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The Commoner.
WILLIAM J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
VOL- U, NO. 14
Lincoln, Nebraska, April 14, 1911
Whole Number 534
The Passing of Plutocracy
Every one of intelligence and heart is, to some extent, a reformer. It is a dull mind that does not recognize the
possibility of improving conditions; andf it is a hard heart that, knowing of the possibility, does not desire improvement
Reformers differ as to the relative importance of the many reforms proposed; it is the desire of The Commoner to con
centrate the attention of reformers upon the reforms within reach. Reformers differ, too, in temperature; some are
just above freezing, others are at boiling point The Commoner's aim is to raise the temperature. Reformers are apt
to become discouraged. Because they see clearly that abuses exist they wonder why others do not see; because they
have found what they regard as a remedy they wonder why all do not accept it
The Commoner offers a word of encouragement to reformers God is still on his throne and the world moves for
ward. Monarchy has run its course monarchs are now largely figure-heads, legal fictions, with but little power to
help or hinder progress. Aristocracy is dying it is losing all over the world. Plutocracy is passing its power to
coerce is weakened year by year.
Among the influences at work for the overthrow of plutocracy, four may be mentioned as the most important:
First The increase in the supply of money. Just as the dark ages receded before the increased volume of money
that followed the discovery of America, so the wonderful discoveries of gold since 1890 are releasing the disposition of
debts that accumulated to the point of bondage during the period of falling prices, beginning in the early seventies.
Rising prices have brought prosperity to the masses, and with easier times comes greater independence. This indepen
dence on the part of the voter is manifesting itself in an increasing protest against plutocracy.
But there are three fundamental influences at work in the world each one of them a foe to plutocracy and the
three together give assurance of the complete rout of the-reign of the dollar. '"'
First The spread of intelligence. The world is moving all the nations joining in the march toward universal
education. As the plutocracy is an indefensible system it can not hope to live when ignorance is banished.
Second The world is moving toward popular government here, too, a like tendency is to be observed in all na
tions. And popular government is the natural opponent to plutocracy there is external enmity between them.
Third The world is growing better; moral standards are rising; ethical rules are being applied and the con
science condemns plutocracy.
Let those take heart who fight for better things; let those who have been indifferent begin to fight Every one
can help some no one can tell how much until he tries. It is time to try.
ALDRICH DEMOCRACY
The senate democrats have decided to put
an Aldrich democrat in charge of the organi
zation "in that body. Senator Martin, of Vir
ginia, voted eighteen times with Senator Aid
rich, 'more than any other democrat save the
two from Louisiana, and only one of them re
mains. He is to the democratic party what
'Aldrich was to his party and his selection was
the first unfortunate step of this session. The
chief argument in his favor was seniority, but
this ought not to have been given weight It
CONTENTS
MR.
THE PASSING OF PLUTOCRACY
'ALDRICH DEMOCRACY
SENATOR 0' GORMAN
THE LORIMER FUND
THE CATHOLIC IN PUBLIC LIFE
BRYAN IN THE PRESS DISPATCHES
INCOME TAX IN NEW JERSEY
MR. BRYAN VS. SPECIAL INTERESTS
RICHARD L. METCALFE'S ADDRESS
PRACTICAL TARIFF TALKS
CURRENT TOPICS
HOMEDEPARTMENT
WHETHER COMMON OR NOT
NEWS OF THE WEEK
' WASHINGTON NEWS
did not have weight with most of his supporters.
Most of those who voted for him voted for him
because they are themselves reactionary and are
not in sympathy with the progressive legislation
now demanded by both democrats and republi
cans. A few new members were misled and
may repudiate his leadership when the tariff
fight comes on.
It is a matter of congratulation that nearly
all the new men voted against Martin O Gor
man of New York, Martino of Now Jersey and
Johnson of Maine, our three eastern democrats
among them. This is powerfully significant
it indicates a progressive triumph two years
hence when some of the Martin men will have
been retired by on Indignant constituency.
Seniority may be all right In tho army but in
a representative government the man fresh from
the people speaks with even more authority than
the one who represents ideas that have been
repudiated at the polls. Mr. Martin stands for
the kind of democracy that Is passing. Sena
tors Chamberlain, Davis, Gore, Hitchcock, John
son of Maine, Kern, Lea, Martine, Myers, New
lands O'Gorman, Owen, Pomerene, Reed, Smith
of South Carolina and Stone, stand for the poli
cies that are growing.
Hail to the brave band who defied pressure
and stood for a democracy that makes the
peoples' interests the first consideration. May
their like increase.
gressive spirit of the party and the country and
tho program outlined by him will meet with
hearty approval. The beginning is auspicious:
Now for the fulfillment of the party pledges.
TOM L. JOHNSON
An Associated Press dispatch, under date of
Cleveland, O., April 10, carried sorrow into
many American homes, saying: "Tom L.
Johnson, twice congressman from the Twenty
first Ohio district, four times mayor of Clove
land, champion of 3-cont street railway fares
and leading advocate of the single tax theories
of the late Henry George, died here at 8:45
p. m., after a long Illness. He was fifty-seven
years old."
Tom L. Johnson rendered faithful service to
the people. Men in every walk of life will
keenly regret his death and his career will
servo as inspiration to rising generations.
WILSON'S BUGLE CALL
Governor Wilson has already secured tho
ratification of the income tax amendment In
tho New Jersey house, and he has sent a second
message to tho republican senate urging that
body to reconsider the matter and ratify. Suc
cess to him; he Is a governor who recognizes
the responsibilities of his position.
CLARK TO THE FRONT
Champ Clark, speaker of the house, now occu
pies a position at the very front of .the stage.
Ho is tho second man in authority In the govern
ment and he both looks and acts the part. His
speech was admirable. It was short, clear, con
cise and courageous. He represents tho pro-
SYNONYMS
"The New York Sun says Champ Clark's real
name Is W. J. Bryan. 'When you see it in the
Sun It's so.' " Dubuque (Iowa) Telegraph
Herald. But even if that were the synonym it Is nearly
as good as "Ananias" which is tho -synonym
sometimes used for the New York Sun. -
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