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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.
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