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utato commorco law to override tlio pollco laws
of tho Htntcs. .. . , m,
Tho guaranty of bank deposits is tho fourui
"populist" (loctrino which Mr. Bryan is accused
of "inflicting" upon tho democratic party. (Tho
World calls it "government guaranty" but tho
government Js only tho trustee of a fund col
lected from tho banks and used to pay de
positors of failed banks.) This is not popu
listic. It has been adopted by democratic legis
latures in Texas, Oklahoma and Nebraska, and
by a republican legislature in Kansas. It J3
eimplo honesty to compel banks to insure their
depositors against loss, and tho World would
not find fault with it if it was as much inter
ested In protecting tho rights of depositors as
it is in giving volco to tho selfishness of those
financiers who want to enjoy the profits of
banking without bearing its responsibilities.
Tho Commoner will, in another editorial, dis
cuss "socialism" as defined by tho World; it
Is enough at this time to show that tho World
ignores tho two most important populist doc
trines appropriated by our party; that govern
ment ownership has not been appropriated; that
prohibition has not boon advocated, and that
tho liconsos of big corporations and the guar
anty of bank deposits wero not borrowed from
tho populists. When tho World defines "tho
liko" with which it concludes its denunciations
wf popullstic doctrines wo can answer them.
WHY NOT RALLINGER?
A Washington dispatch to tho Sioux City (la.)
Journal, republican, says:
"Tho president has been quoted by senators
who aro opposing Lorimor as having examined
tho ovidonco carefully and tho disclosures
shocked him. This has been used with tolling
offect against Lorlmer, and whereas somo time
ago it lookod as If his caso would bo handled
by tho sonato in a perfunctory manner, it is now
apparent that Mr. Lorimer is in danger of losing
his scat. It becamo genorally known hero today
that Senator Hoot, of New York, intends to
speak against Mr. Lorimer. Mr. Root's opposi
tion, Jt is charged, was inspirod at tho Whlto
House. The same charge, is mado by friends of
Lorimor in explanation of tho hostility of Senator
Crawford. Messrs Root and Crawford have been
in conforenco with tho president of late, and it
is assumed they have been discussing the Lori
mor caso with him."
Tho caso against Secretary Balllnger seems
vory complote, but Mr. Taft did not appear to
bo shocked. Nor do wo remember that Senator
Root or Senator Crawford wero at all active in
demanding Mr. Ballingor's resignation. Can it
bo that Lorimer is to bo sacrificed in tho hope
that tho noiso created by his going will smother
the demand for Ballingor's retirement?
THAT "FIFTY PER CENT" SNEER
When Mr. Bryan suggested that any corpora
tion controlling moro than fifty per cent of tho
product should be held to bo a monopoly there
wero sneers by those who claim to represent
"tho best thought" of tho country. Tho follow
ing Washington dispatch to tho Chicago Record
Horald will bo interesting:
"Whero to draw tho lino between legal and
tlllegal restraint of intorstato commerce was the
burden of a rapid-fire of questions today in tho
re-argument before tho supreme court of the
United States of tho dissolution suit against the
American Tobacco corporations. Before they
could bo answered another fusillade of ques
. tions concerning what the Sherman anti-trust
law meant by tho "monopolizing" of trade had
opened.
" 'Generalities aro very good,' Baid Justice
Day to J. C. McReynolds, one of the attorneys
for tho United States, "but it seems to me that
tno government ought to havo an explanation
now of what tho law means by monopolizing '
Mr. McReynolds said if tho court wanted his
ttheory, notwithstanding the theory of th0 court
he would give it. It was that tho law intended
to prevent interference with the freo flow of
competition In commerce between tho states and
that any combination that was sufficient to in
terfere with tho free flow was within the Sher
man anti-trust law. He explained that ho had
in mind a material and direct obstruction of
commerce.
" 'D y?u maintaln that it takes fifty-one per
cent of a trado to affect a material obstruction''
inquired Justice Day. union .
" 'Your honors- havo held that flfty-ono per
cent was sufficient to como within tho law'
was the response. 'If a combination of less is
hold by this court to bo sufficient that is better
The Commoner.
I do not believe that obstruction by two little
fellows is sufficient.' . f
"Mr. McReynolds concluded by stating that
'if you want size, as a basis, wo havo It here,
if you want intent, wo havo intent to restrain,
whatever you want, wo havo the essential ele
ments In this case.' "
WHO BOUGHT THEM?
The grand jury at West Union, 0., has al
ready returned 1,600 indictments against citizens
accused of selling their votes, and it is expect
ed that tho number will reach two thousand
before tho investigation is finished. One of the
men indicted is a civil war veteran, eighty-four
years old. He entered a plea of guilty and was
fined $15. Ho admitted receiving $11 for his
vote, but returned next day, walking eighteen
miles, to tell the judge that he had figured up
and found that it was $15 ho secured instead
of eleven.
It is a shairieful state of affairs when
ono thousand voters in a single county have so
low a conception of tho responsibilities of citi
zenship. But who bought them. Money is not
used unless tho purchaser is seeking something
ho is willing to pay for. Tho punishment should
fall upon tho BRIBE GIVER as well as tho
BRIBE TAKER if there is any difference, he
is the moro guilty of the two. And back of it
all is the corrupting theory openly advanced by
protectionists that it is perfectly proper to uso
tho government as a private asset in business.
SPEAKER-TO-BE CHAMP CLARK
Champ Clark of Missouri is a typical product
of our great border-west. Ho was born in tho
state Kentucky which gave us Abraham Lin
coln a century ago. More fortunate than Abra
ham Lincoln, he had the benefit of an excellent
education in public schools college, university
and law school and his education has been go
ing on ever since, for there is no closer or more
thoughtful student of current literature and cur
rent events, including wondrous developments
of science during tho recent fpast and present.
In these, as in other respects, Champ Clark is
an ideal American public man, in closest bond
at sympathy with' the masses, and at tho same
time among the very foremost in the possession
of the power which knowledge bestows and the
ability to use that power. Columbian Magazine.
RIGHT AS USUAL
The papers are commending Governor Shaf
roth for warning appointees not to accept
Christmas presents from employes. It was good
advice, but that is the kind of advice ho is in
the habit of giving. If the readers of The Com
moner will examine the official record (and the
private life as well) of Governor Shafroth they
will find that he measures to the highest stand
ard of citizenship. He has old-fashioned ideas of
honesty, and his career has been marked by a
scrupulous performance of all duties. He is
incorruptible and lias faith in the people. He
is a democrat in whom there is no guile.
FOSS IS ALL RIGHT
Governor Foss of Massachusetts is all right.
After examining his message the readers of The
Commoner will understand why George Fred
Williams preferred him to Hamlin. Foss urges
the ratification of the Income tax, the election
of senators by the people and the initiative and
referendum. What does tho New York World
think of that? The western democrats are not
afraid of Foss. Ho is a progressive; strength
to his arm.
MORGAN "TO THE RESCUE"
The Carnegie Tjrust Company of New York
closed its doors and there was immediately con
siderable agitation in financial circles This
failure following close upon the collapse of the
Robin chain of banks gave the financeers plentv
to do. J. Pierpont Morgan, however, "went to
tho rescue." He gave his name to several banks
that appeared to be in distress and in tho lan
guage of his admirers "saved the day" Tho
New York World says that as a result of "oin
mo'o.ooT0116'" Mr Morsan c P
wSSas-sa :sr the n-
"To bo saved by J. Pierpont Morgan is ono
of the most expensive luxuries that a financial
institution can indulge in. In the long run it
s probably more expensive even than honest
banking. Mr. Morgan is a dashing and melo-
VOLUMB li, NUMBER
V
dramatic rescuer, but he always collects hla
Carnegio hero medal in advance.
"Yesterday Mr. Morgan saved the Twelfth
Ward and Nineteenth Ward banks, which, are
allied with tho Carnegie Trust company, by the
benevolent expedient, of taking over another
allied concern, the Madison Trust company, and
annexing it to his Equitable Trust company.
"During the panic of 1907 Mr. Morgan, did
considerable financial rescuing, as a result of
which he added tho Tennessee Coal and Iron
company to his steel trust, turned the Metropoli
tan steamship line over to the New York, New
Haven and Hartford Railroad company, and
gathered in tho Port Chester road by way of
good measurement.
"As for yesterday's transaction, tho superin
tendent of banks says that "every one is to be
congratulated at the turn of events," and doubt
less ho is right. Surely the wight that has just
been snatched from a watery grave ought not to
complain because the daring rescuer took his
clothes -by way of reward."
A GREAT VICTORY
The decision of the democratic members of
the new house of representatives in caucus as
sembled to take from the speaker the power
to appoint committees, placing that power prac
tically with the members themselves is a' great
victory for popular government.
When political leaders must recognize the
keen and widespread satisfaction displayed by
men of all parties in the accomplishment of
such reforms as this it seems strange that re
form work makes such slow progress.
Democrats have but to put their preaching
into practice to win political power as well as
moral influence. It is the broken promise or
the poorly kept pledge that loses the people's
confidence.
Champ Clark and his fellow democrats have
as great an opportunity as was ever brought
to the door of any generation of men. It is
the opportunity of giving the American people
the right to believe that the democratic party
will be true to its pledges the opportunity of
giving to the American people the right to hope
that popular government, will be restored;. '
A GREAT DAY
Tuesday, January 3, was a red letter day. The
supreme court of the United States handed' clown
three important decisions on that day three
decisions which will have a far reaching effect.
One sustains the Indiana judge who dismissed
the libel suit brought by the government (at
President Roosevelt's request) against the In
dianapolis News and the New York World. The
decision will remove the menace to freedom of
the press which the prosecution raised. The
second decision was of great importance to ship
pers; It holds the initial railroad liable for dam
age in shipments on connecting lines. The third
decision will probably exert a still larger influ
ence; it sustains the bank guaranty la-ws of
Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. The language
of the decision is so emphatic and the reasoning
so comprehensive that the movement for secur
ing depositors is sure to be greatly aided The
democratic platform declaration on the subject
has received a striking vindication. The people
had an inning on January 3 and no mistake.
SENATOR HITCHCOCK
Nebraska's newsenator, Gilbert M. Hitchcock,
just elected by the Nebraska legislature, will
Pf?f au imPrtant addition to that body. By
ability and education and by wide experience,
both in journalism and in congress, he is fitted
to take a prominent place among his colleagues.
He is a Progressive democrat and has long been
identified with the reforms which are now be
ing accepted by the nation. Mr. Hitchcock is
the iinat democratic senator from Nebraska' (his
ifl!LWSBa republican senator from the state)
and the state is expecting a great deal from him.
GOOD FOR WILSON
o?Vier?0 Wlson of New Jersey, says that the
special interests are trying to break Into tho
democratic party. If he were better acquainted
with New Jersey politics he would know that
the special interests have been in the democratic
party for some time. Wo are relying on Gov
ernor Wilson to PUT THEM OUT
CHIEF JUSTICE WHITE
thnnS?i0ilntin? JustIce WbJte t0 be cnlef stice
w 5 ; ant has coniPmented the south; he
Ji iid!ne a very unusual thing in confer-
Bito part an n a member of ppo-