The Commoner.
WILLIAM J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
VOL. 11, NO. 35
Lincoln, Nebraska, September 8, 1911
Whole Number 555
Get Together
The old fight is on again. For sixteen years the democratio
party has had its quadrennial struggle to free itself from the
strangle-hold of Wall street. The victory won in the national con
vention of 1896 put the party, as an organization, on the side of the
people, but the Wall street element of the party defeated it by such a
combination of fraud, force and corruption as the country had
never before seen.
As soon as the election was over the Wall street element set
about to carry the party back to its wallow in the mire of plutocracy.
It failed, but its failure only intensified its thirst for revenge, and
it defeated the party again. In 1904 Wall street regained control of
the organization by constant reiteration of the charge that radi
calism had caused two defeats. It posed as the prophet of success
and promised a big campaign fund and victory.
Seeing that the rank and file were unalterably opposed to the
proposed exploitation the Wall street democrats deliberately united
with the Wall street republicans and converted a defeat into a rout.
The memory of 1904 made it impossible for the Wall street
democrats to make much headway in 1908, although with the aid
of all the servile agents of plutocracy it did its best. Powerless to
.control the party it again threw its influence to the republicans.
The defeat of 1908 gave Wall street renewed courage and it is
again at work.
The same predatory interests control most of the leading dailies.
Some of these papers call themselves republican and some of them
call themselves democrats and their masters uso them to keep up a
sort of Punch and Judy show for the amusement of the public. But
whenever a convention is to bo held or an election is at hand they
are all back of the men supported by the interests.
Today, the Wall street crowd is backing President Taft for the
republican nomination and it will seek to control the democratic
nomination also, but let no democrat be deceived. When election
day comes the solid support of the plunderbund will be thrown to
President Taft. From the lowest possible standpoint of expediency
it would be folly to allow Wall street to nominate the democratio
candidate. Our party has made a record for reform which renders
it impossible to gain the confidence of the big criminals who evade
punishment by controlling the government. .The only hope of the
party is in the nomination of a positive, progressive, aggressive
democrat. Any other course would be suicidal.
Let the unpurchased, unintimidated, democratic democrats of
each community get together and agree upon the candidate who
best represents the sentiments of the rank and file and support him.
The predatory interests always unite. The masses should not be
divided at a time like this. Get together nominate the ticket.
Those Questions
Governor Marshall and ex-Governor Folk
have answered the questions submitted by The
Commoner. They have indorsed the proposition
that THE CONSTITUENTS HAVE A RIGHT TO
KNOW WHERE THE CANDIDATES STAND ON
IMPORTANT QUESTIONS AT ISSUE.
The other candidates have, in their speeches,
answered many of the questions and may think
that a categorical answer is unnecessary, but
surely there can be no objection to repetition
in the statement of one's position and on some
of the questions a direct answer is imperatively
necessary. Take, for instance, the trust ques
tion. The supreme court has virtually repealed
the criminal clause of the anti-trust law. Do
the candidates acquiesce in this decision? If
not, have they the courage to take the people's
side of this great issue. Ask them? The
readers are urged to secure from the candidates
an answer to these questions. Also, are they in
favor of the indorsement of the Denver platform
remedy on the trust question If not, what
remedy do they favor? A trust-controlled demo
cratic president would be worse than a republi
can president for his surrender to tho trusts
would injure the party while a trust controlled
republican president strengthens tho demo
cratic party. Find out where tho candidates
stand on the trust question and send their
answers to The Commoner.
CONTENTS
GET TOGETHER
THOSE QUESTIONS
LORIMER THE LEADER
BIRDS OF A FEATHER
THE REORGANIZATION FARCE
CLARK REPLIES TO PRESIDENT TAFT
A PLUTOCRATIC PROTEST
AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION "GOES
DEMOCRATIC"
ALDRICH CURRENCY SCHEME MEANS A
BANKERS' TRUST
PRACTICAL TARIFF TALKS
HOME DEPARTMENT
WHETHER COMMON OR NOT
NEWS OF THE WEEK
WASHINGTON NEWS
BIRDS OF A FEATHER
President Taft may get some idea of his point,
of view by looking up the records of those who
most violently assail the recall of judges. Every
big criminal who practices grand laTceny by law
or who trusts to the partiality of corporation
judges to grant him immunity when Ho violates
the law every one of these will applaud the
president for insulting the intelligence and
patriotism of tho people with his veto. Every
subsidized newspaper that sells its editorial and
news columns to the predatory interests will
echo the president's appeal for an independent
(?) judiciary,
Every attorney who In ofllco relies upon
secret retainers from favor seeking corporations
and those attorneys, who, out of office, win
fame and fortune by furnishing legal horses on
which members of the plunderbund may escape
from punishment all these will shout approval
, of tho president's veto and hail him as a
"Daniel come to judgment."
He will be Indorsed by some through a mis
understanding of tho real issue and by many
for partisan reasons but his militant and vocl
or who, as defenders, share the booty. Is Presl
who have their hands in other people's pockets
or who, as defenders share the booty. Is' Presi
dent Taft willing to be judged by the com
pany ho keeps?
TO THE PEOPLE OF ARIZONA
Eliminate the recall of judges and" come Into
the union. You will then be free to restore that
provision of your constitution, and you will dis
appoint your friends if you do not restore it at
tho first opportunity.
What a revolt there Is against the republican
party! It would be a political crime to destroy
the democratic party's chances by nominating a
Wall street candidate.
Lorimer the Leader
Those who regard tho Initiative, referendum
and the recall as a menace to our government
have at last found a leader worthy of tho cause.
Senator Lorimer has taken command and wo
may expect his genius to organize such of tho
opponents of these reforms as are not repelled
by his record. In a speech delivered before tho
veterans at Duquoin, 111., tho senator said, ac
cording to tho Chicago Record-Herald:
"Since I was a boy I have heard it said that
this government of ours must fall, but I have
always believed it was indestructible so long as
no laws can be placed on tho statute books ex
cept they first be acceptable to tho greatest
minds of the country. I thought that no serious
blow could be struck at tho constitution or that
no set of men traveling from one end of tho
state to the other could threaten the constitution.
"But of late I am convinced that there Js a
method by which the government can be de
stroyed. Wo have been renouncing everybody
and everything. 'Do the people rulo?' they ask.
Of course, the answer Is 'Yes.'
"But we can only trust ourselves by some
method whereby every statute enacted Is first
investigated by careful minds as to its effect on
the people. Can anyone who thinks say that
laws placed on the statute books by tho initia
tive and referendum will be put there after
Intelligent consideration? That is absolutely
impossible.
"Talk about the Intelligence of tho people!
Toll me, is there any man hero who knows any
one whom ho would trust and follow on every
question that could bo presented? When we aro
willing to give up representative government we
will accept the initiative and referendum. After
years of experience I am convinced that If wo
want a' law on the statute books all tho peoplo
combined are not capable of putting it there
intelligently, but must appoint some one to draft
it and be responsible for it. Where does tho
responsibility rest under the initiative and
referendum?
"There is a mania just now for passing all
kinds of laws. You men must rise up and
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