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6 The Commoner.
Where the Rank and File Stand
Hinti of What Members of Congress Will Learn Upon Returning to Their Constituents
Mr. Bryan la receiving letters from every sec
tion of the country endorsing his stand in tho
tariff question. It is impossible to print all of
these lottors but the following are fair samples:
S. R. Davis, Now Orleans, La. Down hero in
Louisiana tho domocracy is restloss over tho con
duct of their representatives and senators in
voting for Aldrichism, and if I inistalco not you
will gee them gradually changing and voting
more democratic when they hoar tho protests of
tho democratic olectorato during the ponding
gubernatorial and senatorial campaign.
B. L. Smith, Pokiu, 111. You aro being de
nounced by a great many newspapers because
of your activity at Washington In general and
particularly in reference to tho wool schodule.
As a humble citizen I desire to express to you
ray profound appreciation for your efforts in
bohalf of tho common people. Apparently no
objection is made to tho presence of a paid
lobbyist but one who is there from a sense of
duty fighting for principle is to bo condemned.
Strength to your arm.
J. Francis Smith, St. Joseph, Mo. Keep up
tho good work. You aro no dictator, but an
individual who voices the opinion of millions
of true democrats. A party of compromises will
not last. Tho country will bo for all protection
or all for revenue tariff. Tho democrats who
aro used by the protectionists are not of tho
kind you represent. Your kind are not for trade.
Dr. J. D. Motley, Louisville, Mo. As one of
the rank and file I want to commend your
courageous stand the true democratic stand
on tho wool question. Millions of us rank and
fliers, who believe in equal justice for all, with
special privileges for none, are thanking God
today that you live to intercede for us, when
the special interests aro seeking advantages
that do not rightfully belong to them. I do not
bolievo the rank and file of our party, or the
rank and fllo of any other party, will stand for
a tax on their clothes and blankets, especially
when they understand that the necessary revenue
to run the government, can be raised in much
loss burdensome ways. Take my own district
(the Ninth Missouri) for instance. One hundred
per cent are wool consumers, while not one per
cent could properly bo termed wool producers.
Why was it that thirty days prior to final action
on the wool question, the ways and means com
mittee favored free wool. Can it be possible
that the caucus action was a bid for the wool
protected vote? If bo it was bargained for at
a calamitous price "sow to the wind and reap
the whirlwind." Mr. Underwood's argument for
a wool tariff is rotten to tho core a delusion
and Bnare, set to catch the unwary and thought
less. Sooner or later, sooner I hope, he will
realize that not all tho gray matter in the demo
cratic party, now shelters under the dome of tho
capitol, however much may be there, and that
it will be disastrous for those under the dome
to attempt to handle the democracy of the na-
pound, excluding the weight of equipment in
both cases; which enables the express corpora
tions to pay over fifty per cent in profits to
themselves, although rendering no service what
ever to the farmers and to points off the rail
ways." Mr. Lewis has worked out a system of "zones"
based on scientific methods, from which a five
pound package, for Instance, can be sent 19 G
miles for 11 cent- while the express companies
now charge 25 cents and more for like distances:
from Calais, Me., to San Francisco, will cost 30
cents for five pounds, and $2.42 for 50 pounds,
as against tho express company charges of 85
cents and $7.50.
With tho rural free delivery a pan of the
express system, an agricultural parcels post will
WHAT ARE THE WILD WAVES
SAYING? w.vr U
"
,.'- ..V,,,,,,, J
tlon. Tho action of the leaders in congress
makes our party past a Ho, puts us on the de
fensive and lays us open to Just criticism and de
nunciation by republican protectionists. I know
not what course others may take but for myself
I squarely repudiate tho action of the caucus.
Who authorised this congress to retain a' tax
on wool. Certainly not their constituents.
Neither did tho last national platform speak in
so strango a tongue. Had the democrats made
the issue In tho last campaign, on tho wool
question, as now outlined by tho leaders in con
gress, I ventnro to say their present majority
in tho house would now be a slim minority.
Much strength to your arm, Mr. Bryan. Tho
rank and fllo of your party aro with you, heart
and soul, in the great and courageous fight you
aro making for equal and exact Justice for all
mea.
E. A. Skeels, Mt. Auburn, Vt I wish to say
that the great common peoplo, as Mr. Bryan
calls them, will endorse every word that Mr.
Bryan has said to our democratic members in
congress at Washington and that If Mr. Under
wood succeeds in putting a 20 per cent duty on
wool ho la playing at once into the hands of the
republican party and may mean thereby its de
feat next year. Tho reason we now have a demo
cratic house is because the democrats promised
to lower the cost of Irving and if there was one
thing on the whole list that was to be taken
into consideration it was to have clothing much
cheaper. And it all goes to show that the trusts
have a hold on the democratic party as well as
the republican. I hope with thousands and
hundreds of thousands of democrats through
out our whole country that Mr. Bryan will keep
giving them hot shot on the subject. Can it be
possible that we as a party shall go before the
voters in 1912 without an income tax ratified
by several of the states and let the enormous
duty of SO per cent remain on wool when all
expected as I have said it to ho put on the
free list. If Mr. Underwood wishes to raise
more revenue let him put a still higher duty on
luxuries that the rich import. But let the poor
man own his coat at the lowest price possible.
v h, M?ferf, Globe Aria. Herewith I
hand you New York exchange for $6 25
in payment of six subscriptions to The Com
moner and one platform text book to be
mailed to the writer. I have been a reader of
The Commoner since tt started and have always
admired the consistent stand it has taken on
democratic policies. At the present time when
our party is being weighed in the balance and
the eyeB of the country are looking to it for the
remedial legislation it looked in vain to thl
republican party for, it should not be found
?S2 ? nIUea " l upon !t In a manner
that will merit and meet the approval of the
peoplo who have spoken in no uncertain terms
their desire for a chango. The doctrine of ex
pediency has no place in the democratic creed
fnrf w Zt T5ET?1111,80 ?th ,ectel interests to
further the individual welfare of any candidate
market the farmers' produce and save them the
time and labor of marketing their track Rates
even lower than those quoted are promised by
n thefr1 city carriers Assemble the
small consignments of the individual sh nners
finl U0 tte ,ast frelght " -on Sunk
lines, with passenger trains on the branch roadn
to hurry the stuff to destination? ui "the reSSS
fast , freight rates. The postoffice will reun
wSf hZ 8ecaflni: aurl0d ratca r the assem
bled shipments, while the small shippers ,t
their advantage over present condiUons by htv-
shi?pers8ylT 'ISZZ V0glw Germay, d
snippers, Mr. Lewis shows, pay only doublo
Tho food problem, the "high cost of livine-
"of inW1 flSUres' i iargefhe
result of the want of a proper articulation of
our transportation with the rural sources of
supply. While prices are often. pioMbiUve to
. theconsumerrcrops maybe rotting at Se plact
ofproducUon, for want of a real xpar!
. - . The-committee's hearings. ,will rbe sprinted.
VOLUME 11, NUMBER 21
but let him rather measure up to the standard
set by progressive democracy and we can fol
low his leadership to merited success. With
best wishes for the continued success of Tho
Commoner, may it grow and prosper in tho
years to come, with added strength to cham
pion the cause of tho common people. Yours
for democratic harmony and success, with honor.
M. J. Buck, Pittsburg, Pa. I am glad to see
you aro consistent on the tariff question. One
scarcely recognizes the difference between the
democrats and republicans when it comes to the
tariff question. When out of office the demo
crats act as anti-tariff party, when elected to
office they seem to be trying to ape the re
publicans in not being quite sure of what the
country demands. In 1875 and 1876 my father
prognosticated that tariff would lead to classes
and large and powerful corporations which would
prove a menace to the country. What right has
any class or set of men to have tariff to protect
UielT industries in order to grant them the
privilege to exact a duty from the public? This
of course la republican doctrine but surely not
democratic. All lumber, wool and leather surely
should come in free. Likewise bread stuff,
meat, etc.
Emile C. Gerane, Jeanette, La. Your advice
on wool "free of entry" to democratis is a good
stand for this reason: If the American manu
facturers wish to be enabled to export American
products from their manufactories on all woolen
goods, it is essential that said manufacturers
should acquire cheaper raw wool so as to be
enabled to meet foreign competition. This
would also increase the American products to
such extent that it will benefit labor in higher
wages. If labor from wool manufactories are
benefited,, the result will be that the entire
American population will be benefited by It.
Joseph J. Culbertson, Ashland, Ohio Permit
mo to congratulate you for the great work you
are accomplishing by way of educating the people
in sound politics. I hope you will in the near
future show in The Commoner two tariff tables,
x?2 tsbowIns tno rat0 of duty in the Payne
t l?FBJSe other lowing the duty as
it is In the bill now being put through con
gress on articles of common use such as tea,
coffee, sugar, clothing, including wool and cot-
wnY f i am fa7or of wo1 on the free list,
but win take half a loaf if I can not get a whole
one. Yours In a splendid good cause.
G. E. Nelhousemyer, Genoa, Ohio I raise
Sfie Tn for the last two seasons the price
which I have been getting for wool has been
Ztllo Z'n t8 year J ,got 16c a Pund and a few
years ago I got around 30c a pound. I can not
get as good a suit of clothes for $15 now as I
could a few years ago. Can the high protec-
t ? nrSJXP,laIn Thy clotnIne costs more when
the price of wool goes down? If this country
&2laYe recJPrcity, then the farmers ought
tatwerfglt. them aS the maU"
Edward Callaghan, Charlerol, Pa. You are
armvPn? f yourBelf bt for the greatest
army of men that ever cast a ballot or will
?naimUSket Iour voIce ,s more Potent today
clawTLn at fateful day wbe yon were
worSi thn hen!eader wiien you ve utterance to
dn f neJX dle: "You sna ot press
vmYn 7n f S0raB on the brow of labor.
2m TLfn0t Cruclf7 mankind on a cross of
Eli t, US n? and at them again. There are
Brave hearts and willing hands behind what you
M Z BmyBrnl " HUmUl!
atff?011111?' Bisbee Aris. I want 'to
ntnn L lle YZi ot commendation for your
stand on the tariff on wool. Your word, as
?wVingS tnV5 t(the teat of democracy and
S E? JL ? VWBfion but that the rank and file
?I ,enParty, almost t0 a man with you. The
MttS ft Sf V00! ,n ltflelf wl beP a
th J2t ? nVl makG W0Dl free will hurt
t?oXSL Jnca,.cullaWy- " will cause the pro-!-2
i!?to ?Ink among themselves and it will
5S?1.?HitniiB!. n .th0 part of tue People to
democratic pledges in the future. Its effect will
n???11?. to democratic faith. There is
?nSiScSk,nf ? watot of the nation in the
congressionar elections. The high cost of living
'US fi.li b tno voter through the tariff,
and-tne high cost of woolen clothing and pro-
ffZuC faearnt:issuo Ine.tjampaljgn, It
js sickening to. see -democrats so far forget their
-faith ,and;their ebligations -to the people -as- to
.