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JANUARY St7, 1911
The Commoner.
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UNCLE JOE GANNON'S home county is try
ing to rival Adams county, Ohio, A Dan
ville, 111., dispatch carried by the Associated
Press says: "One of the most sensational
charges ever delivered to a' grand jury in this
county, the home of Speaker Cannon, this
afternoon brought to the attention of the grand
jury here the practice of vote selling In this
city and county. The court plainly charged
that the practice had been carried on here for
many years and by both parties, and he urged
that a careful and thorough investigation be
K' made, and if sufficient evidence were found, to
Indict the mefi responsible for it. The court
said that a moral wave is sweeping over the
country and that the sanctity of the ballot must
be protected, and he proposed that it should be
in this county, if grand juries would do their
duty. A large number of witnesses have been
summoned and indictments are expected."
HERE IS A GOOD story contributed by a
Washington correspondent to the Chicago
Record-Herald: "Robert E. Lee stood in stat
uary hall at the capitol this afternoon, gazing
admiringly upon the bronze statue of Robert
E. Lee. Smooth shaven, rotund, short of
stature and young, there was no likeness, not
even a family resemblance between the living
Robert E. Lee and the bronze general of the
southern confederacy. To a visitor who stopped
beside him, the younger Lee remarked: 'An
excellent man!' 'Yes,' was the reserved reply.
'That's my name, too, and I have been elected
a member of the next house,' continued Lee,
warming up. 1 am from Pennsylvania, and I
know that none of my constituents is demand
ing that the statue 'be removed. In fact, many
of my constituents union soldiers, voted t or me,
and -in my- district therV.was no prejudice
ckufc'ed' by the riameT bear.; 1 came down hero
because 6f the agitation o Temove this statue,'
said the congressman, with the suggestion of
humor.--. 'I wanted to be In congress' so that in
case the bronze Robert E. Lee was removed
from the capitol I would be on hand to do all
I could toward keeping the name In the minds
of congressmen and of the public."
THEODORE A. BELL, of California, who was
permanent chairman of the Denver conven
tion of 1908, delivered an address before the
Franklin County Democratic club at Columbus,
Ohio. The Cincinnati Enquirer report of the
meeting says: "Mr. Bell, who followed Con
gressman Littleton, agreed that there was no
difference between the sections of the country
on fundamental democratic doctrine, but there
was a serious difference .as to the method of
applying them. This was' a matter of environ
ment. The middle and far west and the south
and the northwest were living in a different
atmosphere from the east, and beheld a wider
horizon. The worship of the dollar had not
reached its collective heart. Starting from this
standpoint, Mr. Bell entered upon 'an eulogy of
William Jennings Bryan as the man, who in
1896 aroused the conscience of the country and
began the fight against the government being
a species of personal property. The reference
to Bryan brought out substantial cheers. It
was true that honest business had nothing to
fear from the democracy of any section, but it
was equally true that the people of the east in
common with the rest of the country at the
last election had declared that there should
be a divorce between big business and the gov
ernment. The country should be neither capi
talized nor brutalized. The cry of confiscation
raised by the corporations was a false one, and
represented only surprise that they should be
asked to live under the same laws as other
people. This cry was raised in 1896, when
Bryan was called an anarchist by mercenary
orators employed by predatory wealth for ad
vocating control of tho railway rates, now th
law of the, land under the spurious claim of
Rposevelt'8 authorship. Admitting that the
election of Dix and the other eastern .governors
was unusual, he created a stir by saying: 'The
election of the governor of Ohio wa not experi
mental as in the other states. Through the
country there are more eyes by far fixed upon
Ohio than any other state. In this hour of
reaching out the democrats aro not blindly
groping, and in tho searching process thoro aro
more eyes fixed upon the governor of Ohio than
upon any other man.' Mr. Bell said that tho
peoplo of the country are going to watch tho
governors and tho new congress very closely.
The big Interests wero loosing their tentacles
upon the republican party, now drained of its
blood, and wero seeking a new hold elsewhere.
They have no politics, but only seek power. Tho
people are going to see where these tentacles
fall in 1912, whore the interests light. If tho
democratic party remains progreBSivo, it will
win the presidency. If.it dailies with tho in
terests and even permits the appearance of alli
ance, it will not elect a presidont and it should
not."
EDITOR JOSEPHUS Daniels of the Raleigh
News and Observer, and member of tho
national democratic executive 'committee from
North Carolina, was tho recipient during tho
Christmas holidays of a splendid testimonial
from the democracy, .of his state in the public
presentation of a handsome silver service of
nine pieces beautifully and appropriately en
graved. In the delegation present as repre
sentatives of the democracy of tho state was
the chief justice of tho supremo court and other
prominent officials, as well as niany of the state's
most distinguished citizens in private life. Tho
presentation was made by ex-Governor Charles
B. Aycock, who in behalf of, the democracy of
North Carolina said in part: "I will present
these to you in the words chosen for the democ
racy 'in recognition of, his loyal, courageous
and' eminent' jservlces. to' his party and to "his
state.' These being .high words of praise
worthily bestowed and fully deserved and their
truth will bo borne out by you all the days of
your life. The News and Observer, with
Josephus Daniels, has been behind the great
movements for industrial progress, moral up
lift, enlightenment and the other purposes for
the advancement of tho people of North Caro
lina. We have not always agreed with you, but
these things are all forgotten in the face of the
strong love you have shown for North Carolina,
this from the very beginning of your newspaper
career. It has been yours to do work lor tho
people of. the state and you have always held
that the man God made is of Infinitely more
value than the dollar that man made. I am
directed on behalf of the democracy of North
Carolina', to present to you this beautiful silver
service, and better still to give to you the letters
which come from the men making the gift, in
which they make plain that you are held to be
true to your party and to your state, and to have
you know that the gift comes with the best
wishes of the people of the state for the man
who makes the fight for them." Referring to
this Incident the Houston (Texas) Post says:
"Such a tribute from a grateful people is more
to be prized than all the honors that come from
wealth or station he served his people faith
fully and well. It Is a tribute that those who
have been associated with him in the work of
counseling and directing the course of the na
tional organization of the party know is richly
deserved Josephus Daniels has never shirked
a duty nor faltered in his advocacy of what he
believed to bo right'
A READER OF THE Philadelphia North
American writes to that paper to Bay:
"The writer feels sure the North American will
have tho thanks of the progressives of all
parties, wherever the North American is read,
for publishing today with an epitome Mr.
Bryan's letter to a friend in the state of Wash
ington. So little is now published in the east
about Mr, Bryan that unless The Commoner is
taken by newspaper readers they know very
little about him, and the earnest work he is
constantly doing. Mr. Bryan has for fourteen
years been the strongest advocate of reforms,
and most of his past ..methods and suggestion
have become th keynote for tho present. When
ho tolls tho so-called leaders of tho democratlo
party throughout tho country, who represent
either state, county or city, that they must
understand they aro serMnts, not masters, of
tho peoplo, and that all should bo ready to
follow whoro tho intelligent judgment of all
the peoplo of all ho states is pointing tho way,
It Is quito evident that Mr. Bryan will opposo
In 1912, if alivo and well, any man who may
bo nominated, at tho then democratic conven
tion, 'whoso record will not justify tho hopo
that all tho peoplo may depend upon him.'
These are Mr. Bryan's words, so it will be well
for so-called leaders, great or small, to remem
ber them. The character of tho man is horo
clearly indicated. Ho will have to bo sincere,
and should bo positively capable of not only
pleading tho real democrats, but tho present
progressivo republicans. Certainly, new re
cruits could bo added by such a man, then, if
victory should be achieved, some real reforms
could bo Inaugurated during tho following four
years. Thoro Is no doubt that truth is in tho
assertion frequently made that what aro termed
the interests' havo controlled in tho past a
largo number of tho 'scheming politicians' of
tho- democratic party. These interests will no
doubt endeavor to influence tho nominations in
1912 (for tho presidency) of both parties; for
having profited so long by present conditions
they will not want any material change."
TJ. BROOKS, of Atwood, Tenn., senator-
elect from tho Twenty-fourth district, is
out in an open letter to tho candidates for
United States senator. The Idtter follows: "The
legislature soon to convene will have as one of
its duties the election of a Unfted States senator,
Each member-elect of the general assembly Is
being importuned to commit himself as to whom
he favors for this position. To my mind a mem
ber of tho legislature is unworthy of the con
fidence reposed In him If he is willing to work
for tho election of any man without knowing
how the candidate stands on tho vital prob
lems of tho day. pressing for solution. I havo
seen no statement from any prospective candi
date defining his position on national questions.
So far as I am concerned I will support no man
who will not state publicly his position on tho
following questions: Tho election of United
States senators by direct vote; the income tax;
the Initiativo and referendum; immigration; tho
physical valuation of railroads and authorizing
the interstate commerce commission to regu
late rates on this valuation; holding officers of
corporations personally responsible for viola
tion of law by tho corporation; tho merchant
marine; shipping Intoxicants Into prohibition
states; dealing in futures; publishing campaign
expenses; military appropriations; tariff. Tho
time was when a candidate had only to say: 'I
am a democrat' or 'I am a republican,' and that
settled it. This Is no longer the case. Measures
aro being considered on their merits regardless
of parties. Every one of the Issues above enu
merated are right in the forefront for settle
ment by congress, and no man should ask for
a seat in either branch of that body unless ho
has convictions on these questions and is pre
pared to defend his views before his constit
uents. No demagogical side-stepping will an
swer. To say, 'These questions shall receive
my most careful consideration, bestowing upon
them tho best thought of which I am capable,
with an eye single to safeguarding tho public
and promoting tho general welfare of my coun
try,' Is to give forth pure buncombe and show
evidence of moral cowardice. Nothing short of
a definite, bold statement will suffice. I have
convictions on all these questions and am ready
to defend them against the opposition of any
.candidate for tho United States senate, either
through the press or from the platform. If
this earnest letter is beneath your notice so
will you be beneath my notlco when it comes
to voting for a senator."
(The American Homestead, a moathlj farm
journal of Matfonal scope, will be scats to all
Commoner subscribers, without additional cost,
who remvw 'thiMr subscription daring the month
of February when thie notice is mentioned.
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