The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923, March 03, 1911, Image 1
t Tirv "J t The Commoner. WILLIAM J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR 3 VOL. II, NO. 8 Lincoln, Nebraska, March 3, 1911 Whole Number 528 The Denver Platform Tho Denver platform concludes with the following plank: "The democratic party stands for democracy; the republican party has drawn to itself all that is aristocratic and plutocratic. "The democratic party is the champion of equal rights and opportunities to all and the republican party is the party of privilege and private monopoly. The democratic party listens to the voice of the whole people and gauges progress by the prosperity and advancement of the average man; the republican party is subvervient to the comparatively few who are the beneficiaries of governmental favoritism. We invite the co-operation of all, regardless of previous political affiliation or past differences, -who desire to preserve a government of tho people, by the people and for the people and who favor such an administration of govern ment as will insure as far as human wisdom can, that each citizen shall draw from society a reward commensurate with his contribution to tho welfare of society." This Is fundamental. The aim of both govern ment and society should be to bring rewards into harmony with he Divine law and tliat law as abundantly manifested everywhere is to make the compensation proportionate to the intelligence and industry employed. The basis of all just complaint against existing conditions 'is that a few draw from society far more than they, earn, while the masses earn more than they are able to collect. We are making pro gress toward a more equitable distribution of wealthy but it is slow progress and the demo cratic party would hasten it. CONTENTS THE DENVER PLATFORM ROOSEVELT A CONVERT A COWARDLY SCHEME MR. BAILEY AND THE PEOPLE DIRECT LEGISLATION IN KANSAS PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES SELF CONDEMNED WHY THE CANAL SHOULD NOT BE FORTIFIED THE LORIMER CASE LINCOLN AND THE INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM IF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN 1912 THE CANDI DATE MUST NOT WEAR THE WALL STREET LABEL ' PRACTICAL TARIFF TALKS CURRENT TOPICS WHETHER COMMON OR NOT HOME DEPARTMENT WASHINGTON NEWS " NEWS OF THE WEEK refrain from licking tho boots of trust magnatee and doing tho bidding of systems that pfey upon the people. MkMM A COWARDLY SCHEME Senator Root has joined the other corpora tion attorneys in an attempt to kill the resolu tion submitting an amendment providing for popular election of senators, and like them, ho lacks the courage to meet the issue frankly and honestly. He hides behind a pretended solid tude for the colored man. This subterfuge may serve the purpose for the present and put tho matter over until the next congress, but tho popular election of senators Is coming. Republi cans like Senator Borah, who really want it, understand the insincerity of Mr. Root's attack and denounce it. There will bo more- men like Borah in tho senate next year and not so many like Root. Next session the southern senators can secure popular election of senators without surrendering control of their states over elections. MR. BAILEY AND THE PEOPLE In his speech defending Mr. Lorimer, Sena tor Bailey, of Texas, said: "Have we fallen to such a low estate in the United States senate that we must stoop to the earth and kiss the ground our constituents walk upon?" No one expects senators to "kiss the ground their constituents walk upon," but it is an old time democratic notion that senators, as well as representatives-, should show due concern for the well defined principles for which they stood prior to election day. It Is also an old fashioned democratic notion that when a man discovered (as Lorimer must have discovered) that bribe money was used in electing him to, office he would not wait to be removed from office (provided he were innocent) but would retire in defense of his own honor. No, Senator Bailey, the people do not ask ., senators to "kiss the ground their constituents walk upon." They do ask, however, that they ROOSEVELT BOOSTS - ARIZONA In the course of his Washington day speech at Chicago, ex-President Roosevelt said: "I saw it stated in the .press that certain good people in Washington were against the admis sion of Arizona ag a state because it had adopted in its constitution the recall. In 1780 the state of Massachusetts put into its constitution pre cisely that provision for the recall. Now, under stand me, I am not arguing for or against the recall. I am merely showing that, if the people of Arizona, or any other community, wish to, "try it( or if they do not wish to try it, it Is their affair." The above language is respectfully referred to President Taft with the hope that he is not one of the "good people" mentioned. THE POOR HANDMAIDEN The republican national platform of 1896 said, "protection and reciprocity are twin meas ures of republican policy and go hand in hand." Theodore Roosevelt, in one of his presidential messages, declared that reciprocity was the "handmaiden" of protection. But when the vote on Canadian reciprocity was taken In tho house of representatives the "handmaiden" was compelled to depend upon democrats for her defense. Republican platforms like the platforms on railroad cars are made to get in on and not to stand on. For instance, the republican plat form of 1908 promised tariff revision. FOR MEN OF ALL PARTDBS "Progression," published at Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., provides a hint for men of all parties, when it says: "It isn't enough these days when progressiveness Is all the rage, for a politician to simply declare himself in favor of the modern ideas. Look into his record. Dissect his repu tation. There is plenty of all wool goods. We don't have to put up with shoddy or mercerized stuff." Governor Carroll gives, as a reason for veto ing the Oregon plan, that it is unconstitutional. If he had really favored popular election of senators he would have left the supremo court to decide the question of constitutionality. The friends of Mr. Lorimer seem to think that a confession by the defendant Is the only evi dence worthy to be believed. Why not attach some weight to the testimony of the five men who confessed to being bribed? Governor Carroll vetoed the bill introducing into Iowa the Oregon plan of electing United States senators. What a pity ho did npt do this before the last election. By its almost unanimous support of the reci procity agreement in the house, the democratic party shows that it Is ready to gather Itself together and win. Roosevelt a Convert Have you road ex-President Roosove4t second article on New Nationalism. If not, read it and rojoico that ho has AT LAST thrown his Influence on tho side of the popular election of sonators and the initiative and referendum. If ho has ever specifically commondod cither re form befqro it has escaped tho attention of Tho Commoner. He is not very emphatic now, but he can. bo counted on tho side of those who bellovo in both reforms. It Is now eighteen years sinco a democratic congress first declared for the election of senators by direct vote; since that time nearly two-thirds of the states have endorsed tho demand and it has been embodied in threo democratic national platforms. During all these years Mr. Roosevelt has been silent on tho subject. He even made no protest two years ago when a republican national convention which he was supposed to control rejected' It by a vote of seven to one, but ho has finally spoken and, on the right side. Tho present congress may submit tho necessary amendment, if not, tho next congress will, and tho ex-presl-dent gets in in time to share in the rejoicing. Wolcomo! We shall soon be ready to move to make it unanimous. But let us hopo that tho progressive republicans who havo been advocat ing it for several years not to speak of tho progressive democrats who havo been advocating it for two decades will not bo aB.ked to take a back seat at tho celebration. On the Initiative, referendum and recall ho is a little earlier, though not by any means a pioneer. Eight states havo already adopted it and it is probable that as many moro will submit it this year. (Tho democratic party of Nebraska declared for the Initiative and referen dum fourteen years ago.) Just at this time, when tho progressive republicans have control of several states, it is fortunate that ho com mends these steps In the direction of popular government. He Is evidently a convert on several propositions. So far as he outlines "New Nationalism," in his second article, it is simply democracy under another name, and 'the new name does not fit it as well as tho old name. . NOT A PROTECTIONIST T4io Dallas Times-Herald says: "Senator Bailey is said to be opposed to Canadian reciprocity. Ditto the national grange and the farmers of the north and east. Now the Times-Herald insists that Colonel Bryan return to Kebraska and declares that the farm products of Nebraska shall be placed on the free list. He is very solicitous for Texas lumber, Texas hides, Texas iron, Texas rice, Texas sugar and Texas coal. But what of Nebraska and its products?" Mr. Bryan, not being a protectionist, has already announced his support of tho recipro city measuref so has the democratic, party-In congress. Next! ENDORSING DEMOORATIO DOCTRINE President Taft can claim credit for endorsing older democratic doctrine than any other promi nent republican. Ex-President Roosevelt has endorsed several democratic policies, some soon after their promulgation, some long after demo crats began to advocate them, but President Taft, in declaring that tho price of wheat is fixed In Liverpool, and that a tariff on wheat does not, therefore, raise tho price of wheat, takes the position that democrats have held for twenty-five or thirty years, at least. Truth makes' its way slowly, but it wins out at last. President Taft says that the protective system is doomed unless the Canadian reciprocity agree ment is ratified. Congressman Dalzell and other high protectionists say that protection is doomed If tho reciprocity agreement is ratified. That being the outlook, the democrats aTe in a position to bear the result with fortitude, no matter which prediction proves true. Na "'I .). V'j&tut JlIj St ,&, ,. fej .Sr