l'&tlimn0mJWM"'ua'M"
i
'
6
B.wMwiwtwfwiiijiUt'jWJiiWftil
10
w-
IV.
F
wt-
wki
ii
1 V 1
n
K
j n
4-
to
StH
Iflff
M!
i ;
i
K.
1
II
J?:
r
vli
;'
1
-,n-'
"NOT A FRIEND"
Tho hoatllo papers report that Mr. Bryan has
not a frlond left in congress. His labors, cover
ing a poriod of twenty years, have been in vain
if a revengeful speech of ono man can break
all tho ties that havo been formed during two
congressional terms and throe presidential
campaigns.
FORTUNATE MR. UNDERWOOD
Chairman Underwood has no cause to com
plain. Mr. Bryan's criticism of him has brought
him at onco tho ardent friendship and admira
tion of those democrats an influential class,
too who havo fought Mr. Bryan for fifteen
years. Nov, if he has won tho friendship of all
who have been friendly to Mr. Bryan ho must
bo the most popular man in tho party.
A QUESTION OF FACT
Did Chairman Underwood, in caucus, oppose
and defeat a resolution offered by Mr. Clark
instructing tho ways and means committee to
proceed to report other bills including a bill
reducing tho iron and steel schedule? The
Omaha World-Herald says that ho did. If so,
has a democrat a right to discuss his action and
dlsapprovo of it?
Second, did Congressman KItchin urge im
mediate action on the iron and steel schedule,
and suggest that Mr. Underwood's pecuniary
investments in tho iron business might give
cause for criticism if reduction was delayed. The
Omaha World-Herald report says he did. If so,
may not a domocrat outside of the caucus ex
press an opinion on the subject? Mr. Bryan's
opinion in regard to Mr. Underwood is nott based
on one act but on a number; if Mr. Bryan is
mistaken In his estimate of Mr. Underwood ho
will be more than pleased to admit it when
convinced. Having nothing to gain by doing
injustice to any one; having no ambition to
gratify except the ambition to render service to
his followmen he can await the verdict of time
on Mr. TJnderwood as on others from whom he
has found it necessary to differ.
"THE LEADERS" DON'T LIKE HIM
Yet this fact stands out clear, that the criti
cism of Mr. Bryan is not based upon any fact
or allegation that he is unfaithful to democratic
principles, and until it can be shown that he is,
all the assaults of all tho party's leaders in
Washington will not serve to sap the faith re
posed in him by the rank and file of tho party
in tho nation. It is always to be remembered
that tho leaders did not make Bryan. If the
power were theirs they would have pulled him
down long ago. Many of them he made by
making the democratic party truly democratic
and carrying to the country conviction of tho
party's sincerity.
The common truths of human nature are too
well known for anyone to suppose that Mr.
Bryan would escape assaults such as are made
upon his leadership. Men who rise to be sena
tors and chairmen of important committees in
congress may not acknowledge jealousy of a
man whom they well know carries an influence
beside which their own is puny in comparison,
but they have it nevertheless. They would not
be resentful of his so-called dictatorship if they
were not keenly conscious of the immense
power he wields. Until that power is destroyed
or greatly impaired, they will be in eclipse and
consciousness of this simple fact galls and em
bitters them. Dubuque (Iowa) Telegraph-Herald.
IMPETUS TO HARMON BOOM
Until comparatively recently there was a
general opinion that Bryan influence would de
termine the nomination of the democratic can
didate for president next year. That feeling has
been subsiding very rapidly, and now the
chances are strong that the candidate will not
be of the Bryan type.
The democrats of the present house, thinking
fairly well of their record during tho few
months they have been in control, have wearied
of the manner in which the Nebraskan has as
sumed that as a collective agency they know
less about how to run their own organization
than he does.
Tho worm has turned. And was it not tho
personal affair between Mr. Bryan and Mr.
Underwood the episode itself that aroused
interest to the sensation point, but the far
reaching significance of the things the episode
brought to the surface.
The affair has given a' groat impetus to the
Harmon boom, which already has overtaken and
The Commoner.
passed the Wilson boom. Mr. Underwood has
been "mentioned" and accorded some generous
treatment oven in tho north as a strong candi
date for tho democrats to select as their stand
ard bearer in 1912, but he is a Harmon man.
Chicago Record-Herald.
THE PEACE TREATIES
Tho United States, Great Britain and France
have entered into epoch-making treaties. These
treaties provide for the arbitration of differences
of whatever nature that may arise between
theso nations. No question is reserved but
every controversy is subject to arbitration.
Tho people of the three countries in particu
lar and tho people of all the world aro to bo
congratulated upon this great peace movement.
Mr. Bryan has worked along these lilies for
many years. The Commoner of February 24,
1905, printed this editorial:
"Tho amendment of the treaties was not 'a
step backward,' as President Roosevelt described
it, and there is no reason why the friends of
arbitration should be discouraged. An absolute
monarch can, of course, act more quickly than
an executive who is controlled by a constitu
tion and compelled to consult a' co-ordinate
branch of the government, but speed is not the
only thing to be considered. The framers of
our government well understood the relative
merits of tho various forms of government and
chose to risk tho evils of delay in order to
secure the greater safety that comes with popu
lar government. Arbitration transfers tho
settlement of a question to the decision of
foreign nations and what action demands more
serious consideration? To transfer to the presi
dent the power to decide such questions with
out consulting the senate would arouse so much
opposition and cause so much uneasiness that
the arbitration movement would be likely to be
retarded rather than accelerated by the adoption
of the president's views. One serious mistake
would bring a revulsion of feeling that might
jeopardize the cause of arbitration.
"It is possible, however, to provide for the
impartial Investigation of any international
dispute, leaving the final submission to arbi
tration to be a matter of treaty. The president
might be authorized to enter into an agreement,
to submit any and every international dispute
to The Hague court for investigation. When
the court reports upon the facts and presents
the real issue between tho parties, then the
parties can decide intelligently whether it
involves a proper question for arbitration or
affects the integrity and honor of either nation.
Such an investigation would, in most cases, re
move misunderstanding and bring about a
reconciliation and public opinion would exert a
powerful influence in harmonizing any differ
ences which might be found to exist. Such a
plan would do more to promote peace than the
plan embodied in the treaties submitted by the
president. If such a plan had been in opera
tion the Russian-Japanese war might have been
prevented. It is quite certain that a prelimi
nary investigation by an impartial board would
have prevented most of the international wars
of the last half century, and would be still more
effective in the future. The president ought to
be satisfied to start the investigation leaving
the arbitration treaty to be made with the con
currence of the senate after the facts are ascer
tained, and the senate, without any impairment
of its rights and powers could' delegate to the
president the power to enter into any agree
ment that he might think proper for full and
impartial investigation. Will this plan bring
the president and the senate together?"
Mr. Bryan secured the indorsement of the
Idea by the world peace congress which was held
in London, in July, 1906, 'and by a peace con
gress held in New York In 1908. The idea was
also indorsed at a peace meeting held in Edin
borough in June, 1910.
CHANGING THE LAW
In 1897, when the supreme court, in the
Trans-Missouri freight case, refused to put a
construction upon the anti-trust law that would
in effect write into that act the word "unreason
able," Mr. Justice White dissented. He upheld
the railroad contention that the law should be
read as though prohibiting only "undue" or
"unreasonable" restraints of trade.
Again in 1898, in the Joint Traffic case, Jus
tice White took issue with the majority of the
supreme court on the same point.
Now In 1911 in the Standard Oil and Tobacco
Trust decisions the law is changed. White Is
now chief justice. The supreme court, under
VOLUME 11, NUMBER 31
Taft, has been reorganized. Chief Justice White
hands down, as the opinion of tho court, tho
views that were rejected by the supreme court
In 1897 and 1898. At a stroke the rule of law that
has been followed ever since the enactment of
the Sherman anti-trust law is reversed, and the
supremo court presumes to do what congress
refused to do put into the law the restricting
word "unreasonable." La Follette's Magazine.
FOR THE GOOSE AND FOR THE GANDER
A President was taking the Air on Pennsyl
vania Avenue, when he heard a Whiffling Sound
behind him, and turning he beheld a Curious
Thing dressed all in White and Diamonds.
"Whither away?" asked the President, whose
curiosity was aroused.
"To the House to attend a' meeting of the
Committee on Territories," replied the White
Thing.
"And Is that a Bill you have in your hand?"
"Yes; it is an Act entitled an Act to amend
an Act repealing an Act "
"Kindly omit the Book of Acts," said the
President. "What I want to Know is where
abouts is it likely to Strike the Executive Office.
Am I Winner or Loser, and how much?"
"On that you will be pleased," said the White
Thing, "for it changes the law as to Federal
Judgeships in Alaska, Philippines and other
Territories."
The President started.- "What 'change would
you make," ho demanded hoarsely, "Speak, thou
Fearful Guest, what change!"
"Hereafter," said the White Thing, pointing
to the Bill, "You may continue to appoint judges,
as you do now, but the power to remove them
at will, which the present law gives you, is taken
away."
"And why am I no longer allowed to Exercise
the Recall?" asked the President in a Trembling
Voice.
"Because you lack the Intelligence to make
Removals. You have only just Brains enough
to Appoint. When you have done that you are
all In."
"Wait a moment" cried the President, grasp
ing the White Toga of his Strange Companion.
"Where do you come, from?"
"Arizona."
"And your Name?"
"Consistency," responded ' the other- and all
his Jewels Winked. -G. D. W., in the Califor
nia Outlook.
THE LANGUAGE OF THE HEART
Only those who speak from the heart and to
the heart employ a universal language. Burns
was a past master in the use of this language;
he gave poetic expression to a sympathy that
embraced the whole world; his words live be
cause they glow with the love that makes all
mankind kin.
WATCH IT GROW
Mr. Bryan has given instructions that every
new subscriber shall receive The Commoner for
a period of two years (which will carry It be
yond tho presidential election of 1912) for the
sum of one dollar. Every Commoner reader is
asked to secure at least one new subscriber.
Many will be able to secure more than one.
Everyone, however, may render some aid in this
work.
The following named readers have sent in
new subscribers:
Jas. Staley, Ala.; J. L. McRobie, Md.; W. F.
Sekeavec, Kan.; C. A. Jerome, N. Y.; Conrad
Faeth, Mo.; Robt. Kirchmann, 111.; O. K. Olson,
Minn.; Jno. Lipoid, Colo.; D. Bonar, Va.; W. D.
Gould, Cal.; J. W. Headden, Ga.; J. B. Mc
Ginley, Neb.; R. T. Williams, Minn.; W. W.
Wells, Mo.; J. B. Storms, N. Y.; Wm. Swiman,
111.; Harry Burke, Wash.; M. J. O'Brien, Colo.;
C. W. Giering, N. Y.; C. P. Hale, W. Va.; Eli
Gerber, Ind.; Dr. Howard, la.; Jno. T. Dow,
Minn.; Lewis Ledy, 111.; J. T. Zimmer, 111,; Ed
Shores, Kan.; J. C. Wheat, Okla.; Dan'l. Murphy,
Cal.; D. B. John, la.; C. M. Speck, O.; D. J.
Clark, la.; D. L. DeVane, Ariz.; L. L. Bailey,
Pa.; J. C. Russell, Ore.; Nels. H. Spange, N. D.;
D. McDonald, S. D.; J. Zearley, W. Va.; I. B.
Newkirk, O.; W. E. Horn, Ind.; Wallace E.
Groman, Pa'.; J. W. Mann, Wash.; J. M. Stone,
Canada.; Alfred Dicus, Colo.; T. J. Rhoades,
Wash.; H. H. Allen, Okla.; J. W. Hartrock, O.;
H. C. Booth, O.; P. H. Kenegan, Minn.; Jno.
Myers, 111.; B. B. Sharp, 111.; Brown McFerin,
W. Va.; Sterling Baker, N. Y.; E. G. Stephens,
Neb.; W. I. Vineyard, Tenn.; F. Krish, Ky.; G.
W. Sprout, Ky.; F. Dusch, Va.; Geo. H. Ford,
Md.; J. T. Cochran, Okla.; J. C. Yolton, S. D.;
M. H. Wallace, R. I.; .S. D. Gleason,
'3p'Jgg Vr-'fljk-- "--fc-w mjt