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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 18, 1911)
w ; -v""yKJw ? '.' !, .c The Commoner. 6 ,.r .4 if it $ i 5 ,1 N r W k vK i;' IV- 1 ?! W tt c Where the Rank and File Stand 11. B. Minor. San Antonio. Texas Have just boon reading Tho Commoner of 7th and especi ally tho leading article, "Eternal Vigilance Necossary." You are right without doubt. But with nearly every groat daily newspaper busily engaged in deceiving tho people, how can they understand tho real situation? These news papers can deceive "tho very elect." Here's a suggestion: Establish in a prominent place in Tho Commoner a "Newspaper Directory," in which give tho leading daily newspapers and opposite each give the names of tho owners of tho majority of tho stock of these newspaper corporations according to tho best information obtainable. Then tho reading public, when the Now York and Chicago dailies begin to advo cate a particular candidate for president, could ' Tofer to their "directory," and learn from what source this advocacy comes. Wouldn't that "put them wise?" Beatrice, W. Va., July 14. Editor New York World. Dear Sir: I just received copy of your paper and did not find any slap in it at William J. Bryan, tho "dead politician." Wo just heard that ho was still alive. Better try him again. One of tho six million supporters of Bryan. A. E. Lamp. Walter Hooy, Wallace, W. Va. I for one cer tainly appreciate tho stand W. J. Bryan took on the wool tariff question. It certainly is gratify ing to follow a man who thinks more of party principle than of party success. My eyes are being opened as they never were before. I hope Mr. Bryan will stand firm and not compromise on anything that is right. He is wielding a mighty influence for good in the world which will live after he is gone. He will be remem bered by all good people of future generations when many of the politicians who now are be traying our party will be forgotten. I think we ought to encourage a man who will do as ho is doing and this is why I am writing this letter. James Scully, Iona, Mich. Enclosed find check for $1.00 for The Commoner. I like the tone of your paper and believe that this is the time for every true democrat to put forth his greatest efforts to return the control of our government to the people. While it may seem Bomewhat eaTly to form an opinion as to the most avail able candidate for president, at the present writ ing Governor Wilson appears to loom up as a very formidable candidate. There 1b one thing certain, the democrats must nominate a pro gressive, or their work will be in vain. I wish you greater success in tho splendid work done by your paper and convey my highest regards for the nqble work of the great commoner. Otto Poltz, Kansas City, Kan. "The sugges tion comes from Nebraska that Bryan's head be put on tho new postage stamps. It wouldn't do. When Bryan is licked and stuck in a corner he never sticks." The above editorial can be found In the Kansas City Journal of July 25, 1911. Being printed in a "corporation paper" it is meant as ridicule. This is what the interests have been striving for since 1896. Since then they havo "licked" Bryan three times, con signed him to a political graveyard a number of time3 more, and never, in the last fifteen yearB, have they missed an opportunity to ridi cule, and villify the greatest champion of the common people the world ever knew. This edi torial shows that they have failed and they fcnow it. After fifteen years of battle Bryan has never been "stuck in a corner" hard enough to stick. Our greatest struggle is now before tis. In addition to the court protected corpora tions, we must battle with tho traitors in our own ranks. Those boosting Harmon, and cry ing for harmony. If all democrats wero as honest and fearless as Bryan, wo would have had harmony, all through these years of struggle. John R. Moore, Palestine, Texas I heartily approve the stand you are taking in The Com moner. Especially am I pleased with your po siton as to the tariff. By the way, I should like to see published In The Commoner, in parallel columns, the tariff plank as reported by the platform committee and the substitute adopted by the democratic national convention of 1892. According to my recollection the plank as re ported by the committee was a straddle while the substitute adopted by the convention was clearly - against protection. - I notice that much has been said about the tariff plank of tho Texas convention of 189 G, and some parties seek to bolster that plank with the name of John H. Reagan. I happened to be one of three delegates from my county in attendance upon that convention, the other two being Judge Reagan and Hon. T. M. Campbell, since gover nor of Texas. Judge Reagan may have been responsible for that plank but I give you a little circumstanco that happened at that convention that may show ho was not tho whole thing. Tho money issue was the all absorbing question and yet the plank as firBt reported by the committee declared in favor of the redemption of the paper money in gold or silver coin at the option of the government. Hogg, from the floor of tho convention, called attention to the error and it is true that Judge Reagan undertook to de fend the platform and it was some time before he caught on to the mistake. I write about these two convention matters merely from mem ory and leave tho publication of this letter en tirely to you. I feel sure that the papers pub lished at the time of the two conventions will sustain my statemnt. Next to you, I "should like to see Wilson and Folk or Folk and Wilson head our ticket in the next campaign. Martin Rosenbaum, Melrose, Mass. The de cision of the supreme court in the Standard Oil case, is the rankest that ever was delivered by that court or any other court. The next demo cratic platform should have a plank, stating there is no such thing as "reasonable restraint of trade," in fact, it ought to embody entirely the dissenting opinion of Justice Harlan, which was the grandest utterance of the very best and greatest man that ever sat upon the supreme bench. Graham C. Hunter, Nutby, N. Jl In the last few months we have seen two cases in particular in which the supreme court of the United States has repealed legislation by process of distinc tion; one the Danbury Hatter's case, the other the Standard Oil case, both under the Sherman law. However necessary the action in the first of these cases may have been, yet evidently the supreme court does not believe that the law making body represents the general opinion of the common people. Perhaps the reform needed then, is to strengthen the legislative body, and make it the undoubted representative of the people. In the general idea it is not that now. Most people distrust not only congress, but also the state legislatures; and, some have abandoned all hope ever of seeing a legislature constantly responsible to the people. May one of your readers who admires The Commoner and its editor uphold the suggestion made long ago that even with the referendum one of the great needs is that the people may hold their legisla tors up to the requirements of the party plat form? They need to be able to say to their legislature: "Here is the bill fulfilling the party's pledge, and sanctioned by your party; vote for it." In four or five states of the union they are do ing this. One is Colorado, where Governor Shaf roth has again and again shown himself to be the head of his party as well as governor by holding before the legislators what the people desire and what they do not. Another is New Hampshire, and another is California, and a very eminent example is this state of New Jer sey, where by cool persuasion and without use of the patronage, Governor Wilson xset before the legislators the program the people desired, showed up each man to his constituents, and gained by the simple method of getting in the light, a splendid list of progressive laws. Your reader believes firmly in the separation of the judicial and legislative departments of the gov ernment. We are, however, getting back to the first principles of independent government when the chief executive of nation or state also acts as head of the party whose platform has been chosen by tho people as their desire. A gover nor or a president who recognizes this need can never be a tyrant, for he is always under control of tho legislative body, and he will be the means by which the great needs of the time will bo met. VOLUME 11, NUMBER 32 of congress. The principle you fought for was democratic as well as right, and was on tho side of the masses. Underwood has shown us that democracy can be forsaken by those whom the people havo entrusted to write It into the law under the dome of our capitol. It seems to mo that the real fight was whether or not Bryan could be humiliated by his friends. Can wo right a wrong by doing half wrong and half right? They claim they left 20 per cent duty on wool because of the sins of the republicans which put a 44 per cent duty on wool. Under the light of reason then, if I should be convicted in court of stealing and argue to the court that I would quit half my stealing, ought they not to turn me loose free, and say, go, ye blessed of our land, for of such rest the hopes of our gov ernment. Light of reason! Every time you steal $44 you are entitled to keep for your trouble $20 and for being generous-hearted, praised by the newspapers of protection. If I were in the habit of getting drunk every week and whipping my wife and spending the money that should go to buy warm clothing for my children I should only be allowed to commit this very immoral wrong and injustice to my family every two weeks instead of every week. Mr. Underwood, under the light of reason, if you were going to quit sinning would you under take it by degrees in broken doses, or would you change suddenly aTound and quit the one and cling to the other. When the poor sinful woman was brought before Christ for Him to condemn, He told her to go and sin no more. He didn't say quit sinning by degrees, but quit now. I suggest that if Mr. Underwood is left in our party that the party plainly tell him to do so no more. And poor old Champ. We had banked so much on him. Where is he? We can't find him. Whose side was he on? Has he denied like Peter? If so, let him repent like Peter and we will think over giving him the keys of our next choice to unlock the white house, which will be in 1912. I would rather . give them to Mr. Bryan. I have never known him to bow the knee to Balaam or worship the golden calf. We always know before election what he stands for and after the election we know that he still stands for the same thing. We feel sure he has been taken up into an exceedingly high mountain and. instead pf bow ing to the prince of the world (money) he said get behind me for it is written that man shall not live by bread (money) alone but by obey ing his conscience. I have heard many remarks concerning Mr. Bryan becoming a candidate again for president in 1912 and the only objec tion among the democrats is his being defeated three times. Let us run someone who can unite the forces. Tommyrot, we can never unite tho forces no more than you can unite light with darkness. We must never choose our captain from our enemies, no matter if they do say they are our friends. Let us follow the more sure way of being right, that is, stay with those that always stay with us. Don't imagine you can trample on the feelings of your conscience and go against sound sense and be freed from sins by merely working your hands. It will take a deeper washing than the hands to cleanse us of our mistakes. P. H. Long, Stella, Mo. I feel that if you can smooth these few remarks out and make them roadable they will speak for many of tho back wood democrats who are beginning to think for themselves and are going, to support principle rather than men. I wish to congratulate you on your-stand on the recent wool fight in the .house WATCH rr GROAV 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 the 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 five or more subscribers: Geo. W. Garrett, Ark.; T. F. Miller, Cal.; M J. King, Mo.; W. E. Fowler, O.; W. A. Hoover, Ind.; R. J. Vaughen, O.; F. M. Wilson, Kan.; L. W. Anderson, Mo.; A, Holdale, Miss.; J. W. Hughes, N. Y.; N. B. Hoyes, N. Y.; J. A. Okey, O.; H. H. Peters, 111.; Elizabeth Compton, Mo.; C. W. Hollis, Mo.; W. H. Grow, Minn.; J. J. Dean, la.; J. L. Caldwell, Tex.; Michael Mc Carthy, Cal.; Geo. M. Haight, N. Y.; W. T. Elmore, Mont.; O. L. Hanna, 111.; M. A. Hoyt, la.; Geo. A. Grabe, Cal.; J. A. Henne, O.; S. S. Patch, la.; A. G. Sherbardger, Pa.; A. B. Smith, Ala.; Bernard Borgmann, Neb.; L. H. Hayes, Va.; M. W. Harris, Ind.; Arthur H. Ebel, Ind.; J. H. Hall, Neb.; Wm. Misbaum, O.; J. R. Ar mor, Pa.; S. J. Hockman, Ind.; S. E. Wheeler, N. Y.; M. McLaughlin, D. C; A. L. Pearse, 111.; Jno. Shufolt, N. Y.; J. R. Richey, Tex.; R. B. Arnold, la.; Jno. T. Hupp, 111.; A. P. Barnum, Pa.; W. A. Deen, 111.; .M. A. Hdyt, la.; W. T. - . . l " 1 1 . t "-'St ii fflfflif