X' -T XT """-rvi 7 -nKtyrtr r? jr : The Commoner. mt mMi WILLIAM J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR 2 VOL. 10, NO. 35 Lincoln, Nebraska, September 9, 1910 Whole Number 503 The Democrats of Arkansas need not be afraid to vote for the Initiative and Referendum amendment otherwise known as'" Amendment No. 1 0." If it has any defects the people can correct them through the provisions of the Amendment itself. The election will be held throughout Arkansas September 1 2. Every Arkansas voter should go to the polls and help to put his state in the forefront through the adoption of direct legislation. Forward, March! The people of Arkansas will adopt or reject the Initiative and referendum at the election to bo held September 12. . Arkansas voters should not be misled by tho plea that there are defects in the measure. Con stitutions and statutes written in behalf of tho people have often been defective in phraseolgy, but when it was shown definitely that corrections were necessary they have been made. If the men who oppose "amendment No. 10" really believed that what they call the "joker" is a serious error they would be very glad of tho error's existence. But in most cases tho men who aTe laying emphasis upon what they call tho "joker" are most interested in tho defeat of direct legislation itself. It is not "jokers" nor other alleged defects they fear, it is tho power of the direct legislation principle, for t;hat principle, faithfully applied, restores gov ernment to the people, and that the interests do not want. The enemies of direct legislation know that if they can persuade the people of Arkansas to defeat amendment No. 10 the fight for direct legislation in that state will be put back for many years. Do not be deceived, voters of Arkansas. Stand faithfully by Governor Donaghey and tho other brave men who are leading the fight for direct legislation. It is your fight, not theirs. The least ypu can do in return for the great service they are rendering you is to refuse to be misled by the opponents of direct legislation. The least you can do is to go to the polls and cast your ballots in behalf of the public interests. A FALSE NOTE There are a few unfortunate phrases in tho Ossawattamie speech, one of the most unfortu nate of which deals with the trusts. Mr. Roose velt adopts the socialistic idea that tho trust is an economic development and has come to stay. Ho says: "Combinations in industry are the result of an imperative economic law which can not bo repealed by political legislation. The effort to prohibit all combinations has substantially failed. The way out lies not in attempting to CONTENTS FORWARD MARCH "DIVINE RIOHT" AGAIN GOOD FOR COLORADO REFERENDUM CAMPAIGN IN ARKANSAS PROGRESS IN KANSAS WHERE ROOSEVELT STANDS PRACTICAL TARIFF TALKS JAPAN'S BENEVOLENT ASSIMILATION CURRENT TOPICS HOME DEPARTMENT IF THE PEOPLE RULE WHY DON'T THEY GET WHAT THEY WANT? THE DOOM OF LANDLORDISM NEWS OF THE WEEK prevent such combinations but in completely controlling them in tho interest of tho public welfare." This is a dangerous fallacy. Ho had a coven years' trial with all tho executive powers of tho government at his command and there wero more trusts when ho wont out than when ho went in. One of tho worst of tho trusts actu ally coerced him into consenting to tho absorp tion of a rival and then, In return, helped him to nominate his candidate. It is futile to think of CONTROLLING private monopolies. "A pri vate monopoly is indefensible and intolerable" that .is the democratic platform and it presents the only sound remedy. It is useless to talk about, driving corporations out of politics as long as they have millions Invested in legisla tion and must control the government In order to' secure extortionate dividends. wlfaJMr. Roosevfclbcan convince the.country tnat a private monopoly is necessary then tho only question will bo whether a few people shall continue to corrupt tho government and, through this corruption, enjoy the benefits of the monopoly, or whether the government shall own the monopoly and give the benefits of It to the public. But Mr. Roosevelt will not bo able to convince tho public that tho monopoly is necessary. When tho public understands tho extent to which the favor-seeking corporations no"'jconcrol the government they will join with tho democrats and make it impossible for a private monopoly to exist.' GOOD FOR COLORADO Tho United Press, under date of Denver, September 1, carried to the democrats of Amer ica this good news: "The people of Colorado at tho November election will vote upon a proposed amendment to the state constitution to provide for exactly the same initiative and referendum law as Is now in effect in Oregon. This was made pos sible when the state senate, at its session today, passed a bill providing for tho proposed sub mission of tho amendment, by a vote of thirty to two. The house has already passed the bill which now goes to Governor Shafroth for his signature. He will sign it at once. This Is the first of tho platform pledges of the last democratic stato convention that the legislature has redeemed. To pass this bill and several others embodying reforms of a like character. Governor Shafroth called tho legislature in special session early in August. Bills embody ing the other reforms demanded are now pending." Governor Shafroth and his associates who worked faithfully to bring f.bout this desirable result are to bo congratulated. There is no more important work than the effort to advance the cause of the initiative and referendum. In every section of tho country public sentiment is being aroused to tho importance of this great reform. IS IT TREASON? Never since Lincoln criticised tho Dred Scott decision has any prominent public man criti cised a decision of tho United States supremo court as harshly as Ex-President Roosevelt did the decisions referred to at Denver. Possibly the judges aro human, after all, and, like other human beings, Hablo to be biased and prejudiced. "Divine Right" Again Emperor William of Germany has stirred up a good deal of democratic opposition by claiming tho throno by dlvino right. In a recent speech he said: "My grandfather, Emperor William I., again In his own right placed tho Prussian crown upon his head and again proclaimed it to be be stowed upon him by God's grace alono, and not by parliaments, assemblages of the people, or resolutions of tho people, and declared that ho saw in himself tho chosen instrument of heaven "and as such regarded his duty as regent and ruler. "And I, considering myself equally jMtftuc in strument of the Master, regardless of passing views and opinions, go my way, which is devoted solely to the prosperity and peacoful develop ment of our fatherland." Ono of tho German papers, a favorite among army officers, commenting apon tho emperor's speech, says: "This speech means a storm. Never before has Emperor William set into such clear relief his romantic, medieval idea of his non-responsibility to man's judgment, of his not being bound by the constitutional co-operation of tho people, and of ruling by God's free grace, against all thoso convictions and feelings which today determine our existence as a state. Why should the emperor choose this moment to em phasize his ruling by God's grace and his own right, when it will nourish an anti-monarchical agitation and cause good monarchists to bo thrown into a condition of tragic disruption?" It is unfortunate that tho emperor should baso his claim to tho throno on a discarded theory when he has a better one, nanlely, that tho people want him. If his "divine right" is attacked ho will have to defend his right with arms and a willing people will have to furnish the arms. Even a king can afford to recognize tho people as tho source of power. And yet the Imperialist who thinks that wo have a dlvino right to rule the Filipinos relies on the same exploded doctrine that tho German emperor invokes. WAIT FOR NEW YORK Representative Murphy of Missouri Is sponsor for Vice President Sherman' presidential boom let. It would bo well, however, to wait until after the republican state conventfon for New York. If Mr. Sherman can hold on to tho office of temporary chairman of that convention in spite of Mr. Roosevelt's efforts to deprive him of it, then his friends may be justified in groom ing him for a 1912 contest with tho gentleman who now seems destined to become the real leader of republican insurgency. PRIMAREE8 FOR PRESDDENTS Senator Cummins suggests a primary for tho nomination of presidential candidates. Why not? If a president is to servo the people why not allow tho people to select him. And it might not be a bad idea for United Stale judges. tJMLaJ-Ji -.g4?.v...g. l4fA.i4lHAlisfidM4t