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The Commoner
VOLUME' ilr, .NUMBER 7
The Commoner.
ISSUED WEEKLY
Entered at tho Postofllco at Lincoln, Nebraska,
as second-class mattor.
William J. Hiiyan
Editor niul Proprietor
tllCIIAItl) L. Mktcalvk
wodnto Keillor
ClIAKLBS W. HllYAN
Publisher
Editorial lloomn and Business
onico 324.330 South 12th Strcot
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THE COMMONER, Lincoln, Neb,
exposition at Now Orleans as would attend one
nt San Francisco, and yet Now Orleans Is remote
from the Pacific coast a section vitally con
cerned In tho success of the canal. There is
no placo oxcopt tho Isthmus itself where both
oceans can bo properly represented. An expo
sition at New Orleans would slight tho Pacific;
an exposition at San Francisco would slight the
Atlantic. Two expositions aro necessary. Here's
to Now Orleans and San Francisco, wishing them
both success! Here's to San Francisco and New
Orleans; may thoy both win!"
At that time only one exposition was proposed
and it was uncertain which city, San Francisco
or Now Orleans, would secure the location. Since
that time tho house of representatives has voted
in favor of San Francisco. Political bias, how
ever, was apparent in the vote nearly all the
republicans voting for San Francisco, and nearly
all tho democrats voting for New Orleans.
Tho Commoner still believes that one exposi
tion cannot do justice to the great event. No
city is so located as to give the whole country
a chance to celebrate. New Orleans is the appro
priate place for one part of the exposition it
is tho nearest of the largo cities to tho canal
and an exposition there will accommodate the
country east of tho Missouri, but San Francisco
Is the only place that will accommodate the
states of the Rockies and the Pacific coast a
section vitally interested in the canal. There
should bo two expositions and the logic of the
situation will probably compel the selection of
two places and New Orleans and San Francisco
aro the places.
If the Pacific coast gets the Panama canal
exposition a three Americas exposition or a west
ern hemisphere exposition, or an exposition with
proper descriptive title should be held at New
Orleans. Tho Commoner is for two exposltibns
no matter which city gets tho first one. '
Governor Harmon and the Oregon Plan
Tho following news item and editorial are
taken from a Columbus (Ohio) newspaper.
"I would vote for a republican for United
States senator, if tho people, by their votes
declared for a republican," was the Btraightout
declaration of Governor Harmon, which closed
Ms conference yesterday with the democratic
senate caucus committee of five, and with which
ho joined hands with the progressive democrats
in their fight for the Stockwell-Oregon plan
bill, as being tho only measure which would
really redeem the party platform promise to
provide for popular choice of . senators at a
regular election.
Tho committee went to the governors office
under instructions from the caucus to prepare
a primary senatorial nomination bill or some
bill which would be thought to satisfy the plat
form pledge, but shQuld not be the Oregon plan.
Tho committee left the governor's office stand
ing three to two for tho Oregon plan.
Senators Green, Stockwell and Hudson will
report to the democratic caucus the very Stock
well bill which the caucus consigned to the
morgue. Senators Cetone and Dore will report
a compromise bill to the caucus, or, at least,
make a report against the indorsement of the
Stockwell bill.
Tho caucus may reverse itself and stand for
tho Oregon plan, or it may defy the governor
and stand pat.
The news of the position taken by the gover
nor in favor of this radical progressive measure,
and the information that he would lead the fight
against the reactionaries in his own party, was
quickly disseminated by the conferees. That
news aroused the anger of the reactionaries, who
said they would fight the Stockwell bill harder
than ever.
They will do so, even if it involves attacking
the governor. They intend to avoid a direct
attack on him, if possible, but are careless
whether a chance blow in the melee should
happen to hit him.
Governor Harmon lost no time in making his
position clear at yesterday's conference. Cetone
and Dore repeated the objections they made
before the elections committee last week.' After
declaring that he never would, as a member of
the legislature, vote for the election of a re
publican United States senator, even if he had
an ovewhelming majority ot the popular vote,
Cetone asked: "Would you, governor?" Quick
as a flash the governor replied: "I'd be proud
to do it. I would simply bo doing the will of
the people."
Cetone insisted, with vigor, that the whole
Oregon plan scheme was undemocratic. He
was interrupted by the governor's retort:
"It's the very essence of democracy to put the
government back into the hands of the people
and let them say whom they want for United
States senator." Governor "Harman did not
indorse the exact phrasing of tho Stockwell bill,
saying he had lacked time to give the details
careful attention, but he made it clear that he
thought tho names of party senatorial candi
dates should go on the ballot in the same way
as candidates for president and vice president.
Ho wanted the legislature to be a body to
register the popular choice for senator, as presi
dential electors do for president.
Senator Dore, of Tiffin, said he had been
sounding sentiment in his district and could
find no demand for anything as radical as the
Stockwell bill. All the people wanted, in his
opinion, was a workable senatorial primary law
Governor Harmon replied that he had been
hearing from every section of the state. Prac
tically without exception, these reports made it
clear that the people want as direct election of
senators as the federal constitution will permit
and would hold the democratic party responsible
for broken platform pledges, if it is not provided
The senatorial tangle may give impetus to
the strong movement to hold Lieutenant Gover
nor Pomerene as senate presiding officer until
tho end of the session.
sense of duty. So the best thing the people
can do, if the legislature provides the Oregon
plan, is to keep Cetone at home.
In tho meantime, let the gospel of honor in
politics be preached incessantly, in order that
all men may know that their party is nondescript
and tawdry when compared with the expressed
wish of the people. But Cetone will learn better
when the bill is passed, for, as sure as the sun
shines, if he is false to the people, he will skip
the country and hide himself in some solitary
isle of the sea'. Columbus, (Ohio) Editorial.
A NEW YEAR RESOLVE
To keep my health!
To do my work!
To live!
To see to it I grow and gain and give!
Never to look behind me for an hour!
To wait in weakness, and to walk in power
But always fronting onward toward the light
Always and always facing toward the right. '
Charlotte Stetson Oilman.
WHO HIT McLEAN?
ELECTING UNITED STATES SENATORS
Let us have some plan for expressing public
sentiment upon the question of United Stat
senator. The Oregon plan is good enough The
people vote and the legislature expresses thai?
choice. Senator Cetone said if he T was Mr, 1 .!
legislature he wouldn't vote for a Tmnww?
if his majority was overwhelming, "wTld yeS'
governor?" he asked of Governor HaZn yo?
answered: "I'd bo prouT to d?T nWH?
answer testifies to the governor's honored
The following wail, which appeared in the
editorial columns of the Cincinnati Enquirer
recently, indicates that some one" has hit Mr.
McLean. Here is what the Enquirer says:
THE VICE OF INGRATITUDE
It was Richard Brinsley Sheridan, a man
trained in politics and well acquainted with
politicians, who said, "A wise man should doubt
of everything."
From his familiarity with British leaders and
the fact that he uttered the phrase in a parlia
mentary debate in the house of commons, ho
must have had impressed upon his mind the
faithlessness, ingratitude and duplicity of one
he had entire confidence in.
History repeats 'itself, and seldom does there
arrive in the political arena the leader, the com
pletely successful leader, who comprehends the
importance, the absolute necessity, if one would
merit and deserve success, of loyalty, good faith
and devotion to the interests of those who have
been loyal, faithful and devoted to him. "
Ingratitude in any form by every human be
ing is regarded as an index to a despicable
character, and when exhibited by the mendicant
who has been given a crust, or by one who has
been raised to official position through the
efforts of sincere friends, it is equally dishonor
able, detestable and odious to all fair-thinking
persons.
The annals of public affairs are replete with
the names of ambitious weaklings. who have
sought to advance their own selfish Interests by
the sacrifice of true friends to secure the sup
port of or applause of enemies.
Additions to the list will continue to be made,
but the political epitaphs will also be as con
tinuous and as uniform, for retributive justice
invariably ends such careers with defeat and
disappointment.
It was Jackson, who would rather meet de
feat with his friends than go to victory with
his enemies, yet success named him her hero,
and his memory is well beloved throughout his
country today.
It was Lincoln who refused to compromise
with his assailants and epitomized ptical
wisdom in his maxim, "Never swap 'horses
while crossing a stream."
It was Grant who suffered from errors of
trusted friends, but whose touching tenderness
for even those who abused his loyalty to th,pm,
gives him today his high place in the kindly
memories of the American people.
Our people despise a man who betrays his
friends to forward his interests with enemies,
and there exists in every human breast the as
surance that such a man is unworthy of either
personal or public confidence. However pro
fuse his professions, however attractive his sug
- gestions, or loud -and forceful his promises,
the knowledge that a' man haa abandoned or
betrayed those who assisted and aided him in
his career, stampB him as unworthy of them,
and repels for all time the approval of tho
populace.
Never yet lived the man who abandoned
friends for enemies but found his hopes were
but Illusions and his ambitions were as naught,
Yes; someone has been ungrateful; that ifl
certain, but who is the guilty party? Will thd
nquirer please name the man- and give us thd
vn0 uj. mu iurow aown?
THE GIDEONS
The Gideons, an organization of Christian
traveling men, aro making their influence feW
throughout the country in the raising of the
level of commercial life. One lino of activity,
is the placing of Bibles in rooms of the hotelfl
freuluentod by traveling men. One runa
across tho Bibles constantly it is a splendid
vj "