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The Commoner.
VOLUME 10, NUMBER 51'
Democratic Newspapers on Plutocratic Organization
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MUST STAND FOK SOMETHING
democratic national platform of 1908,
ti that "The conscience of the nation is
Tho
declared
now aroused and will free the government from
tho grip of those who have made it a business
asset of the favor-seeking corporations. It must
bedomo again a people's government, and be
administered in all departments according to
the Jeffersonlan maxim, 'Equal rights to all,
special privileges to none Shall tho people
rule? is the overwhelming issue which manifests
Itself in all the questions now under discussion."
If the democrats elected to tho general as
sembly of Ohio or to the congress of tho United
States fail to square their actions and their
votes by the measure prescribed by the declara
tion above quoted from the national law of the
party, the victory will bo turned into a rout two
years hence.
The victory of 1910 Is the result of tho war
started under the leadership of William J. Bryan
In 1896. It has been delayed by party traitors
like the Baltimore Sun and these traitors are
now actively engaged in an endeavor to rob the
party of frultB of the first victory in all these
years. These alleged democrats are always
reading Mr. Bryan out of the party, not for
getting but Ignoring the fact, that had it not
been for his splendid leadership and persistent
war on privilege and in favor of the principle
of "Equal and exact justice to all and special
privileges to none," the victory of 1910 would
not have perched on democracy's banner.
Pomeroy (Ohio) Democrat.
Farmington, N. M. Editor Tho Commoner:
As per your request for clippings as to demo
cratic sentiment in reference to the reorganiza
tion of the democratic party along the line as
proposed by the Baltimore Sun, et al., I will
enclose clipping from tho Farmington Times
Hustler, a truly democratic paper which is ably
edited by William Butler, a tnoune of the com
mon people. This clipping truly represents the
democracy of the San Juan country and I would
bo pleased to have you mako use of it. Wishing
you a merry Christmas and a prosperous new
year I am yours for a democratic democracy in
the democratic party if we can get it; if we
can't get it there then in some other party.
R. W. HAFFIN,
HANDS OFF
The day of the trial of the democratic party
Is at hand. The recent success at the polls has
emboldened the System, or more correctly speak
ing has frightened it by the possibilities of an
untrammelled democracy becoming successful In
1912, so that it is now busily engaged in seeking
a presidential candidate for the party. It seems
to be the fixed purpose of those who have so
valiantly opposed us in the past, to now place
us behind a presidential candidate who in no
way represents the democracy "we have been
fighting for. Now that democratic success seems
almost certain In 1912, they propose to hood
wink us with some candidate just as the pro
gressive republicans were hoodwinked by Taft
In 1908.
We warn these servants of greed to keep
their hands off. We won tho'victory this year
without their aid and we can do It in 1912,
If our hands are kept unsoiled from clasping
with the McLeans, Smiths and Guffeys, who are
not now, and never have been, anything but
spies for the enenly within our ranks. Whenr
ever the faithful Bryan has led, these tools of
plutocracy have labored within our ranks to
defeat us.
Now these same men have undertaken the
task of naming the presidential candidate for"
the party in 1912. And having assumed this
task uiirequested by the democrats who have
borne 'the burden of battle until the strongholds
of the enemy have been stormed and taken and
practically nothing remains but to arrange the
terms of surrender. ' They now boldly assert
that the man who shall assume command, be
one who has not earnestly supported the in
corruptible leader whose unceasing advocacy
of the people's right to rule has won us the
present victory. Such conduct Is as though the
tories of 1776 had appeared upon the scene after
the surrender of Yorktown and had demanded
that Benedict Arnold and themselves should dic
tate the terms of peace.
We warn them here and now that tho real
democrats will not accept such leadership, if
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Believing that democrats do not desire
to engage in a sham battle Tho Com
moner confidently lays down these propo
sitions: , The democratic party must be pro
gressive. No Wall Street candidate can hope to
bold the democratic vote.
Democracy must go forward and meet
present day problems boldly In the spirit
'of Jefferson and Jackson.
Tho democratic victory of 1910 is the
result of fourteen yearl of democratic
fight for reforms.
The party cannot retire now.
It must go forward.
What do the democratic editors of the
country think about The Commoner's
position? The Commoner will be glad to
reproduce extracts from democratic edi
torials on this line. Let $ho weekly
newspaper as well as the daily speak out.
Send clipping of "editorial In sealed en-
velope, addressed Exchange Editor, The
Commoner, Lincoln, Neb.
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they should capture the convention they wH
find It barren of results for the rank and file
who do the voting will be gone.
Every democrat who believes In the rule of
the people should be active In the advocacy of
bis principles. We should make it so plain that
none can doubt Its meaning, that a repetition of
the mistake of 1904 will not be tolerated. And
that we want the vlctdry of the democratic
party to mean a triumph of democracy or we do
not want the victory at all. Farmington (N.
M.) Times-Hustler.
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WE DESIRE TO DISSENT"
The Commoner (W. J. Bryan) asks the demo
cratic editors of the country what they think:
of that paper's position on certain propositions
set forth in its -columns, the answer to be print
ed In that journal.
As to the Times' democracy, we will Eay that
it is almost fifty years of age; that It has been
democratic in all its history; that the writer
has been Its editor for thirty-six years; that tt
is printed in the banner democratic county of
Minnesota normal majorities ranging from
2,500 to 3,000; that It zealously supported Mr.
Bryan for president three times. In 1896 this
county gave him 2,033 majority; In 1900, 1,784
majority; In 1908. 1,221 majority. The latter
year Johnson (Dem.) for governor received
2,998 majority. This year upon the county
option Issue (advocated by Mr. Bryan) Eber
hart (Rep.) for governor carried the county
by-827 majority. So much as to the democracy
of the Times and the effect upon Sterns county
voters of certain Issues.
As to the first inquiry, we certainly believe
"the democratic party must be progressive "
As to the second "No Wall Street candidate
can hope to hold the democratic vote" that is
true. It is also very true that the democratic
pnrty never has, and never will, nominate a
Wnll street candidate. What was meant by
"Wall Street candidate" is ambiguous, and
should be more clearly defined.
Right here we desire to dissent and protest
against the insinuation contained In The Com
moner's declaration. It Is an intimation that
no democrat of the east, especially of New York
can hold the democratic vote; a-nd, insofar, it is
unjust, undemocratic and a breeder of party
dissension and discord. Indeed. It is in the
nature of a threat directed towards a certain
section of the country or element of the party
which may not agree In all particulars with The
Commoner's views. It Is the arraying of class
against class.
Instead of arousing a spirit of animosity and,
stirring up dissension, democrats should advo
- cate peace, harmony, good will and a rallying
of all elements In a united attack upon th0
enemy. The democracy can regain the confi
dence of the country if It will pursue a wise,
conservative and judicious course, yea "in the
spirit of Jefferson and Jackson." '
Let us bear this fact in mind; No candidate
was ever elected president! or ever will be, who
did not possess the confidence of tho business
interests and conservative voters of the republic!
By "business interests" wo do not include trusts v
illegal combines or "the interests," bit all busi
ness down to the little corner grocery.
- ' -Let.ygoneevbebygonesVlot us look .-forward
not backward; let democrats "get together; ? -let
our principles bo "in the spirit of Jefferson
and Jackson;" let us choose as standard beaTera
men In whom the people have confidence; let vts v
not endeavor to array class against class. This
do, and the democratic party will win the
victory.
To succeed, remember that we' must have
states from the east as well as the south and
central west. St. Cloud (Minn.) Times.
(The Commoner., has never made accusation
against democrats of the east or of any other
section. No threat has been made against any
section. The Commoner has merely insisted
that the special Interests must not control tho
democratic party In 1912. The editor of the
St. Cloud Times knows verys well what The
Commoner means when it refers to a "Wall
Street candidate." The republican party has
nominated such a candidate on many occasions.
The democratic party has not been entirely free
from the fault. Wall Street had Us way In
the democratic party in 1904. and if is the pur
pose at the same reorganizes to give Wall Street
control in 1912. "There are none so blind
as those who will not see," and if the editor
of the St. Cloud Times does not understand
what The Commoner means in the protest It
Is now making then his thirty-six years in the
editorial chair have been wasted. It is well
that democrats advocate peace, harmony and
good wttt among one another, but if the demo
cratic party makes peace with the element that
has carried the republican party to destruction
then it will share the republican party's fate.
In spite of the record tp which tho Times editor
points with commendable pride he now speaks
the language used by other editors whose pui.
pose is lenown to b the subjugation of tho
democratic party for the benefit of the special
interests. Editor The Commoner.)
SOUNDING THE ALARM
The time has at last -arrived when the demo- .
cratic party is again in the good graces of that
large floating vote which we call the indepen
dent voe. Twenty years ago the democratic
party had the opportunity to do great things,
things that would not only add lustre to the then
fair name of the party, but also add to the com
fort and prosperity of the common people; But
it "fell down" as the saying goes. This demo
cratic senator wanted his commodity "protect
ed and that democratic congressman wanted
his. share of the swag. Wall Street was not
very far away, either. Then came the crushing
defeat. But since Mr. Bryan became the leader
of the party, democracy has set its face steadily
towards the rising sun of progress and reform
For years it has stood the abuse of hidibouTd
republicans and that party organs, but happily
has kept, unswervingly on. Through years of
defeats democracy has clung tenaciously to the
ris?S!: of .the people unt11 they began to resnect
and then to recognize democracy's creed as their
salvation. Hence in 1910 the deluge came
Plutocracy was overthrown and demoSic? en
throned. But hardly had the news of the elec-'-tion
spread over the land, before Wall Street"
2Sn, to C05ive for democratic nominee for
president. The trusts realize that Taft
doomed to defeat in 1912 aSd are Try ng to con
trol the democratic party excluding of wurse
Bryan, Folk,, Gore and others. Bryan is ewS
SS2? rl8l!t In 80undIn the alarm Wall
In 2LP 7r'J!s l0,ng 8 trustdora is allowed to
go on with the plundering of the people But
In our opinion the democratic party has learned
Its lesson and while Mr. Bryan may neve? ?un
for the presidency again, some other candidate
favorable to reform will. The way that Mayo?
Gaynor has cleaned up New York City, to a lllxl
degree, and his refusal to do Tammany bid?
ding, makes this paper declare for Gaynor But
as we said before Bryan is right. Here's honin
for strength to his arm and voice that he maf
IHJe and p,eak agaln8t a11 orts tomakeZ'
Kid 01 fr th lntresta.-Armour (S. iff
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