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VOLUME '10, NUMBER 1
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Itfl right to public confidence and had ceased
to bo of sorvico to tho people.
Who will deny that tho republican party,
judgod by Us record sinco tho last presidential
election, has demonstrated that It Is tho pliant
tool of special Interests and can not be depend
ed upon to servo the people?
Tho question Is, Is tho democratic party fit for
ouch service. It has all tho fundamental prin
ciples necessary to such service and if faithful
to those principles it will servo tho people.
Upon tho rank and fllo will devolve tho duty
of seeing to it that tho party is an agent for
tho public good.
"VIGOROUS INVESTIGATION"
Sonator Lodge Is chairman of the sonato com
mittee having charge of the duty of investigat
ing tho high cost of living under tho republican
administration. Referring to tho committee
proceedings, an Associated Press dispatch says:
"Contrary to expectations, it now appears un
lilcoly that hearings will bo hold by tho commit
too. Chairman Lodge Is of tho opinion that
more can bo accomplished by calling experts in
tho various oxecutivo departments which have
special knowledge of tho subjects to bo pro
posed." This will bo a good way of keeping out any
Information that would shock tho sensibilities
of republican statesmen. Tho committee will
call a fow of Mr. Taft's appointees, otherwise
known as "exports" and tho result will bo what
ovor suits tho administration's purpose. In tho
.meantime, howovor, tho cost of living is going
hlghor and highor and tho peoplo know where
to placo tho blamo.
KENTUCKY AND THE INCOME TAX
Tho Kentucky state senate, by a vote of 17
to 17, dofeated tho resolution to ratify
tho proposed Income tax amendment to tho
fodoral constitution. Thus Kentucky is the third
southern state to throw its efforts against this
most oquitablo plan of taxation. Georgia first,
Virginia second, Kentucky third. It would
seem from this that tho representatives of
plutocracy knew what thoy wero talking about
when thoy declared that tho incomo tax amend
ment was doomed. Democrats everywhero will
howovor, keenly regret that any democratic
legislature aided in tho destruction of thla great
rolorm.
MR. JJRVAN'S SPEECHES
Russell Herbert Distin, Orford, N. H., writes:
I am in receipt of tho two volumes of Mr
Bryan s speeches in which I find very interest
ing reading and sincerely wish tho thousands
who have boon led to misunderstand Mr. Bryan's
efforts in bohalf of tho masses of common peo
ple (through tho misinterpretation by special
privilogo and its following) would get them into
thoir homos and read them, I am sure no un
prejudiced mind would harbor further doubt of
his sincerity and his inestimable worth to tho
common country."
WHY NOT DEPEW?
A republican paper refers sneeringly to
Chauncoy M Dopow's announcement that ho will
bo a candidato for re-election to the senate This
paper refers to tho 'fact that Senator Depow was
a bit smirched in tho insurance investigation and
thinks that this should cause Mr. Depew W
tiroment to private life. Tho same paper? 5o
oyer has had sneers for Glavis and Plnchot and
high praiso for Secretary of tho Interior Sal
inger. If Mr. Balllnger is qualified tor a place
ottMnaST0nt CabIUOt WUy UOt "D0I,ew 'r
CAN YOU HELP THIS FATHER?
t nAnynPOrso" knowing tho whereabouts of ono
Loon Ernest Hill (formerly of KnowlewHle
Now York) who loft homo about seven yeare
ago, will confer a great favor by sendine ta!
R0rRatINo t02 sTZB fther; As"n LngHni
Couniy,NNew York 18' K. Orleans
A SIMPLE REPUBLICAN EDITOR
Tho Pittsburg Press, a republican paper of tho
standpat variety, has concluded that therV i
something worse than insurgency a d that n
nonlsm is tho thing. The Kss says: an"
Insurgency of the Cummins-LaFollotto tvnn
Is not popular among republicans iJ plyp,
SSi&i bUt neithGr ta CttMontar This Ttho
reflection uppermost in tho averajro minrt i
The Commoner.
Is an open question. Our own Impression is that
notwithstanding the bitter denunciation the
speaker launches at them, they are not doing the
party as great an Injury as ho is. At least ono
of their foremost leaders, Mr. LaFollette, bears
all the earmarks of a demagogue, and there aro
others among them who, if not deliberate charla
tans, may at least bo regarded as mere time
servers, not troubling themselves to be too nice
as to tho means by which they cultivate popular
ity, and joining tho hue and cry against the pro
tective tariff and other party measures not be
cause of a conviction that the tariff is not tho
best thing for tho country but because they think
they can get votes in their own sections by being
against it. But all parties aro obliged now and
then to contend with this sort of local pettiness.
To punish it by Instant excommunication would
bo in nine cases out of ten highly impolitic, and
In any event It would bo injudicious to have a
person of as questionable political repute as Mr.
Cannon issuing the bull.
"The insurgents aro luckier than they deserve
to bo in having Mr. Cannon head the fight
against them. As a' ring politician of particular
ly offensive method, and as a corporation lobbyist
in undeservedly high place, he constantly grows
in unpopularity. If the insurgents are to be
rendered as harmless as possible, it would be
well for Cannon not to bo too conspicuous in his
hostility to them."
It is strange that a man with sufficient intel
ligence to edit a daily newspaper can not under
stand that Cannonism is simply a fair represent
ative of republican party method. Is it not
strange that while the editor of the Pittsburg
Press regards Mr. LaFollette as a demagogue,
several million American citizens regard him as
a high-minded ctatesman? If the Press editor
would but look over his party he would find that
tho men who, like LaFollette aro engaged in
so-called insurgency, are merely making patriotic
protests against the system which, if unchecked,
will destroy popular government in America;
and tho Press editor will find that Cannonism
as well as Aldrichlsm and, if you please, Taftism,
is merely tho concentrated efforts of the special
interests to prey upon the people. If the editor
of the Pittsburg Press regards Cannon as "a cor
poration lobbyist in a deservedly high place"
how does he regard Nelson A. Aldrich in the
senate?
TILE JAPAN MAGAZINE
Tho Japan Magazine, published at Tokio,
Japan, made its appearance March, 1910 The
proprietors are B. Wilfrid Fleisher and Seishin
Hirayama. The editors aro Zoe Kincaid and Y
Bryan Yamashita.
Mr. Yamashita, one of the editors of this
magazine is the young man who, several years
ago, visited Lincoln and took up his abode in
Mr. Bryan's home. He attended the Nebraska
State University and pursued his studies with
marked industry, spending much of his time
in Mr. Bryan's library and availing himself of
every opportunity to improve his mind and for
tify himself for his chosen life work. His am
bition was, and is, to serve the people of Japan
and help them on to better and higher indi
vidual and national life. Nee'dless to say that
Mr Bryan has always felt the deepest interest
in the welfare of this fine, young man. Need
less to say that the magazine of which he iq
one of the editors, has Tho Commoner's best
wishes for a highly successful career. The
initial number and the second number give jrreat
promise The matter is well arranged, the typo
graphical appearance is attractive and the a,,h
ects dealt with are such as win entertain and
instruct men and women of all national es
Success to Mr. Yamashita and his magazine
May it continue to improve and may its fditora
never lose courage in the battle for the nubHo
Sdareffors.faith in UUImate victoryrP?S
FOUR YEARS MORE
At tho Lincoln dinner held at New Vnrir nu
Governor Hughes paid a high eE E p ?'
AfKSStotr' tUan U1S maker- th0 South
Where the Old
.w
Ship is Leading
THANKFUL FOR SMALL FAVORS
The Washington correspondent for the New
York World tells this story of the president:
William H. Taft laid down the last paper of the
heap that accumulated on his desk on the first
day of the second year of his presidency today
and chuckled. His grin broadened into a smile,
and that developed into a roar of laughter.
"How do I feel after my first year in the
president's office, you ask?" he said to a caller
who had congratulated him on the anniversary.
"Well, I'll tell you how I feel," and he laughed
again. "I feel just about like the preacher who
passed the hat through his congregation and
brought it back to the pulpit empty, and then
thanked God that he had got his hat back-'
INDIANA, APRIL 15
Washington dispatch to the New York World :
Senator Beveridge is- between the devil and the
deep sea trying to decide whether it is politically
expedient to make his Indiana state convention,
which will meet on April 15, eat out of the
"president's hand or permit it to go ahead and
kick holes in the Payne tariff bill and itself
over the traces of the republican party. Senator
Beveridge will run the convention, and it will
do just what Mr. Beveridge wants. President
Taft has expressed the desire that Indiana act
nice in her convention, which means to keep
the party solid, indorse the tariff and work for
progress in the republican ranks. Whether it
will do so is up to Senator Beveridge. And last,
but not least, Mr. Beveridge's word to that con
vention may decide something extremely im
portant to Mr. Beveridge, to wit: In 'words and
figures 1 United States senator count him
ANOTHER RAILROAD LAWYER
Washington dispatch to the Philadelphia
North American:
William S. Kenyon, general counsel of the
Illinois Central railroad, has been selected by
President Taft to succeed Wade H. Ellis as as
sistant attorney general in charge of trust prose
cutions. The appointment will bring into tho
service of the government another of the group
of big railroad lawyers from Chicago.
tt ydo?- Bowers nw solicitor general of the
United States, was formerly general counsel of
the Chicago Northwestern; Secretary of War
Dickinson was general counsel of the Illinois
Central, Preceding in that position Mr. Kenyon,
mentT Ziif a,B0 "
cKrpnrWo ? tberS' h?wever Kenyon is de
clared to be a progressive republican, seeking
tinon0n"tUnity,t0.SeroVG the PSblic- His sS
tion was urged by Senator Dolliver of Iowa,
and is heartily commended by Senator CummlX
WHICH SDDE WILL ROOSEVELT TAKE?
a ,T?? Washington correspondent for the Phila
delphia North American says that President Taft
aSfrRoot TS0t ?ta t SitodSS
of the "nreLS n t0. Present tho Taft Bide
Rre
Jtalit'h t0 Skffi
jum just what has been done and urtrinir him
ESSMT- The NoHh A" --
as authorities for the statement thS 1 m Leb
president will approve TtS ?at lhe former
by his successor? will el d
support to the present polices Vt MTaU
tionMedU M&'mm. .
do nothing of thfkinr? HDMdict.tnat he wI
diction upon their rnnfiiand th.ey base ihi Pre
will not Sdo the nrinofni ? Mr Rsevelt
he was IfroBldeStrttorotoM T?l Wh"e
never condone tho niei? ore that he can
