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The Commoner.,
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VOLUME 11 NUMBER 22
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DEMOCRACY CAN NOT SHIRK
Tho New York World reports that a majority
of tho democrats In the house at Washington
aro satisfied with the decision Jn thq Standard
Oil case. Either the World is mistaken or tho
democratic voters have made a serious mistake
in tho character of the men whom, they have
olocted tp congress. Tho World is probably, mis
taken in its poll. It docs not want, the trusts
disturbed and "tho wish is father to tho
thought" when it thinks that a democratic con
grosses satisfied with tho decision. If there Is
not enough democracy in congress to enact
legislation which will correct tho supremo court
decision and protect the public, congross might
as well adjourn now and confess judgment
against tho party. It has taken twenty years
to convict the Standard Oil company which
lias only to reorganize to renew its criminal
caTcer how long will it take to run. the other
trusts down now that the court has held it
necessary to prove that tho trust-magnates had
criminal intent to UNREASONABLY restrain
trndo, when there is no legal definition of un
reasonable restraint? If the democratic party
is not ablo to protect the public from tho trusts
and from such decisions as that recently rendered
what good excuse can it give for existence?
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HUGIIES, THE IMPOSSIBLE
, It is reported that the progressive republicans
look favorabl upon Justice Hughes as a candi
date against Mr. Taft for fho republican nomi
nation for president. That is an impossibility.
Justico Hughes is not a progressive. His record
Bhows he can be relied upon to take the side of
predatory wealth whenever it needs him. Did
he not veto the two-cent passenger rate bill?
Did ho not appoint a committee to white-wash
tho gambling transactions of Wall street? Did
ho not prevent tho ratification of the income
tax amendment by the last New York legisla
ture? And did ho not join in the Standard Oil
docision that practically nullifies the anti-trust
law by writing tho word "unreasonable" into
the law.
Tho Now York World reporter must have
been mistakon in what ho heard. The progres
sives might run Taft as a progressive to defeat
a,.worso standpatter (like Justice Hughes) .but
they would not think of running Justico Hughes
tas a progressive. If the progressives were to
take up a man like Mr. Hughes they would
forfeit whatever confidence they jiavc aroused
among the masses.
MARTIN LEADERSHIP
Senator Martin's leadership is assuming form
and. outline,. Ho led all of the republicans except
the thirteen insurgents and all the democrats,
except those who voted against his resolution
to put the Lorimer investigating into the hands
of tho committee that white washed him before.
To, be sure, "there is "an understanding" that
the investigation will be in the hands of a sub
committee which will stand four republicans
and four democrats, four for Lorimer, mid four
against him, but why should tho matter be
left in doubt? And why should a committee
-which has disgraced itself and the senate, as the
committee on privileges and elections has, be
shown any consideration. And if any considera
tion was to be shown why was it not left to the
Lorimer republicans to take the lead? This is
Martin leadership.
THE LIGHT OP REASON" AGAIN
Referring to Senator Pomereno's resolution
providing for criminal prosecution of the Stand
ard Oil magnates, the Chicago Record-Herald
Bays: "To propose criminal prosecution in ad
dition to dissolution and suits for damages pro
vided for by the Sherman act is, really, to step
out of the sphere illuminated by the 'light of
reason.' Mr. Wickersham will probably make
this plain and once more disclaim any inten
tion of running amuck among the combina
tions and corporations."
"Little by little, but steadily as man's march
to the grave," the Sherman anti-trust law is
falling to piece- In "the light of reason" of
which wo hear so much these days the trust
magnate must not be seriously interfered with
in his efforts to corner the necessaries of life.
SHOWS ITS COLORS
If any reader of The Commoner has doubted
the correctness of its estimate of the New York
World, let him read. the World's editorials in
Bupport of tho supremo court decision in favor
of tho trusts.
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APPRECIATED IN SOUTH DAKOTA.
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Emil J. Woerth, Kimball, S. D. I
assure you that I most cheerfully enlist
in this cause of humanity. The democ
racy of the hatipn has for thq past
twenty years struggled for those prin
ciples near and dear to. tho great army,
of burden bearing toilers; for principles
calculated to bring about an equitable
distribution of the burdens and benefits
of our government. In this battle, led
by that great champion of human rights, .
William Jennings Bryan, many brave
and patriotic warriors, have fought and ,
fallen against the combined attack of
favor-seeking and favor-obtaining agen-
cies in command of accumulated wealth.
In. this conflict many "so-called", demo-
crats have left their standard and took
up arms against their comrades. But
the faithful little band of Jeffersoniaps
fought on, standing and falling upon the
firing line in every contest in which
democratic principles were involved,
each and every one of them resolv-
ing that there is more glory in de-
feat fighting for the right, than there is 0
in victory fighting for the wrong. Those
principles for which they fought belong
to all tho people all of the time, and they
are just as sacred today as they were
when first pronounced inviolate by a
written constitution. Now a marked
change in our surroundings is observed.
Corruption is found in high places, and we
witness the amazing spectacle of oppo-
nent political generals, whose popularity
was attained through sentiment created
by a subsidized press, slowly sinking into
oblivion. We see too around and about
us many intelligent and well meaning
men, who unthinkingly contributed- their
mite to the construction of the citadel
which harbors those who pervert justice
and turn the instrumentalities of our
government to private ends, now,
through a quickened .conscience, rue the
part they' played. Once more the line is
drawn; once more the battle is on; once
more the democratic party is coming
into its own. The quantitative theory of
money has been proven correct. The
guaranty of bank deposits has been held
constitutional. The income tax is de-
clared sane. The election of United
States senators by popular vote is said to
be probable, and those of us who have
been ridiculed for espousing these re-
forms have been given a new lease of
life on Intelligence. "But lo, and be-
hold" in this hour of vindication come
those who have dwelled in prejudice and
error and ask us to stand aside that they
may reap the reward of our victory;
those who deserted us when we were
imperiled and turned their guns upon
us as we were being attacked from every
side; those who, under the gujse of
friendship, fought us within, while the
enemy fought us without. I warn ye,
let it not be one of these to lead our
forces in 1912; but rather let it be one
who at all times during the dark days of
defeat stood steadfast, loyal and true
And whoever may bo the ohoi i
fitness be measured beforehand by his
w present and past devotion to democratic
principles, ratner than plutocratic pres
tige "lest we may gain a port, but lose
a province."
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A FABLE
Once upon a time a very respectable lookinir
man who went by the name of Mr. Chief Justice
persuaded an unsuspecting citizen who bore tho
rather plebeian name, The Common People to
buy a handsome looking horse, giving a guaran
tee that tho borse had no defects. The pur
chaser had not gone far when the horse balked
and the purchaser then discovered that he was
blind in both eyes and had several other ail
ments. Ho hunted up the respectable looking
man and reported his discovery, whereupon Mr
Chief Justico informed him that the subject
should be considered in the Light of Reason and
assured him that the word Reason, when ap
plied to horse trading, converted the phrase "no
defects," into "not unreasonably defective " and
gave him six months' time in which to dispose
of the horse. Mr. Common People could, of
course, do nothing more but he begged Mr. Chief
Justice to loan him his robe so that he might
properly impress anyone who was looking for
a faultless horse.
With apologies to Aesop.
EXPURGATING THE BP3LE
One by one the beautiful passages of the
Bible are going out ofuse in plutocratic, society,
It has become necessary to drop them out of
deference to the feelings of some of the more
sensitive members of high financial circles.
Solomon said: "A good name is rather to be
chosen than great riches, and toying, fayor rather
than silver and gold,"" but this is offensive to
the worshippers of, men like Rockefeller. "No man
can serve two masters' is a good philosophy
as well as good religion, but it is objected to by
the friends of some of the senators. And ,now,
since Chief Justice White has succeeded in
committing eight members of the court to the
position he took fifteen years, ago in favor of
judicial legislation for the protection of the
trusts it may be necessary to eliminate the
26th verse of the XI chapter of Luke. "Then
goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits
more wicked than himself, and they enter in and
dwell there; and the last state of. that man is
worse than the first."
THE WALL STREET TEST
Mr. J. Pierpont Morgan has endorsed the
supreme court decision in the Standard Oil case;
he declares it satisfactory according to the Wall
street test. "The recent tone of the American
stock market shows that it is correct." That
settles it. If it improves the stock market who
can question the decision? This is the logic
of the money kings. Mr. Morgan not only de
clares that the decision Is "entirely satisfactory"
but adds that he "expected it." "Expected it"
did he? While the rest of us poor mortals were
wondering what the decision would be he "ex
pected it" to be just what it was. He knew the
court, possibly, better than most people. He
may have known who recommended the ap
pointment of tho judges. How long will the
people regard with complacency such decisions
as that rendered in the Standard Oil case? And
how long will they continue to misunderstand
such comments as that made by Mr. Morgan?
ROOSEVELT ON TRUSTS
Mr. Roosevelt is still unable to distinguish
between a large corporation and a monopoly.
He is still harping on "progress in industrial
ism" and insisting upon "regulation." The
democratic platform strikes at monopoly, not
at production on a large scale. It insists upon
legislation which will make it impossible for a
monopoly to exist. Mr. Roosevelt does not seem
to take any interest in the decision of the su
preme court which amends the law although
he has felt free to criticise when the decision
did not suit him. He is not even in favor of
restoring the vitality of which the decision has
robbed the law. He seems to be content to con
tinue to attempt the impossible task of regu
lating a private monopoly. One might as well
insist upon allowing ferocious beasts to run
upon the streets and trust to. policemen to pro
tect the public from them.
AS INDIANA SEES IT
If it required any further proof that W. J.
Jya is a statesian and not a politician it is
abundantly furnished in his attitude on the wool
schedule. While others are attempting to stop
the gaps in their political fences by showing an
inclination to compromise the question, Bryan
takes a stand with the toiling many who have a
right to buy woolen clothes for themselves with
out paying tribute to any interest or an undue
shore of revenue into a treasury which is being
raided continually by the most profligate and
extravagant expenditures ever witnessed in any
government. Free wool is good democratic
doctrine and any leader of the party worthy of
the name must; favor itSouth Bend (Indiana)
New Era. .
AN UNHOLY ALLIANCE
I he unholy alliance which Senator Martin is
-? to ake t0 aid the Lorimer republicans
Dustmes the opposition made to him by pro
gressive democrats when he was selected leader.
fn i?or?hip consists in leading those who
IfllZT, m the standpat republican net. His
?i i 3.UStify puttins the new Lorimer investi
?!S?ilnt0 tho handa of a nIne to six Lorimer
committee as his resolution provided was absurd.
WfJ ?neT hIs leaclership is repudiated the
better for the democratic party.