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The Commoner.
.SEPTEMBER 9, 1910
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father of the present kaiser, was called to pre
side, has a constitution which confers manhood
suffrage in the election of the lower and greater
branch of its parliament, and at his accession,
William took an oath to observo its limitations.
Nobody will wonder at the surprise with which
the leading German newspapers received the
kaiser's outburst. It is an echo in 1910 ofi a
voice of 1710 or 1G10. 'Why,' asks tho Tagelich
Itundschau, 'should the emperor choose this
moment to emphasize his ruling by God's grace,
and his own right, when it will nourish nnti
monarchial agitation, and good monarchists bo
thrown Into tragic disruption?' On thjs side
of the Atlantic, whero .the kaiser has many ad
mirers, his words will hardly carry the porten
tous import which Europe will be Inclined to
give them. The German press undoubtedly
takes them -seriously. If they carry, the menace
which these near at hand believe that they bear,
they are a challenge to democracy which will
bo promptly accepted in his country. What
answer will the socialists, the radicals, and the
national liberals make to this challenge when,
early In November, the reichstag assembles?"
IN A NEWSPAPER interview Gifford Pinchot
says: "When 'Mr. Roosevelt's administra
tion came to an end the progressive campaign
was in full swing. But no sooner had tho
African jungles closed upon the ex-president
than n wholesalo desertion of republican leaders
from the progressive ranks took place. The
forces of feudalism rejoiced openly, returned
to the attack and carried tho war triumphantly
into the people's country. Mr. Roosevelt has
returned from the jungle. He finds that during
his absence, in spite of tho regulars of tho
republican party, tho doctrines that he preached
a year ago have germinated with astonishing
rapidity and power. Mr. Roosevelt finds that,
following his Initiative, the people havo thrown
down the gauntlet to the'special interests. Ho
finds, in short, that a large part of the country
is involved in a state of political and moral war
fare, with the people and the insurgents lined
up on one side and the special interests and
their regular supporters on the other. Politi
cally the situation is clean-cut and obvious. The
Very life of" the republican party depends up"on
the outcome of 'the conflict. If tire insurgents
do not become the recognized dominant element
of the republican party; If the word 'republican'
is not disassociated in the public mind from
machine politics and corporate control of gov
ernment; if the party is not freed from its false
regular leadership and, above all, from its false
reactionary doctrines, its fate at the hands of the
young men of America will be the fate of
Ananias when he refused to abandon his He,
'and the young men arose, wound him up and
carried him and burled him.'."
SENATOR LAFOLLETTE, writing in his
magazine, says: "A Beverly dispatch says
that President Taft is working on his letter for
the republican campaign handbook. It is stated
that the President's letter will not be contro
versal and 'that there is no desire on his paTt
or on the part of anyone closely identified with
the administration to read any person out of
the party.' This dispatch furnishes the further
information that 'as to state figures, thero is
every reason to believe Mr. Taft will re-state
what he has said here many times of late that
he does not believe it to be the province of the
chief executive to interfere in state fights.'
What has happened since the President left
.Washington for Beverly? At that time senators
and representatives were denounced as 'pirates'
at the. White House because they had voted
against the tariff revision upward and refused
to swallow a bad railway bill on the recom
mendation of the president that it was good.
It is scarcely four months since Mr. Taft dis
patched Wickersham to Chicago to deliver a
speech f eading the progressives out of the party.
That speech was submitted to and approved by
Mr. Taft. Not later than June, James School
craft Sherman, vice president by grace of Can
non, who jammed his nomination thrpugh the
Chicago convention, left his place as presiding
officer of the senate and journeyed to Milwaukee
to address a tory assemblage convened for the
sole purpose of perfecting an organization to
defeat the progressive Wisconsin senator and
representatives. Those in attendance upon this
meeting appointed a committee which is now
engaged in placing the funds with which it is
abundantly supplied to defeat all progressive
republicans in the state. Vice President' Sher
man well understood the purpose of the meet
ing which he addressed and the object of the
organization thereafter perfected. lie stilted
that ho was thero 'at President Taft's request.'
Mr. Taft's interest was still further shown by
his sending a telegram of congratulation which
was read at tho meeting by its presiding ofilcer.
Wo have not complained that tho president and
tho vice president are taking part in the oam--palgn
in Wisconsin against progressive republi
cans. Wo havo made no protest against tho
hothouso politics played by tho administration
with the federal patronago since the vote on tho
tariff bill. LaFollotte's magazino does protest
against the dishonesty nnd cowardice back of
such dispatches as tho one abovo quoted from
Beverly. Let the truth be plainly stated. Lot
tho president stand out In tho open. The ad
ministration has presumed to read republicans
out of tho party for voting their honest convic
tions on legislation. The president is directly
taking part In state fights involving the election
of republican senators and congressmen. Theao
are facts."
SOMETHING IS going on in tho United States
treasury department. An Associated Press
dispatch under date of Washington, Septombor
2, says: "Coinage of gold in the Unltod States
will bo suspended for an indefinite period, If
plans now forming in tho treasury department
are adopted. Tho idea is to issuo gold Certifi
cates for all gold bullion and foreign gold turned
into tho mints, instead of coining them into
eagles and double eagles. It Is understood that
Treasurer McClung, in his annual report, will
endorse the plan, which was originated by A.
Piatt Andrew, now assistant secretary of tho
treasury, when he was director of the mint.
Two reasons for such a step are pointed out.
The first is to save from $300,000 to $500,000
a year in mint expenses. The second is to stop
coining gold at the expense of tho United States
for convenience of foreign markets which uso
it for the settlement of commercial balances.
The rate at which American colnod gold Is ox-
ported is well illustrated by the situation which
now confronts the treasury. In spite of tho
fact that more than $11,000,000 In gold was
coined during August, the mint at Denver will
be started up next week to turn out gold coins
at the rate of $400,000) a daw the Philadelphia
mint will start coining "gold in-October and' the
Sart Francisco mint Is now making eagles at
the rate of $500,000 a day."
NEW YORKERS aro making it as unpleasant
as. possible for Mr. Roosevelt. While tho
former president was in Omaha the.. Associated
Press carried the following dispatch: "William
Barnes, Jr., republican state committeeman and
leader of Albany, issued a statement in which
ho doclarea that hystoria has run riot through
out the country, and tho question to bo decided
at the coming republican tato convention la
'whotlicr tho republican party will fight tho; dls
enso or succumb to tho interests of politicians
seoklng ofllco or temporary acclaim.' Tho detr
actor of tho recent addresses of Thoodoro ltodao
velt In tho west, Mr, Barnes says, 'has startlod
all thoughtful 'men arid impressed thorn with
tho frightful danger which Mob in his political
ascendancy," When ho talked with Colonel
Roosovolt after tho meeting that solobt
ed Yico President Shorraan as temporary chair
man of tho convention, and learnodjiis attltudo
toward 'public matters' Mr. Barnes says he told
tho former president that ho nover could hay)
voted for him. Mr. Barnes' statement in part
says: 'Hysteria has run riot throughout this
country, expressing itsolf in ono form or an
other, such as direct nominations, tho lnitintivo
and referendum, tho Initiative and recall it
matters littlo what particular form tho hysteria
takes tho question to bo docidod at Saratoga
Is, whothor tho republican party will fight tho
disease or succumb in tho intcrosts of politi
cians seeking office or temporary acclaim. Tho
recent attack upon tho suprorao court of tho
Unltod States by a kcon-wlttod and aspiring
citizen could not havo been mado without a
purpose woll thought out. It was an appeal to
passion. If this appeal against the judiciary is
popular and Is not rebuked thore Is no reason
whatsoever, if a direct primary law should bo
enacted in this state, that candidates for judicial
offices, compelled to run tho gauntlet of a dis
trict or statowido primary, would not, in order
to appeal to tho temporary sentiments of tho
moment, declare in advance tholr nttitudo upon
mattora which would como before them for
judicial review.' "
Lot's see, is thin Shorman who Is not tho
proper person to preside over a Now York re
publican convention tho samo Sherman who w&8
recommended by the ex-presldent as tho proper
man to preside over tho United States senate?
Wht has ho done since 1908 out of harmony
with his previous record?
NO BREWERS THERE
Democrats, republicans and prohibitionists
all have endorsed tho Initiative and referendum
in Kansas and they havo no bunch of brOwora
in that state to bpposo it either.
Tho American, Homestead, a monthly farm
journal of nationnl scope, ' 'ill bo sent to all
Commoner subscribers, without additional cost,
who renew their subscriptions during tho month
of September. Take advantage of this oiler at
once, and send in your renewal.
The Commoners Million Army
In the campaign of 1908 The Commoner's
Million Army rendered distinguished service to
tho cause of democracy and it may well be be
lieved that a similar organization will even be
able to do better work in tho year of 1910 now
that men who were heretofore indifferent aro
aroused to tho importance of action.
If half of the readers of The Commoner would
take active interest in the organization of this
Million Army plan, tho results would be imme
diately noticeable, and the contribution to the
welfare of popular government would bo
enormous.
Many individuals are willing to help in a
patriotic movement but find it difficult to know
just what to do to make their efforts count. In
a struggle such as tho ono wo aro now engaging
in, the efforts of every man, woman and child
on the side of popular government will count
and in The Commoner's Million Army a practi
cal plan is presented whereby the efforts of many
Individuals may be aggregated and used with
telling effect.
APPLICATION BLANK
ia
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1 7 2
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The Commoner's Million Army
r hereby enlist in The Commoner Million Army, and pledge my assistance to
secure the nomination of only tvorthy and incorruptible men as democratic can
didate; that X will attend democratic primaries and nominating conventions, and
assist in promoting the great democratic campaign of education by devoting a rea
sonable share of my lime to the distribution of literature. X will recommend
tvorthy persons for membership in The Commoner Million Army, and in anyway
X can assist to increase the usefulness of this organization.
Signed ., ;
A ddre88
With tho understanding that Mr. Bryan agree to accept annual subscriptions to Tho Commoner from
members of this Army at a Act rata of 65 cents each, and that each subscription to Tho Commoner shall in
cludo a subscription to Tho American Homestead (a strong homo and farm paper) thus leaving The
Commoner frco to devoto Its undivided effort to political matters and current evrnts 1 enclose herewith
65 cents for ono annual subscription to Tho Commoner (including Tho American Homestead).
If you are already a subscriber to The Commoner and do not caro to extend your expiration date at
this time, tho last paragraph, abovo may bo disregarded.
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