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etituents, differing from' tho paTty on this ques
tion only, may bo good democrats on other
questions but this docs not make him ollglblo
to membership on tho ways and means com
mittoo. That committeo Is intended to repro
eont tho vlows of tho house on tho tariff ques
tion tho democratic raombers of tho committeo
roprosonting tho majority sentiment. Tho re
publican members of tho committeo can bo do
ponded upon to stand by tho protected interests
tho democrats should bo tariff reformers.
It is to bo hoped that tho democrats will not
allow congressional courtesy or length of service
to pack tho committee with protectionists. If
tho protected interests wero in power they would
not allow tho tariff reformers to prepare tho
rovonuo law, and tariff reformers should not
put protectionists in a placo whero they can
misrepresent tho party. This is not a sham bat
tle; it is a real fight, and tho leaders must bo
abovo suspicion.
DICKINSON'S PHILIPPINE RECOMMENDA
TION Sccrotary Dickinson, in his report on tho
Philippines says that tho Filipino assembly
"though controlled by tho nationalist party,
which was organized in opposition to thoso who
favored American control" has enacted laws for
tho promotion of development and progress
along tho lines advocated by tho governor gen
eral. Thoy have been liberal, he declares, In
their support of roduction and internal Improve
ment. Thoy aro cheerfully bearing tho burden
of taxation for education.
Ho is opposed to independence, however, "dur
ing tho present generation," adding that while
public expression is very generally in favor of
Independence, "many of the conservative and
most substantial men would view such a result
with consternation." That is tho old story. Of
courso tho "conservative" citizens aro opposed
to independence that is why they aro called
conservative. If they wanted independence he
would call them radical. And some of the "most
substantial" mon aro also opposed to indepen
dence; so they wero in 1776. Some of the
substantial men who represented British Arms
among the colonists viewed tho result of Ameri
can independence with consternation some of
them returned to England and others went to
Canada when independence was secured.
Tho question of independence is not a ques
tion of fact it is a question of theory. Thoso
who take tho aristocratic view of government
aro now and always will be opposed to Philip
pine independence. Secretary Dickinson would
not bo in the cabinet if he took tho democratic
view. But it is to be hoped that a democratic
congress will look at this democratic subject
from the democratic point of view.
THE MORAL AWAKENING
Tho Baraca movement may bo viewed in two
ways: It is a result and a cause. It is a result
of tho moral awakening, world-wide in extent,
upon which wo have entered and, as a cause,
it is contributing to a still larger awakening.
Religious in origin and ethical in its mani
festations, the organization, like kindred socie
ties, brotherhoods and leagues, is already mak
ing its Influence felt in business, social and
political life and who is able to set limits to
its power for good. It Btirs the conscience and
the conscience is the most potent force of which
man has knowledge. Whero the penalties of
tho law keep one man honest, conscience con
trols an hundrod; where fear of prison walls
restrains a few a multitude are hemmed about
by tho invisablo barriers that conscience rears
about us. May Atlanta's Baraca' Union have a
large part in the paramount work of aDDlvinir
Christianity to life. (W. J. Bryan, inthe
Baraca Philathla1 Herald, Atlanta, Ga.)
The Commoft$ft.r
ers to fight a reduction in tho present tariff,
either on wool or on wobldn products." , .
Tho woolen manufacturers know that the wool
growers canndt bo relied upon to support ex
tortionate rates on imports unless they get a part
of tho spoils, and thoy know, too, that the wool
mon will, as a rule, favor a high tariff on every
thing else provided a taTiff on wool is included.
No student of the tariff can doubt that a tax .
on wool is in tho interest of tho woolen manu
facturers and that free wool will be the begin- .
ning of tho end of a high tariff.
SHIP SUBSIDY
It is to be regretted that the ship subsidy bill
passed the senate, but regret on the part of dem
ocrats will be all the keener because the passage
of tho measure was made possible by the ab
sence of a senator who had been elected as a
democrat. Mr. Watson will have an explana
tion to make not only to his constituents in
West Virginia but to democrats throughout the
country. In the democratic view ship subsidy is
"indefensible and intolerable." Surely the demo
crats in the house may bo depended upon to
fight it with all the energy of which they are
capable.
RECIPROCITY WITH CANADA
The movement toward reciprocity with Canada
should receivo encouragement at the hands of
the democratic party. It is a step in the direc
tion of reducing the burden of the tariff.
Canada, our neighbor on the north, ought to
be brought into the closest relationship possible.
There is no reason why there should be a tariff
wall between us. Absolute freedom of exchange
between the states has been found beneficial to
the states and the extension of the principles
to two nations like Canada and the United States
will be justified by the results that will follow.
THE TARIFF COMBINE
Tho following dispatch confirms the argu
ment made in favor of free raw material, name
ly, that free wool Is a menace to the high tariff-
"Portland, Ore., January 2. Notwithstand
ing the annual convention of tho National Wool
Growers' Union does not begin hero until Wed
nesday, men prominent in all branches of the
wool industry are today arriving in Portland in
large numbers Apparently tho tariff question
will be the main subject before the convent on
and from the number of men representing man
ufacturers who will attend who have asked for
places on the program, it seems that a strong
effort is going to bo made to fprm a defensive
alliance between the growers and manufactur-
WHY "DISTURBING?"
The Fort. Worth (Texas) Record, a1 newspaper
with' plutocratic leanings, says: "Of the men :
in prospect for the 'presidential nomination,
Harmon and Wilson are easily the most con
spicuous, and both have demonstrated superior
ability, fine tact and ample courage. It is pleas
ing to observe, also, that Mr. Bryan is assuming
a more tolerant attitude toward these two men.
About tho only disturbing element so far de
veloped is Governor-elect Fobs of Massachusetts,
but he is not to be a national factor, and may
bo dismissed from consideration."
What has Governor Foss done to justify tho
charge that he is a "disturbing element." He
has certainly been very active in his fight against
tho system and . representatives of the system.
One may readily understand why the system
should regaTd Governor Foss as a "disturbing
element." But It is not' at all clear why a
democratic newspaper should take that position
00(5)0(5j
DEMOCRATIC DOCTRINE
The doctrine of equal rights should be
made a living, vital, controlling force in
government. This doctrine opposes the
privilege of subsidies, bounties and all
forms of governmental favors to a few at
the burden of all. The government has
no more right to take from one man in
directly to add to the wealth of another
than it has to compel one man directly
to contribute to the fortunes of another
When such governmental favors are con
ferred they go to those of wealth and in
fluence enough to secure them and are
beyond the reach of the average man.
If such favors benefited all alike, no one
would want them. It is because they
give a class privileges denied to others
that these few clamor for them, and it
is for this reason that the rest of the
people should not submit to such dis
criminations. As privilege Increases op
portunity must diminish, and as oppor
tunity diminishes the rights of the in
dividual are destroyed. That is the rea
son why, under the republican system,
the classes are becoming more opulent
and the masses are finding the opportu
nity for individual effort growing less as
the years go by. Joseph W. Folk, in The
Commoner, January 20, 1911.
VOLUME 11, OTMBER; J. .
particularly. just at the time jihffl. Governor
Fobs has attracted widespread approval .by his
flglit against the re-elect Jon fit Henry.; Cabot
Lodge. ' sr .
JONES OF VIRGINIA
Will the state of Virginia affix the" title-of
senator to the name of Hon. William A. J.bnes?
The Commoner is glad to learn that he has con
sented, to become a candidate, He is. just the
kind of a man we need in the United States
senate. His long service in the house has dem
onstrated both his capability and his fidelity. He
is industrious and always at work for his con
stituents. He is democratic to the core, and
adheres to the rules laid down by Jefferson and
Jackson. He is courageous and does not hesitate
to risk his all in defense of what he believes to
be right; and "he is incorruptible.
When senators are elected by direct vote of
the people, we shall have more men like William
A. Jones in the senate, for the honor of repre
senting the state will be the prize awarded to
those who have demonstrated their fitness in
lower positions.
S
HOLDING THE POSTOFFICES
A reader of the New York World writes to
that paper to say: "Your editorial in Monday's -issue
commending the sfatid taken by Post
master General Hitchcock; in favor of a non
partisan postal service is all right in theory.
But did it ever strike you that Hitchcock may
have a sinister design, in advocating this plan?
Is it not a fact that at the present time practi
cally all the postmasters in 'the United States,
one hundred thousand or more, belong to the
republican party? Will not ,the effect of the
new plan be to -prevent the appointment of any
democratic postmasters by a democratic presi
dent, if one should be elected in 1912, as now
seems probable?"
IMPROVEMENT
The Omaha Daily News says: "President
Howard 'Elliott- of the Northern Pacific7 is 'quoted"
as saying that there are 1,0 00-000 persons ofd
lng railroad stocks, averaging $13,600 each.
There are, of course, nearly 100,000,000 using
the railroads, directly or indirectly, and paying
in one form or another all expenses of their
operation, including dividends on stock. Up
to a recent date the laws were made ail& 'ad
ministered for the benefit of the one in a hun
dred owning the railroads. Now it is proposed
to revise that policy and have railroads, con
ducted for the benefit of the ninety and nine
who use the railroads, but do not own them.
The new policy is the better, by 99 to 1," .
":.'
- THE RELIGION OF I)EMOCACT :
Mr. Bryan's paper, The Commoner,, this veek
gives place to a Bpecial article by Joseph W.
Folk, called "The Religion of Democracy." In
this production the ex-governor of Missouri
states his ideas of party principles and places
himself squarely in line for progressive meas
ures. He discusses the dangers besetting the
country and gives his. ideas of the remedy. The
article is worth reading since in many quarters
Mr. Folk is seriously considered as one of the
prospective democratic candidates for the presi
dential nomination. Indianapolis New Era
INSEPARABLE COMPANIONS
Socrates is credited with saying: "There are
two things which the magistrates of Athens will
be careful to keep out of our city opulence
and poverty. Opulence because It engenders
weakness and effeminacy; poverty because it
breeds baseness and crime; both because they
lead to revolution. One cannot exist without
the other. They are the two extremes bt one
H,e iS ri,gnt Pulence and poverty are not
companions parts of one evil.
0
AS TO FREE RAW MATERIAL
niT1?6 illIatn R- Smitk of Texas,
appears to have thrown down the gauge of
sl rpn(tW? th,em Is not unimportant.
nh?LBalUK has for Bome time been the
SI? nmfatic,a8,sa1Iant ot the doctrine of free
dZnS vr,adecl1rlDB that u Is not 'sound
democracy, but an innovation of' the Cleveland