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The Commoner.
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WILLIAM J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
VOL. 10, NO. 34
Lincoln, Nebraska, September 2, 1910
Whole Number 502
Nebraska in Congress
Nebraska should bo well represented at
.Washington after March 4.
Congressman Hitchcock, the democratic nomi
nee for the United States senate, ought to suc
ceed Senator Burkett. Mr. Hitchcock has mado
a splendid record in congress, whilo Burkett
has grossly misrepresented the interests of Ne
braska. The large insurgent element in the
republican party is opposed to Burkett and that
is sufficient to insure his defeat.
In the First district Congressman Maguire,
the democratic candidate for re-election, is op
posed by William Hayward, secretary of the
republican national committee. Hayward is an
extreme standpatter, while Maguiro has made
an ideal representative and deserves re-election.
In the Second district C. O. Lobeck is the
democratic candidate against Judge Sutton.
Mr. Lobeck is a worthy representative of tho
Swedish element of Nebraska's population an
element which has contributed much to the
state's progress and he is a man who can bo
trusted anywhere. There is little doubt as to
his election.
In the Third district Congressman Latta is
Che democratic candidate against Mr. Boyd.
He has served one term and had no opposition
for re-nomination. His re-election is assured.
In the Fourth district Judge Good carries tho
democratic standard against C. H. Sloan. Mr.
Good is one of the best democrats in the state
. and would make an excellent congressman. He
Is the type of man we need at Washington.
In the Fifth district the republicans have re-.-nominated
Congressman Norris, and it would
be difficult if not impossible to defeat him but
for the fact that Ex-Congressman Sutherland,
his democratic opponent, has a record which
commends him to tho voters. Sutherland stands
for all the good things that Norris represents,
and for many good things that Norris opposes.
And Sutherland would, in addition, have the
advantages of having his party with him, while
Norris would have his party against him.
In the Sixth district W. J. Taylor received
tho populist nomination while J. It. Dean re
ceived the democratic nomination. They are
both good men and it Is to be hoped that some
plan will be devised whereby one of them will
withdraw in order that the voters who do not
like Congressman Kinkaid's record may mass
their votes in behalf of popular government.
If Nebraska can elect a democratic senator
and six democratic congressmen in 1910 she
will contribute her quota toward the great vic
tory that seems probable this year. Let every
democrat in the state do his duty.
A CENTRAL BANK
It can not be denied that the tendency among
our great financiers is toward the establishment
of a central bank. Such a bank would be able
to control not only tho purse strings of tho
nation but the purse strings of the people. Be
cause of this enormous power, such a bank
would bo able to control elections, dictate gov-
f
?
CONTENTS
NEBRASKA IN CONGRESS
FALSE ARGUMENT
GOOD FOR HOKE SMITH
WHAT ABOUT LAFOLLETTE?
DIRECT LEGISLATION IN ARKANSAS
"TELL IT TO GAYNOR"
MR. ROOSEVELT'S TOUR
COUNTY OPTION WHAT IS IT?
NEBRASKA STATE SENATE
CURRENT TOPICS
HOME DEPARTMENT
"IF THE PEOPLE RULE WHY DON'T THEY
GET WHAT THEY WANT?"
WHETHER COMMON OR NOT
NEWS OF THE WEEK
ornmont policies, crush great principles, and
shape tho business of tho country according to
tho ends and advantages of thoso in authority
in this central bank.
, Such a bank, if theso men had their way,
would bo endowed with money-issuing powers
"without tho pre-requlslto of bond deposits."
There are many tilings nowadays which
threaten tho welfare of tho people, but of all of
the propositions so far mado none promiso
greater detriment than tho suggestion that
thero bo established in this country a Nick
Biddlo institution.
And yet it may bo that out of tho threatened
disastor great good will como. Tho creation '
another Nick Biddlo may thus provide a call
for another Andrew Jackson; and atno time In
its history has this country been so sadly in
need of a man of Jackson's mould as it is today.
GOOD FOR HOKE SMITH
Hoko Smith was nominated for governor of
Georgia over the present governor, Joseph M.
Brown by an enormous majority. Tho contest
was an exciting one as indicated by tho follow
ing dispatch sent during the campaign:
"The past struggles of theso two are a chap
ter in the south's most picturesque political his
tory, Brown being tho state railroad commission
chairman, whom Smith, whilo governor threo
years ago, deposed, only to have this former
chairman turn the tables by beating him for
governor when Smith desired a ronomination.
So intense is the interest now that polls have
been taken of passengers on railroad trains,
corner groceries have had staw votes, and it
' is not uncommon to poll office building elevators
in their flights between floors to learn whether'
their occupants preponderate for Brown or
Smith."
Hoke Smith is a sturdy American. Ho appre
ciates tho importance of keeping tho special in
terests out of political authority. In tho face
of great discouragements he has stood faithfully
for his convictions. Defeated two years ago by
tho corporation and liquor interests, he Is now
victorious by a pronounced majority, and Georgia
Is to be congratulated that this able, faithful
man will again hold the gubernatorial office
WHAT ABOUT LAFOLLETTE?
Senator LaFollette is fighting for his sena
torial life In Wisconsin.
Mr. Roosevelt has hero an opportunity to put
his insurgency into practical use. It is said he
does not like LaFollette personally. That, how
ever, is of small moment at this time when tho
special Interests in the republican party
are trying to defeat the Wisconsin sen
ator. LaFollette has been true to tho
public interests. Ho has not done everything
democrats would have him do, but he has mado
a determined, faithful fight according to his
convictions, and he is entitled to the cordial
support of men who, liko Mr. Roosevelt, prefer
to be counted upon the side of the masses
rather than upon the side of tho special In
terests. If Mr. Roosevelt would deliver ono speech for
Senator LaFollette it would advance the cause
of Insurgency in all sections of the country.
ONE BY ONE
One by one the Cannon democrats are falling.
The men who joined with Cannon to defeat tho
democrats and insurgents are now hearing from
their constituents.
Leonldas F. Livingston and W. F. Howard, in
point of service the oldest members of the
Georgia delegation in the house of representa
tives, were defeated for renomination in tho
Georgia primaries recently held. The Associated
Press says: "The fight against Livingston and
Howard was in each case based upon the rep
resentatives' alleged desertion of the democratic
party when it was sought last December to
change the so-called Cannon rules of the house."
False Argument
Did you over hear an opponont of county
option argue that county option is not fair be
causo a victory for tho drys closes all saloons
while a victory for tho wots still loaves dry
spots? Now soo how oasily this argument -advanced
in all seriousness, too Is answered.
Nebraska wont wot in 1890 whon tho prohibi
tion amendment was'dofeatcd; if the stato had
gono dry at that timo ALL saloons would have
been closed, but will any ono say that, tho state
having gono wot, FAIRNESS requires that we
Bhall have saloons overywhoro? Will any
brewer or distiller endorse over his own signa
ture tho argument that, because tho prohibition
amendment was defeated, no community should
bo permitted to refuso license for the public
sale of liquor?
Will any liquor dealer or saloon keeper ad
vance such an argument? Is any opponont of
stato prohibition willing to mako a fight against
it with the understanding that stato prohibition
shall mean no saloons anywhere and that a
defeat of tho amendment shall mean no refusal
of license anywhero? Of course not. Nothing
would do more to compel stato prohibition than
a sorious attempt on tho part of tho liquor' in
terests to construo tho defeat of stato prohibi
tion to mean tho opening of saloons every
where. It is just as absurd to say that tho defeat of
county option ought to mean tho opening of
saloons everywhere in tho county, regardless
of local sentiment. Tho fallacy is in using the
words "fairness" and "justice," In making an
' argument in favor of saloons. Those words are
not to bo found in tho liquor dealer's loxfcon.
Tho man who runs a saloon is not engaged
in business he keeps a "place." Ho is, as a
rule, engaged In a conspiracy against society;
ho is, with few exceptions, encouraging vice.
It betrays dullness of comprehension or moral
sensibility for one to argue that a victory for
the wets in a county fight should givo tho liquor
interests the right to force a saloon into every
community. Where tho people have county
option tLo advocates of saloons are willing
enough to admit tho right of towns to rofuso
license It Is the very basis of their conten
tion and yet many good people have been de
luded by the argument that t is anfair to allow
county option to cIobo all saloons unless the de-
feat of county option opens all saloons. Thero
aro other arguments equally absurd that are ac
cepted by many good people but they will not
be accepted when tho subject is understood.
READ THE RECORD
Tho republican opponents of Senator Bur
rows in Michigan aro going to great trouble to
prove that on one occasion Mr. Burrows paid
a high compliment to Senator Aldrich. But
why go to all this trouble? Why not look at
tho record and learn that Burrows, like most
other republican senators, stood shoulder to
shoulder with Aldrich, voting with him upon
practically all of his raids upon the public interests.
IN NEW .JERSEY
tJames E. Martine, who is a candidate for tho
democratic nomination for United States sen
ator before tho New Jersey primaries September
13; declares In favor of a tariff for revenue only,
denounces the trust system, favors physical val
uation for railroad property, parcels post, postal
savings and election of senators by the people.
BEHIND THE TIMES
Now that Mr. Bryan has declared in favor of
local option, it is remarkable that no irreverent
paragrapher has ventured to dub him tho Beer
less Leader. Providence Journal.
The Providence Journal is away behind the
times. The "Beerless Leader" was sprung so
long ago that it is now almost ready for the
grave clothes.
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