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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 20, 1911)
!HwyHupIHtfH'MP o The Commoner. OCTOBER 20, atll medicine, to journalism, to the ministry, or to politics that they must get away from tho farm. I hope that our conservation congresses will not overlook tho fact that wo Bhall mako little progress towards making farm homes moro inviting until wo teach men that the farm with all its toil and drudgery gives them a position whore they can be independent, and give their children an environment that contributes to stature and character. I believe that we shall only be doing our duty to ourselves, to our fol low man, to our country and to posterity when we emphasize the fact that it is the idler and not the man who toils, who is a disgrace to society. Here is a place where all of us can work; here is a public opinion which we can all join in cultivating. The mother who has a daugh ter approaching womanhood's estate can help when she teaches that daughter that she ought to be more willing to link her fortunes with the fortunes of a poor young man, with high aspira tions, education, ambition, good health and character, than to seek an alliance with an idle degenerate who spends the money somebody else has earned. The father can do his duty, and can help, when he teaches the son that he is more proud of him when ho sees tyim at work, trying to become a useful factor in society, than when he is simply waiting for some money to be left him that he may squander It, and be tho worse for having had it. Every member of society everywhere can serve in this great war upon the. largest enemy we have to meet. The teacher in the college has his work to do; tho preacher in the pulpit oh, what an opportunity ne has to present to his congregation, Sunday after Sunday the idea that Christ Himself made a living reality, that greatness is to be measured by the service rendered, and that happiness, as well as greatness,- depends on the contribu tion one makes to the world. Here is a work that is large enough for us all. Here Is some thing that invites us an opportunity as large as we can crave. I present, therefore, -as the most important thing that the conservation movement can con sider, the raising up of an ideal of life that will give a man a prope.r conception of his relation to society. "Where better lhan on the farm, can a man. learn God's law?' What Is the Divine, law of reward? God wrote It upon the face of tho earth; He proclaimed it from the clouds; He burns It into us through the rays of the sun, namely that God has given us the material and that in proportion as man shows Industry and intelligence in converting natural resources into usable wealth he can rightfully draw from the common store of the world. That is God's law of rewards. If a man lacks intelligence God punishes him by failure. If lie lacks industry, God whips him into poverty by laws that are "inexorable. That Is the Divine plan, but we have allowed the speculative craze to take its place, and man instead of earning his bread in the Bweat of his brow rushes Into the city to get some short cut to riches, and society has given respectability to the man who goes on the board of trade at ten o'clock and by betting on what the farmers raise makes more than he can make raising it, while it looks down upon the people who feed us and clothe us. But, my friends, I have already talked longer than I intended to when I came. I am here because I am Interested. I am hero because I am a debtor to society. "Who in all this land has been placed under greater obliga tions than I? "Who is more bound in duty to contribute as best he can to any improvement that Is possible? This is one of the great avenues of effort; one of the great reform movements. It enlarges as you consider it. I am here to testify to my interest; I am here to listen to those who speak that I may gather from their matured thought ideas that I can put into ' use. My part is an liumble part; it is not to .discusB any question at length; it is not to speak aB an expert upon any branch of conservation; it is rather to come and emphasize so far as I can the work that others nave done to show you how large it la, to increase your interest in it, to quicken your zeal, and to have you go from here, determined, as I go determined, to con tribute more largely than in the past, not only to this, but to every movement that has for its object the elevation of the human race and the advancement of the civilization of tho world. I ttiank you. On motion of Professor, Condra, duly seconded, tho congress adjourned subject to the call of the . executive committee. Well arranged time is the surest mark of a well-arranged mind. Pitman. pass rr on In its 1008 platform tho republican party promised to amend the Sherman nnti-trast law. During the campaign of 1008 Governor Hughes of New York interpreted that proini.se to mean that "tho rule of reason" must bo adopted. Later President Tnft nppointcd Governor Hughes, as well as other men of his mold of thought, to tho United States supremo court. Georgo W. Perkins, associated with J. Pior pont Morgan in trust control, delivered a speech recently in which he compluincd that republi can congressmen had not tried to redeem this promise but that it had been redeemed by tho supremo court in tho recent trust decision wherein Governor Hughes' "rule of reason" was applied. Pass this on to your republican neighbor. Ask him what ho thinks of tho supreme court boing pucked with the view of having it redeem & party's campaign pledge. LOOKING BAOIOVARD In tho light of tho confession made by Georgo W. Perkins The Commoner's editorial on Gov ernor Hughes' appointment to the supremo bench may be interesting. In its issue of May 6, 1910, The Commoner said: Tho appointment of Governor Hughes to tho supreme bench will bo regarded by many aB a populur appointment. Ho has been put forward as a reformer, and seems to bo considered one by a great many good people, but his reputation as a reformer rests upon a few ofllcial acts which show him opposed to grafting and to tho Individual vIccb, but no ono who will examine his record can doubt that he is in close sympathy with tho exploit ing corporations. It will bo romombored that ho vetoed tho bill for tho reduction of railroad rates after a New York legislature and a republican legislature at that had passed tho reduction bill. This measure gavo to tho congested population of New, York, the two cent rato now enjoyed by tho moro scattered populations of tho western' states, and his veto of it is conclusivo proof that ho obeys tho dictates of tho railway managers Instead of listening to tho volco of tho public. Ho is under stood to bo a close personal friend of Rockefeller, and tho published reports show that tho tru3t magnates have contributed liberally to his cam paign funds. He has not hesitated to show that ho acknowledges his Indebtedness. In 1908 ho was tho chief defender of tho inaction of tho re publican party on tho trust question. It will bo remembered also that ho was the first prominent man to oppobo tho incomo tax, and his opposition camo after Mr. Rockefollor had an nounced hostility to tho incomo tax amendment. Tho corporation attorneys who filed an argument against the incomo tax with tho Albany legisla ture presented tho samo argument that Governor Hughes did. and these corporation attorneys with Governor Hughes' powerful aid barely succeeded in preventing tho ratification of tho amendment by the state of New York. What would ho do on tho supremo bench if any question arose affecting tho income tax? His speeches show that he feels no hostility toward private monopolies, and there Is no reason to doubt that his decisions would bo in line with his speeches. Governor Hughes exemplifies tho Individual vlr ues and naturally demands honesty in tho public service, but ho Is a shining illustration or that peculiar type of citizen developed In this country during the present generation tho citizen who, personally pious, opposes vice and is a punlshcr of small crimes but shows no Indignation at tho larger forms of legalized robbery. In its issue of May 20, 1910, The Commoner printed tho following editorial: The Chicago Record-Herald says that "Bryan's attack on Hughes was mean and contemptible." It commends President Taft for taking notico of Mr. Bryan's comment and credits him with deprecating such criticism as Mr. Bryan made. Mr. Bryan did not expect to escape criticism when ho called attention to Governor Hughes' record. When anyone exposes tho attempt which tho predatory corporations are making to control tho government, tho judicial branch as well as tho executive and legislative, ho must expect to bo denounced not only by the corporations but by thoso who have been fooled by tho corporations. Tho Commoner is charitable enough to assume that tho Record-Herald Is among tho number of fooled and not among tho number of those who In tentionally defend representatives of corporate greed. Neither tho Record-Herald nor Mr. Taft will answer the criticism that Mr. Bryan made, for the facts upon which tho criticism was based aro admitted. Did not Governor Hughes voto tho two cent rato bill? Does tho Record Herald approve of that or condemn it? Did not Governor Hughes lead the fight against tho income tax amendment and did ho not succeed in defeat ing It In his own state? No other governor has undertaken this, and even Governor Hughes with all of his influence, succeeded in defeating It by a very small majority. Does tho Record-Herald deny that the representatives of the great corporations contributed to Governor Hughes' campaign fund, and does it deny that these contributions indicate a friendliness toward Governor Hughes? Is tho Record-Herald bo Innocent as to suppose that the contributions made by the representatives of great corporations are patriotic and imply no return? Why tho agitation in favor of publicity as to cam- faign funds if not to Inform the people as to tho nfluences which are at work in behalf of different candidates? Tho publicity bill passed by the houso provides for publication before election while tho bill reported by the senate provides for publication after the election, but the object of publication, whether before or after the election Is, first to discourage Improper contributions, and second to Inform the public as' to the contributions actually made. The Record-Herald la presuming too much upon tho Ignorance of Its readers If It asserts that contributions from tho In to res ted corporations do not Justify a suspicion as to tho existence of friendship botwoon tho candidate and tho corpora tions. But that tho Record-Herald may bo no longor innocent In Its defense of Hughes' appointment and no longer ignorant of the influences back of tho appointment, let It read tho following extract from a letter written by W. B. Uutton & Co.. anil pub lished In tho Cincinnati Enquirer on the first of May: "Tho new week opened rathor better than the old week closed. Tho nomination by President Taft of Governor Hughes to succoed Mr. Justice Urowdr In tho supremo court gave general satisfaction In financial circles because of tho conservatism that Governor Hughes has shown In his ofllcial acts when tho intoroMts of capital havo boon concerned, no has vetoed, for Instance, tho two cont per mile maximum passenger rato for New York state: he appointed a committee to Investigate speculative methods In tho stato whose report did much to rostruin popular and unwise legislation based on lack of knowledge: and In other ways he has shown himself a man with a proper appreciation of the protection guaranteed to property under tho con stitution, it was felt that with such an addition to tho highest tribunal, that decisions in such enses as tho Standard Oil and American Tobacco would be In safe hands." This Is a trade loiter from Now York City and tells of what Is going on In Wall streot. Tho writer of that letter commends tho appointment of Gover nor Hughes and in a very friendly spirit Justifies tho president's act, but tho praise of Mis friend Is moro damaging than Mr. Bryan's criticism. It will bo noticed that tho Enquirer letter calls atten tion to the veto of tho two cont rate, Just as Mr. Bryan did, but gives Governor Hughes praise for tho veto whereas Mr. Bryan criticises him. The Enquirer letter does not mention tho governor's attitude on tho income tnx. This is probably an oversight but It makes up for tho oversight by mentioning something that Mr. Bryan overlooked, namely, the appolntmont of the committee which whitewashed tho Wall street gamblers. Does tho Record-Herald regard It as complimentary to Gov ernor Hughes that ho should by Implication be charged with appointing a committee, not for the purpose of exposing Wall streot methods, but for tho purpose of quieting clamor against it? And what does the Record-Herald think of tho sugges tion that tho sugar trust caso and tho tobacco trust caso aro safe In Governor Hughes' hands? That Is worse than anything Mr. Bryan said, and yet, this charge against Governor Hughes mado in tho form of a eulogy and by a friend, ought to convince any unprejudiced person that Governor Hughes Is ex pected to take tho sldo of tho trust magnates In cases that como before tho supremo court. Tie may not do so but ho will disappoint thoso who aro most delighted with his appointment if ho is not a thick and thin advocate of tho so-called business methods which are deemed legitimate by Wall street, but which aro denouncod by nino-tcntha of the people. CORN When Summer rolls round with her pageant of beauty, A riot of color, a world-wido parade, Away with dull care! Who would sing of stern duty When Nature In sweetness and light Is ar rayed? Tho corn-fields aro rustling, a message fore telling Of joys soon to be, for ere long we shall rob The stalks of their harvest; my bosom Is swell ing In anticipation of corn on tho cob. Don't lead mo to one of those fashionable showc rooms. The homo of tho tip and tho festive dress-suit; 'Way down on the farm we have lots of elbow room To take a firm grip on tho succulent fruit. Despising those symbols of pure affection t precariously stuck in each end of tho cob, Damo Nature's equipped me for this delecta tation With two sturdy lunch-hooks I'm hero on the Job. Please pass me the salt and the pepper, the butter, The cool, smiling butter from dairy's recess; Both corn and emotion so fill mo I utter These words 'neath a strong gustatorlal stress. And, though a mouth-organ performer re sembling, I'm careless of comment, regardless of Jeers, With corn on tho cob there's no chanco for dissembling Come, pass mo another, I'll muss up my ears! Ah, blest be tho man whoso strong molarg discovered This food of the Gods for man here below! The store of delight for ub all he uncovered When husked from the sheaf were tho kernel of snow. The platter's piled high with ears fragrant and steaming, The very aroma arouses a throb. Come, boys, shed your coats, this is no tlm for dreaming, We're here to do business with corn on the cob! Arthur D. Pratt, In Puck. Bl 1 1 lidiaiu. i4j&atf0i&$bitta.,4x, , .. !jaiA.'iu-rti . .