Bryan becauso of four of business, adversity. Yes, tho democratic party can hope to gain control of tho federal govern ment, and I hope still that it will be under tho candidacy and leadership of Mr. Bryan. t N. NIsh, Waukeo, Iowa. As a soldier from 61 to 'G5, I feel there is a great conilict before tho American people Bhall reallzo tho object of this government. I send you my answers to your questions as follows: First question, Wo mado a small gain. Second question, To in fluence of tho Christian character of our can didate. Third question, No course reformers can adopt will change tho people. They have turned from the Blblo doctrine, and believe their possessions and prosperity aro tho gift of tho republican party. Statute law Is greater than tho moral. Fourth question, No, for lack of money to control tho public press. N. Colgen, St. Charles, Minn. The course of all reformers must bo substantially along same lines as wo pursued this last campaign, but the people must be educated away from old traditions, and bo gotten to see questions of re form from an up-to-date standpoint. Also let them know tho size and source of the repub lican campaign fund. Can the democratic party hope ever to gain control of the federal gov ernment?' Sure. Right will always prevail. C. S. Jones, Falls River, W. Va. Employ ers here coerced their men. Good solid demo crats voted for Taft because they told them if Bryan was elected they would shut down. Ten democrats failed to vote while practically every republican voted. Republicans hold secret meetings before tho election and it is evident that money was used. John M. Board, Corder, Mo. Six years ago you made the statement that you would travel over this state and if necessary over tho con tinent to help to elect ex-Governor Stone to the United States senate. On election day theso remarks wore printed on a card without the date as to the time when you made them and they wero being circulated quite freely among Governor Folk's friends and it made them very angry, and some of them voted for Mr. Taft, but It was quickly corrected and explained to them and they accepted tho explanation. An other reason I assign for it is there was too much money against you. The statement of Walter Wellman to his paper In Chicago sat isfies me that this was the most potent factor used by the republicans to bring about such a tremendous result. Ho said for ten days be fore the election that money commenced flow ing in one continual stream to republican head quarters. I want to relate to you that which was told me by a relative two years after your first defeat. He had just gotten back from Ohio where he had been visiting a married daughter and in conversation while there with a wealthy republican farmer, the race between you and Mr. McKInley came up. He remarked that he had always been a republican and voted for Mr. McKinley, but if you were nominated the next time he was going to vote for you as you were the best man of the two for the office. Ho further stated that two weeks before tho elec tion you had McKinley beaten the worst kind in his own, state. When Hanna found It out ho flooded the state with money and turned the tide against yout. They did the same thing this time. 3 IS THIS A DRIFT? of laborers. W.ith them the two influence com bined to transfor tholr normal ballot from Bryan to Tntr Mnn m. -i.i, , t.,. . ., yjL tuu umnouc journal J had anything to say agatnBt'Taft; they prae4? him. Thoy romemborcd that hn wnm m rt. to sottlo tho Friar quostlon; that as gavorhar-S Ul luo '"PPincB, and m secretary of war In control of tho Philippines, of Porto Rico i Cuba, ho hits ffnnU full !.., l n. -..... Yii irfttiho11? sovornmenta havo boon hostile , Accordingly. ArnlihlHhnn iinri ....,. , w ' nlla tho oXnrnnRlnn nt 1il r.nnn.. . .i. ation for Mr. Taft; and after tho oloction tho V SniT "J .?"TO ?li0.M- Thoro arq ban- .v-. u.uuduuuh Bi mono democratic Catholic v who have voted for Taft, multitudes of whom voted for Roosovolt four yoars ago, and tor tho samo reason. It is nlso to bo observed that I othor causos aro breaking un tho nlntmiRh ihuk i solidarity. Tho younger uenorntlnn minirin mnf. 'ii freely with tho nativo citizenship and aro affect- cd thereby. Also a multltudo of them aro offaMt-..t -v uiu uimuiiuu vi mo saioon with tho dent ocratic party. Tho most offcctlvo temperance societies aro with Catholic churches, and the bishops and prlcata aro very emphatic on the subject. Social relations also havo tholr Infltt onco, and in tho north social Influonco goes with the republican party, as in tho south with the ciomocratic. it Is a very Important political problem whntiinr tuia istn.i.t.i, 1..11..11. . j particularly Irish Catholic, vote can bo kept for - flirt rnntiMlnnn nni., -v .ini.M.u jmrty. , The Independent, New York, In Its editorial review of tho result of the recent election, says: "Connected with this Is another rery serious drift which, the political journals do not seem to notice, but which the Impartial observer dis covers. The Catholic vote, and particularly tho democratic Irish vote, was turned to Tift. This Is not exactly in addition to tho labor vote, for, this Irish Catholic vote la mainly composed SOMETHING WRONG To the Editor of tho Philadelphia. North American: Tho Pecksniff, tho Straddlobugs, the modern Pilatos, defeated democracy. Among,, theso I Include tho brilliant editor of tho North' Amorican, who, In his twenty-one story build- ' ing is so far removed from the ground that the , despairing shriek of damned wretches In he,,. guttor raus to reach his car. But he will hmr them before long. You wore afraid that Brymii would disturb "values" should he bo elected.' You called him visionary and Impracticable fj-" causo ho threatened jail for corporation jd trust scoundrels. You damned him with faint praise and said ho wasn't safe. Ho was against special privilege and you thought ho might ap-, point supromo court Judges who would give tjU moneyless man an equal chance with Rocke feller, for Instanco, You admired him, but yW feared his advent might bring to fruition tjhe Idea of government ownership of railroads and thereby wreck the gamblers of Wall Street. ' You realized that something was radically wrong somewhere, that a cancer Is gnawing in tho. body politic, but you Imagine that it might I 1 ..!! ..i. ...in i. .4i. 1..-1 . ,i uu -unvou oul wiuiuui cuiung, mat mo exor cism of a monkey beating a tomtom and passing tho tin cup, grinning one moment and showing his teeth the next, r ould be all that was neces- j sary. Tho monopoly octopuses do not care for all,", the tomtoms in creation, especially when .all the beaters of tho tomtoms aro their lackeys and owe their election to tho money of their masters. Carnegie said Bryan's election. wofflAft do a trageuy, ana it wouiu nave oeen to ma,oc' Ufa stamp. "No rogues e'er reit tne nalter draw witn gooa opinion- ot mo iaw. no mist ram m nato feared Taft. , You have doubtless read Gibbons' "Decile.! and Fall of the Roman Empire," but you Jure' evidently read It to but little purpose. Tiara-J J reach inr out bis hand to seize the iron pen a4 ; write another history. You hope the next prri- I dent will curb tho rapacity of the trusts by following in the footsteps of the present exeeu- tive. You remind me of a grasshopper calliajr unon a bullfrog to chain the legs of a mastodon? Had Bryan been elected socialism tfejy nightmare or monopoly woum nave oeen post poned fifty years. You may congratulate yoeuM self that by electing Taft you havo alde4ris. bringing it as a reamy wunux me next twire years. tJ ? Now. you can throw this communkatio away, or should you publish It, be sure to trlea "tho stubborn text to cars polite, and keep dm- U.ltVU VJJ.U VJ. ofo"w , Aj S. W. WHEELER. , Camden, Pa., November 0. ' "tie JV U -'