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vrf"mfvmttmiMfH''PvmtiMVlvmmmfH The Commoner APIUL 23, 1909 15 vf$mi wty "v r ",-r $& 5 i Letters from the People L. E. Perkins, Denver, Colo. I read in the April number of the World's Work the following: "We are entering a period like that which, under President Monroe, was known as the era' of good feeling. Now, as then, the views of both parties have come together. There is little differ ence between the tenets of a Cleve land democrat and a Taft republi can. Mr. Franklin McVeagh, the new secretary of the treasury, was one and is the other and has never changed his beliefs." This, at any rate, confirms the belief expressed in former correspondence, that neither Mr. Stephens nor myself were the only ones who thought dropping the money question simply meant the ab sorption of the great democratic party by the party of the "predatory rich" and the "wealthy malefactor" who have, like the Kilkenny cats, devoured both. Robert Schilling, Milwaukee, Wis. ( Lincoln's epigram about fooling the people should bo changed some what. They may not be able to fool all the people all the time, but they do seem to be able to fool the ma jority of the people all the time. I know sensible, intelligent men not one, but many who voted the re publican ticket in the last election, in spite of the fact that they were even more radical than the demo cratic party, solely because they were afraid that the' election of Bryan would induce the Wall Street thugs to precipitate another paniq. And this while we were in the midst of one caused by these selfish and heart less financial buccaneers. Will these people never learn that under our present barbarous financial system panics are absolutely inevitable? If they once realize this indisputable fact, they would vote for a change, even if it caused temporary trouble. If a body suffers With a foul ulcer, little plasters and lotions may give temporary relief, but no remedy. What is needed is some radical rem edy in order to effect a thorough and permanent cure. The ulcer must be removed, no matter how heroic the means of relief may be. The entire silly and disreputable financial sys tem must be changed, even though we be compelled to pass through a period of serious depression, and then we will have safety ever after. George Strelitz, Milwaukee, Wis. May I presume to submit to you the following ideas: Our political lead ers should by no means be leaders in the strictest-sense of the word, but rather followers of developments in thought and knowledge, which must "vote." Any representative, senator or president shall be recalled and re placed if he violates the platform promises, and the legislative acts he participated in, shall have no legal force." Any corrupt practices or lavish expenditure of money used in elections, will make another election necessary, which will have to take place within ten days after the first election. The candidate having used corruptive methods is not eligible in that election. I think the public can be made to see that the purpose of such laws would be to secure the democratic institutions of this coun try against their being abused by cor porate wealth. They furnish no grounds upon which a threat can be based to the effect, that the pros perity of the nation would be im paired should such legislation be car ried out. Having placed the elec tions in the hands of the people, all other issues will settle themselves. Thomas R. Stevenson, Oakland, Cal. Anent the unbroken series of successes of the opponents of our re publican ideals of government since the close of the civil war, it would seem that even Commoner readers overlook the steady, menacing growth of the prerogative and pow ers of the federal judiciary. We know the supremo court was re modeled for the purpose of reversing the greenback decision. So far as my knowledge extends 'backward, that was the first direct use of the courts to nullify a .aw of congress. It was not the last, nor Jby any means the only time the federal courts have been successfully used to thwart the will, as well as the rights of the people. We all remember the use made of the supreme court in the Tilden-Hayes presidential contest; the reversal of the income tax law; the setting aside of the employers' li ability act; their sustaining of injunc tions in criminal cases in violation of all precedent and existing law. It has actually come to pass in our time that we no longer possess a repre sentative government. In place of the government established by the revolutionary fathers we now have an oligarchy of wealth ruling us des potically through the supreme court. Few people seem to realize how com plete the power of the court has really become. Our house of repre sentatives have only one function left the power to tax the poor. Through the treaty making function the president "by and with the con sent of the senate" can and does, set aside, not only state laws, according to the decisions of the supremo court, but the acts of congress itself. Mr. Jefferson in 1823 wrote these words anent the veto power of the supreme been undermined by capitalism through the instrumentality of the judiciary, if we do not. Tho last re publican platform promised to "up hold and strengthen the powor of tho courts." Mr. Taft In his inaugural address straddled almost every other question except court injunctions. Ho Insists that tho courto must not only retain all their power, but that tho idea of stato laws standing In tho way of federal courts must bo suppressed. Are democrats too cowardly to at tack this monster of despotism? If so, then they must and should bo al-' way beaten. to a large degree become diffused court: "No veto power, ancient or amongst the people, before a states man can profit effectively by any in tellectual progress that may have been made. Bearing this cardinal principle in mind, it will be rather easy to trace the reason of Mr. Bryan's defeat in the last presiden tial campaign. First, Our political problems have become more difficult of comprehension. Second, The in tellectual progress of the masses has not kept up with these larger re quirements. Third, The soil in which our democratic institutions have been planted, which was so well fitted to nourish the qualities of indepen dence, has been gradually undergo ing a change. This is a rather dark statement and ought to be explained at greater length, however I do not wish to make this letter longer than absolutely necessary. One sugges tion would follow from these re marks, which may be useful, should the democratic party once more espouse the cause of reform. Limit the platform, so as to concentrate the power of attack upon practically one issue. Namely this can be easily grasped by the public, mind: The senators shall be elected by popular YEARPHBhtauu-. -jjJdMK 20 GUARANTEE 15 Jewel Watch $3& Ltt M Mod fU lull tftai wttob bj RMI Id, ualMUoa. ll tMU MtfclM to xunlM It, sI kaew jw vtll buy 1 1 t jta f It HoAtemtt Wtk rt pr4a4 l tWl pri. JrvU4Uhflink7jvili. Brtfl btl iprir.qlk Utla.lmr Mwnui SH4 t-Rtct diuipraf ttttv u,.tU MMaadnki(otnaUlSOjMn. CrtUUtuIth v(tb titlllMTet to W frnuui7Um liJ.w.U4 MMi f HI. SEEING IS. RELIEVING. OullftUtMlMa4hlurti 7tfnua,rt M tMattfr cm MdrtM,ta4 w I tad On wUb by ipri tn dial itloo. UtMlAettrf par tipru ifwl f7 mA ntt Wm a4 It l yr R. E. CHALMERS & CO., 388 Dwbera St., CHIOACO. modern, ever existed so formidable as this American irresponsible judi cial veto." During the last presiden tial canvass democrats were every where confronted with the question of "How can Mr. Bryan do anything while the supreme court is in the control of great wealth?" Every one realized that no reform was pos sible so long as big capitalists were entrenched behind that all-powerful court. If W. T. Stead Is to be trust ed, this American idea of government by a supreme court is now receiving the earnest consideration of Euro pean capitalists. Speaking about the recent opening of the international parliament of agriculture in Rome, which he says the king hopes may develop into a universal parliament of the world, Mr. Stead uses these words: "Behind them all, invisible as the atmosphere, whose pressure all men feel, is the great American idea of a free confederation of indepen dent states living together in paren tal equality and settling all disputes and differences by the judgment of an impartial supreme court." It is plain, then, that European rulers un derstand that American liberty has Get Our Special Combination Offer I The Thrice-a-Week New York World, Regular Price $1.00 The Commoner, Reg. Price, $ 1 .00 Both for $1.25 This unusual offer includes both papers ono full year for only $1.25. The Thrice-a-Week Edition of tho New York World, for all practical purposes, is as good as a daily paper. You will want a good live paper from tho nation's metropolis. If you already take The Commoner and want to got tho World, you can take advantage of this offer by sending us $1.25, thus advancing your subscription to The Commoner one year fron present date of expiration. Address Orders to THE COMMONER, Lincoln, Neb. 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