The Commoner.
WILLIAM J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
VOL. 11, NO. 36
Lincoln, Nebraska, September 15, 1911
Whole Number 556
" Harmony " Means to Halt
Some good democrats have heen deceived by the "harmony"
cry. They want harmony. Wall street is bribing the corruptible,
fooling the gullible and frightening the timid. Strange that any
can be misled I Harmony means to halt. When there is harmony
the slowest man sets the pace. As soon as the rear guard stops the har
mony army goes into camp. The men who are now preaching harmony
should understand that harmony will cost the party its chances of
success. We have not had harmony in the party for fifteen years
but we have seen the progressive element of the party dominating
the political thought of the country and it is ready to sweep the
country. Shall we turn over the fighting to the progressive re
publicans? The harmony program has already cost the party dearly.
A few protectionist democrats threatened to vote with the republi
cans if a free wool bill was reported, so harmony was purchased by
the surrender of the doctrine of free raw material. A few men who
do not want the election of senators by the people in any form are
keeping up a sham battle over the question of federal or state
control of elections and harmony will have to bo disturbed if the
amendment is submitted. The corporation democrats are opposed to
any effective legislation on the trust question, and harmony will have
to be disturbed if anything is done to protect the public. The bank
ing interests are fighting any and all protection to depositors and
harmony must be disturbed if the rights of depositors are to securo
any recognition. The Wall street crowd will be at the next conven
tion, as usual, ready to sell harmony at wholesale at the regular
price, namely, the betrayal of the public. What we need is not
harmony, but a straightforward fight for principle in behalf of the
public such a fight will win. . - -
Those Questions
Some of the papers are awfully Indignant,,
about those questions put to candidates. Why?
Who, unless he favors dark lantern methods,
can object to answering questions? If any of
the questions asked are irrelevant let the can
didate say so, and let the court the people
decide whether it should be answered. Mr.
Bryan has in every campaign refused to answer
questions which he has regarded as irrelevant.
Then there is another answer "I have no
opinion myself on any question and am willing
to run on any platform the convention writes."
That is one way of disposing of the questions, if
any candidate wants to risk' that method. And
then there is a third way of escape, the candidate
can refuse to answer on the ground that the
answer would incriminate him. That is a good
answer in court. Who wants to try it in a presi
dential campaign? If any one objects to Mr.
Bryan's asking the questions let him wait until
some one else puts the questions.
THE PROGRESSIVES ARE FIGHTING
Those democrats who put "harmony" above
everything else will find it to their advantage to
-watch the progressive republicans. The pro
gressives are out FIGHTING and they are gain
ing ground.
CONTENTS
"HARMONY" MEANS TO HALT
THOSE QUESTIONS
RESPECTING THE JUDGES
GAMBLING
MUST BE A REAL DEMOCRAT
A WARNING
WILL HISTORY REPEAT?
SEARCHING QUESTIONS, OF COURSE
FEDERAL COURTS AND RAILROAD
MANAGERS
POLITICAL CAREER OF JOSEPH W. FOLK
SENATOR CUMMINS ARRAIGNS TAFT
NINE YEARS OF BEEF TRUST IMMUNITY
PRACTICAL TARIFF TALKS
HOME DEPARTMENT
WHETHER COMMON OR NOT
, WASHINGTON NEWS
NEWS OF THE WEEK
RESPECTING THE JUDGES
James Manahan, a' Minneapolis lawyer, de
livered an address before the recent session of
the Minnesota Bar association. Several speeches
preceding that of Mr. Manahan -had-reference to
"tfiVthroatened destruction of the independence
of the judiciary." Mr. Manahan said:
"It is urged that the recall of the judges
would subject the judiciary to the clamor of
the mob. The man who believes the
people are a mob does not believe in a republi
can form of government. He should leave this
country. Ho has no place here; his spirit is
treasonable.
"Respect the judges, of course; the same as
wo respect men in other offices who do their
duty; no more, no less. We can not respect
them if they are arrogant or tyrannical or des
potic. And if they are not held responsible they
become to a greater or less degree arrogant,
tyrannical and despotic. They are entitled to
the respect earned by the justice and wisdom
of their judgment, and this should be measured
not by them, but by that sovereignty that creates
them. Let their work be done in" the light of
the power they serve. The more direct and
severe the light, the greater will shine the glory
of their work well done."
Mr. Manahan's words ought to be posted upon
every highway In America.
Respect the judges, of course, but "let their
work be done in the light of the power they
serve. The more direct and severe the light, the
greater will shine the glory of their work well
done."
Gambling
WHERE NEBRASKA STANDS
Replying to an inquiry made by the Omaha
World-Herald, Governor Aldrich, republican, of
Nebraska, says: "In Nebraska 90 per cent of
us are progressives and I can assure you that
no one is friendly to Taft; ho has evidently
learned nothing during the three years ho has
been in office. La Follette Is the choice of the
people of our state. His name is mentioned
favorably on all sides and ho could undoubtedly
carry the state."
Nebraska republicans were among the most
enthusiastic supporters of Mr. Taft in 1908.
Speaker Clark says that it la all over but the
shouting. That sounds familiar we have heard
it in several campaigns, but when the predatory
interests got their thumbscrews to work the
shouting was postponed. The chances are bright
but we must not be over-confident an alliance
with Wall street in the interest of harmony
would ruin us.
The following items, appearing tho same day
in two Now York papers, show how social
gambling ajnong women Is on tho Increase Tho
Now York Times publishes a dispatch from
Minneapolis:
"Minneapolis, Minn., Sept. 3. (Special to
the New York Times.) An ultra-fash ionablo
gambling house, like those conducted hero In
frontier days, has been closed by the polico
after running for several weeks, during which
time hundreds of women have squandered their
money in the place. A society woman ran it.
"The street in front of tho house on Nicollet
avenuo was constantly lined with limousines
and town cars of the rich women of Minneapolis.
All sorts of games were played, so tho polico
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MUST BE A REAL DEMOCRAT
Tho campaign of 1912 will be a plain,
unmistakable, clear-cut discussion and
decision between two lines of national
policy, Involving radical differences upon
fundamental points not alone of national
legislation, but of tho attitude and
temperament of the federal executive
and federal judiciary as well.
Tho national conscience, not Icsb than
the national intelligence, demand a
thorough change, a reversal as well as
a revision of the national policy in many
important particulars.
Tho democratic candidate for presi
dent next year must be distinctively
democratic. He must be not merely
non-republican, but he must bo posi
tively anti-republican. He must stand
for tho things that Taft does not stand
for. He must represent, Individually
and personally, without chanco of ques
tion or doubt, all the principles and poli
cies of progressive democracy.
The success of 1912, now seemingly
assured, can only be consummated
along the lines of progressive democracy,
which Is true democracy, and with a
candidate who shall be in all essential
particulars the apostle and representa
tive of those progressive principles.
Denver News.
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