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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 18, 1908)
M 4i DECEMBER 18. 1908 The Commoner. SOLVING THE MYSTERY OF 1908 J. W. Biard, Sulphur, Okla. We owe our defeat to the failure of the democratic party to adopt Mr. Bryan's New York speech declaring for public ownership. The party should, in the future, .declare for public ownership and against the national bank system. Our whole money system is rotten to the core. The future course does not rest in securing depositors for caBh when ninety-nine in every hundred have notes instead of cash in the bank. Socialism gained 200 per cent in our county. Charles Hudson, Neillsville, Wis. Briefly, "ignorance of the American people." Barnum was right when he said, "there is a fool born every minute." These were Mr. Barnum's words: "There is nothing the American people enjoy so much as being humbugged." Mr. Barnum was right. "The ignorance of the aver age American voter is deplorable." No other comments are necessary as the above fully cov ers the territory. J. M. Foley, Thayer, Kan. The want of a more perfect organization and the lack of the ability to reach the masses intelligently through the daily press were a powerful handicap in the struggle of 1908. The press backed by en trenched monopoly and the vast army of state and federal officeholders were too potent a power against a united but unorganized democ racy. No other candidate could have done bet ter. It was the field against Bryan; all other parties Beemed to pool their issues to beat him. The labor vote was no leBs loyal to the cause than millions of others who might be expected to support it. The tambourine method won, and the great issues were lost sight of in the last days of the campaign. Another link was forged, , but it is as the people willed it. They had the opportunity but it is as they preferred. As one of them we- abide, in their choice, but still believing that eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. EdwaTd E. Howell, Omaha, Neb. The democratic party did make gains in Douglas county, ihis , year, due to, the confidence -the peo ple had ,ija.i Mr. Bryan as ourleader," as well as the home rule plank of the state and local ticket. The Teform element ought to keep right on in even tenor of their ways. The democratic party can hope to get in power because "Ever the truth comes uppermost and ever is justice done." A. B. Macardell, Middletown, N. Y. Third, The. same course. Stand straight up and preach the truth, $pr truth is mighty and shall prevail. Fourth, MQst assuredly, . by strict adherence to democratic doctrine, and the formulating of such policies, desirable therefrom, as changed condi ditions may demand. We think Mr. Bryan made an admirable and illuminating campaign but the odor of the flesh-pots was too strong for the masses, into whom the hard times scare was successfully thrown. In our judgment Mr. Bryan made two tactical campaign mistakes: First, in, posing as heir to Roosevelt's policies; second, in. not denouncing Taft's modified pro nouncement in favor of Bryan's policies, as a deliberate fraud on the voters, with intent to deceive. H.' McMaster, Detroit, Mich. First, The lack of courage of voters to vote their convic tions, for fear the money power would make times hard. Second, Because the trusts know the republicans will not interfere with them, and they advise their employes to vote the republi can ticket, for it will make times better. Third, The Mormons hold the balance of power in sev eral states, and like Utah, vote the republican ticket because the republicans they know will not interfere with them. Fourth, Lack of knowl edge of the issues. Fifth, The unaccounted for, yet change in the cities of NeW York, St. Louis and Chicago. Sixth," The selfish interests of some of the states on account of an imperial policy. . . ,,' Thomas' F. Hynes, Phillipsburg, Mont. Two, On account of your keeping quiet on the silver question; our main source of making a living -is mining silver, and the price has -fallen to almost nothing. Three, Appeal to the intell genco of the voters, stay with the money of the constitution; the money trust is our greatest danger. Four, Not while the present "money power" rulesV you had the election won until Carnegiev and Rockefeller made their declara tion, for Taft, the citizens voted with their stomachs and not with their heads, this- panic has not1 fairly started yet. Capital will soon Bay, acpept less or starve. The government THE SCOPE OF THE INQUIRY In its Issue of November 13, The Commoner invited contributions to a symposium, having for its purpose an inquiry Into tho causes of the results of the 1908 election. Tho Commoner asked the co-operation of its readers in every section of tho country, submitting theso questions: Did tho democratic party make losses In your county and precinct? If so, to what influence were such losses due? "What course shall reformers adopt for tho future? Can the democratic party hope ever to gain control of the federal government? The fourth 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 that opinion. In order that tho Inquiry shall be thorough it will be necessary that wide scope bo given tho contributors to vthls symposium, and theso opinions ar to be printed with tho names of the writers. For tho preparation of this, symposium Tho Commoner must lay down certain unalterable rules: First, replies must be brief and to the. point. Second, tho writing must be plain. Third, tho tone must be respectful, the lan guage non-libelous and free from eplthet-al-though the widest possible latitude will bo given for the description of the conditions that contributed to the result and the expression of opinion as to the future course of reformers. The name of the contributor will be used. The Commoner will continue this sympo sium from week to week, covering sufficient time and space In which1 to clear up "The Mys tery of 1908." should issue all money. Granite county, Mon tana, was the banner county for you in 1896, this year you barely carried it by 100 votes over Taft. The voters felt the panic would be harder on them if you were elected, as the senate would be against you, and you would be too radical with the trust robbers, who under the control of the money trust controls this government. It beats all that with your great brain you fall to See all our ills are at the feet of the money trust. Andrew Jackson saw it and throttled it for awhile; you must see it. As it is all pur other wrongs are only side issues of It, and tho sooner you begin to use your immense citizen powers the sooner you will help out your beloved coun try. The people are with you and love you, but get scared away on election day. Your two first defeats were bought by the money power, the last defeat by the money power scare. A re publican since election is ashamed to look one honestly in the face, less enthusiasm over their victory than I ever saw before, we'll stand It if they can. Watch Taft fool Roosevelt, Wall Street has him sure. Robert White, Heuvelton, N. Y. I believe thero is reform sentiment in the country suffi cient to have elected Mr. Bryan but many con sider democracy and refbrm irreconcilable terms and for this reason refrained from voting the democratic ticket. Possibly the time has come for the democratic party to follow tho example of its old time adversary, the whig party, and give place to a new, vigorous and winning organization. John E. Brenneisen, Unlonville, Md. If you- should receive ten thousand letters from every part of the country you could not solve the mystery of the democratic defeat better than vou have in the November 13th Commoner in the article entitled "Threat 'of a Panic." The neonle have heard these panic stories so much and so long that although their good sense and ludtrment will not allow them to believe It, still it has insidiously crept and insinuated itself into their verv composition until If has become a political superstition. They- are like a man whoso good sense and hotter Judgmont will not allow him to bollevo In ghoHtH, but because of the ninny stories of ghosts and hobgoblins ho has hoard from his cradle up, he will uteor cloar of a gravo yard at midnight. G. II. Wilson, Vernon, Ind.I think that tho main cause of our defeat wiik tho lack of presses to put our policies before tho people. Tho American pcoplo aro governed to a certain extont by what they read, and there Is no lack of litoraturo on the republican sido and they read It so much and don't see much of the other side of the question that thoy think that Is about all of It and It Is getting to bo bo popular to vote the republican ticket that thoy will vote for another panic b'oforo wo get rid of this ono. Thoy havo all tho advantages on their sido thd presses and tho money of tho people which 'thoy use for tho purpose of holding power as well ns a long train of officeholders that thoy havo creat ed In the last few years for the samo purpose. I think wo need more litoraturo for tho purpose of pointing out the defects and mlsrulo of our government. I believe there aro thousands of honest republicans that would not voto the ticket if they knew tho whole truth E. W. Ferguson, Jr., Long Pino, Neb. Our , course must bo, "How to tho lino, lot tho chips fall where thoy'may." Whllo thero is llfo thoro' is hope for democracy. Our defeat Is due to a hallucination existing in tho minds of tho ma jority that domocracy moans hard Union, la akin to tho fallacy that protection moana prosperity, both being fostered by a su Iwldlzod press, A. B. Evenden, Herklmor, N. Y. Now that election is over, and a great victory has been won by tho republican party, thero Is no ques tion more interesting to the American pcoplo than "What did it?" Permit mo to answer as ono who. took an active Intorest in this campaign for democracy, that the principle cause for our defeat in this election was the weak-kneed pol icy under which our platform was written and which controlled the campaign in general. Tho attempt made to associate tho Roosevelt policies with democratic principles and to avoid any definite criticisms of corporate wealth as un constitutional, un-American and undemocratic Much was made of tho popular demand to elect United States senators by direct voto, because that body has ceased to represent the will of the people, in the enactment of popular laws'; (which Is generally conceded). What legalized" force has transformed the United States senate from its constitutional basis, to its present con dition of class representation? Tho answer is, tho corporate system. Remove the corporate system and the United States senate will return to Its original constitutional position through tho samo door it departed from those sacred mandates. Again, much, very much, was mado of publicity of campaign funds before election. What creates tho necessity of this modern de mand? Is it for any other purpose than to de termine where the money comes from to cor rupt the electorate and determine which party, has tho support of corporate interests? Does any one believe such a fund can be gathered from the common people? Does It sufficiently interest any of the professions, such as doctors, lawyers or ministers? Does It Interest the mer chant, the farmer or tho laboring men enough to lead them to contribute to such debauchery? Most decidedly no. It is the vllo hand of cor porate greed. Remove the corporate system and tho corruption fund will go with it. Wo also found place for tho tariff question and Its en ticing campaign facilities sought shelter and a hiding place away from the real Issue of' this age, namely, monopoly; this childish pretenso of logical argument, elected the opposite ticket. The only legal right this monster evil (monop oly) has to exist, is again found In the corporate system, and In the interest of American citizen ship, I challenge the combined Intelligence of all parties to refute this statement. Hero is the real battle grounds evaded by democracy in this campaign, the issue that clearly defines every national evil in American politics today. If we remove the corporate system by repealing every law that legalizes Its existence, the tariff law will still stand alone for fgture campaign4 conveniences; In other words, wo may complete ly remove the corporate (monopoly) system from existence and not affect the tariff law ono fraction of a penny. This being true we (the democratic party) were treated with all con- slderatlon due us in this election. . A 1 il - I " -r r'lri a ! .