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The Commoner.
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Development of the Federation of Democratic
Precinct Clubs
Tho Federation of Precinct clubs movement
is making progress:
During tho eight weeks since this movement
has boon started, events have clearly demon
strated tho urgent need for a self-supporting
and self-governing Federation of Democratic
Procinct clubs to include tho rank and file of
the democrats of the nation who aro awake to
the ncod for guarding their interests by un
horsing tho holders of special privileges the
special interests. In other words, in thirty
seven states wherein wo aro starting to organize
tho states in which tho voters are net in tho
throes of a campaign wo are receiving tho co
operation of eleven democratic national com
mitteemen, eleven chairmen of tho democratic
state committees, and five secretaries of demo
cratic state committees, within tho states of
California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Mon
tana, Wyoming, Colorado, North Dakota, Wis
consin, Iowa, Kansas, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsyl
vania, Maine, Delaware, District of Columbia,
Tennessee and Florida, along -with the governor
In Mississippi, a United States senator in Ne
vada, in Oklahoma, and in Arkansas, and W.
J. and Charles W. Bryan and others in Nebraska,-
a otal of twenty-five states out of
thirty-seven and the state of Ohio. Also a
largo number of congressmen and a few sena
tors are approving and helping to submit tho
plans. Some of these aro located in each of
the thirty-seven states. The Commoner and
some others of the democratic papers are ap
proving the plan and a large number of papers
have given it publicity. That is our eight
weeks' record.
The Commoner's strong indorsement of our
movement and publication of our charter and
club constitution are deeply appreciated.
Through joint action let us establish a
democratic club in each of tho precincts through
out the nation, all federated, with each officer
and committeeman subject to recall, along with
direct power in the members as to policies
through the referendum and initiativo within
the organization. District and state conferences
can bo used to stimulate interest.
Tho reports we aro receiving from the several
states show that there is an imperative need
for organizing the democrats to secure publicity
against the deceit of the representatives of the
special interests within the party. As long aa
the members of the democratic party are un
organized they will bo comparatively helpless.
But when by concerted action of a mere handful
in each voting precinct, federated throughout the
districts, tho states and the nation, they can
place truth-telling literature with the rank and
Hie and thereby expose the deceit whereby repre
sentatives of the special interests are hoodwink
ing the members of the party. Then at the
primaries the democrats will elect trustworthy
men. Publicity is the remedy, supplemented by
hard work by public spirited citizens, singly
and in clubs.
The units for' organization are tho voting
precinct, the city, the county, and the state,
and fellow citizen and reader, wo invite you to
take part. To accept this invitation will bo
patriotic and to work for the public welfare
will help you individually in many ways. If
you will send us your name and address, litera
ture will bo sent you to assist in starting the
elub movement in your precinct.
Following are excerpts from letters received
At the national headquarters of the Federation
if Democratic Precinct clubs:
Hon. Theodore A, Bell, democratic nominee
tor governor of California, 1910, writes:
"Tho plan la undoubtedly a very good one. Our
failures In tho past have boon largely duo to the
tact that wo have sadly neglected tho proper kind
)t organization; nonce every democrat who sln
'fterely hopos Tor' party success must welcomo every
t&ovement that may contribute to a more effectual
organization."
Hon. J. D. Botkin, of Winfleld, Kan., ex
member of congress and democratic nominee for
governor, 1908, says:
"I am more than pleased with your plan for
organizing tho forces of tho progressive democ
racy. It simply must bo done. . Our weakness in
Kansas Is our lack of cohesive organization. Our
people have boon whipped so often and so badly
vlhat they seem disheartened. A year ago In tho
congressional light enough.- domocrats stayed at
bathe to have elected mo by a largo plurality. ,
We ought to win this state next year. I am ready
to do all In my power to assist in organizing it."
In a letter from the Second congressional
district in Kansas Mr. Botkin writes:
The special election In this district Is to- bo held
November 7. I feel sure of tho election of Mr.
Taggart: this will break tho spell in Kansas and
put us in fighting trim for next year. Many
thousands of democrats havo failed to voto in
recent elections, chiefly for the reason that they
havo thought It useless to wasto tho time. Tag
gart's election will glvo these men courage and
hope. Tho voto in 1910 was as follows: Alexander
Clark Mitchell, 23,282 votes, to 19,852 for John
Caldwell, democrat; 2,272 for Kato Richard O'Haro,
socialist, and 324 for C. H. Smith, prohibitionist.'
Former Mayor W. H. Sebring, of Jacksonville,
Fla., writes:
"Wo aro, as a democratic party, In bad shape in
Florida a goncral disorganization, and wo must
pull oursolvos together. Tho people are all right,
but aro split up into factions. You havo under
taken a great work and I am with you."
Hon. F. W. McLean, secretary democratic
state committee of North Dakota, writes:
"I return herewith tho reply card and will say
that I am heartily in sympathy with your move
ment. I will be very glad to do all I can to
assist you In Inaugurating such a movomont.
Your warning does not come a day too early.
Thero is already a strong movement on foot to
dispose of organizations In western states which
aro known to bo In sympathy with the pro
gressive movoment, and to put men In charge who
aro known to bo reactionary."
Hon. John F. Nugent, democratic national
committeeman for Idaho strongly indorses the
plan and writes:
"I feel that tho time for soft words and honeyed
phrases has gone by, and that wo must light with
ovdry weapon that wo havo at hand. While in
this stato the result is doubtful, I hope that wo
shall be able to glvo a good account of oursolvos
when the Btato convention meets next summer, as
I am firmly convinced that an overwhelming ma
jority of the rank and fllo of our people are pro
gressive democrats. Will say, also, that many of
tho leaders In this stato feel as I do with reference
to this matter, and tho only thing that can defeat
us is tho oxpendlture of a largo sum of money."
Lorin A. Handley, city clerk of Los Angeles,
Cal., and democratic nominee for congress,
1910, writes:
"So far as this state Is concerned, I believe tho
progressives In tho party will control it, though
we shall have a desperate fight, not only with the
moneyed Interests, but with tho very cheapest
typo of moneyed interests."
Fred L. Cox, editor and publisher of the Jules
burg News, Julesburg, Colo., writes:
"I am a life-long democrat, past fifty years of
age, and a militant one, and I believe that you
have struck tho keynote of tho present situation,
and, perhaps, found tho solution. I realize that
this stato needs a little reformation, and tho real
way to do it is to get nearer to tho people and
enlist them. Now is tho tlmo to organize for next
year. If you will send what literature you havo,
a full outline of your plans, and whatever else
may bo necessary, 1 -propose to take up tho matter
in this part of tho world, as best my limited scope
and ability may allow, and commence a club
organization right hero and In every precinct in
this county. I do not know until it is tried, just
what the result will be, but I do know that thero
are a great many people hero, of various shades
of political belief, who will hall any movement
which looks toward a moro full recognition of
popular rights."
The president of a large publishing company
in Missouri writes:
"I happen to bo a New Englander, and my
fieoplo fio-vo been republican as far back as my
nformatlon goes. I have always heretofore voted
tho republican ticket, but X am convinced that
tho republican party has been 'too long In poWcr,
and I expect to voto for a democrat for president
in 1912. I should be glad to know moro about
your project, and if theTo Is a local movement on
foot In thin locality, I should be glad to get Into
touch with It."
Hon. N. F. Reed, chairman of democratic
state committee of Iowa, writes:
"In advancing tho great reforms which in the
past havo been proposed by the democratic party
and which now find expression In the great tidal
wavo of sentiment that Is sweeping over the coun
try, there should bo no backward stop. I am in
hearty sympathy with your plan of organization."
Mr. H. L. Buck, of Winona, Minn., democratic
nominee for congress, 1910, writes;
"I think tho proposed organization is timely and
necessary. I will be glad to co-operate In any
way in my power, that the party may positively
stand for what Its name Implies."
Melvin A. Hildreth, of Fargo, N. D., demo
cratic nominee for congress, 1910, writes:
"I am vory glad to become a member of the
Federation of Democratic Precinct clubs. I agree
with you that this Is the right way to commence
tp organize, and tho soner the better, because
tho democratic party has got to fight not only the
common enemy, but thoy have got to fight or take
care of those who get Into the linos under the
guise of calling themselves democrats when they
are In the party for business only. I am very
glad to help on with this work, and you can depend
upon mo."
We earnestly nsk you to Join the movement
and thus help to defend yourself.
Address, Federation of Democratic Precinct
Clubs, George H. Shibley, secretary, Bliss Bid.,
Washington, D. C.
VOLUME 11, NUMBER Oi
TRUE AMERICANISM
Tho Philadelphia North American ha
grouped oxtracts from fifteen of Governor Wil
son's public addresses in this way:
"We, the people, have not free access enough
to our own, agents or direct enough control over
them. There are barriers to break down and
processes to simplify, which we liberals believo
we know how to get at. Wo mean, by one
change or anothor, to make our government
genuinely popular and representative again."
"We are cutting away anomalies, not institu
tions. We are clearing away the jungle and
letting in the pure light and air, not destroy
ing the wholesome forest or creating waste
places where there was productive growth."
"Such tasks aro typically American. It has
always been our privilege and our happy capa
city to show how they can be done without'
revolution, without strife or hatred or injustice,
without tho necessity of drawing, In Do
Tocqueville's memorable phrase, 'a single tear
or a single drop of blood from mankind.' "
"The main object of what wo are attempting,
both in stato and nation, is to establish a cloio
connection, a very sensitive connection, between
the people and their governments, both in the
states and in tho nation, in order that we may
restore in such wise as will satisfy us again the
liberty and the opportunity in whose interests
our governments were conceived."
"But some men put a false interpretation
upon this. There is a certain unreasonable
fear in the air, as if the process we have been
going through were, in some degree, vindictive;
as if there had been bitter feeling in it and the
intention to discredit those who opposed it."
"The crash of political organizations has been
only the crash of those that did not comprehend,
but resisted when there was no right reason for
resisting, and forgot that their very reason for
being was that they might serve opinion and
the movements of the people's will. If any
systems of political practice have collapsed, only
those have collapsed which were unsuitable to
the objects which they professed to serve."
"We are no longer In the temper of attack.
We are ready for remedy and -adjustment, and
begin to see where to begin and in what direc
tion to move. A promise of statesmanship
follows a, threat of revolution. There can be
no mistaking this. Programs are taking the
place of philippics; and programs can be
soberly examined and assessed, as unqualified
criticism and denunciations can not be."
"We look beneath the label to the man and
his thought. Whichever party proves most fit
to conceive and put through a wise progressive
program will become the liberal party of the
nation. Tories will be welcome to resort to the
other and enjoy the privilege of minority."
"What is necessary in order to rectify the
whole mass of business of this kind (the trusts)
is that those who control it should entirely
change their point of view. They are trustees,
not masters, of private property, not only be
cause their power is derived from a multitude
of men, but also because in its investments it
affects a multitude of men. It determines the
development or decay of communities. It
is the means of lifting or depressing the
life of the whole country. They must
regard themselves as representatives of a public
power. There can bo no reasonable jealousy of
public regulation in such matters, because the
opportunities of all men are affected."
"It should be recognized as a fundamental
principle of owr law dealing with corporations
that, though we call them artificial persons, tao
only persons we are really going to deal witn
in imposing the penalties of the law upon them
are the persons who constitute their directors
and officers."
"We ought by this timo to have seen tne
utility I might even say the silliness of try
ing to punish illegal action by penalizing cor
porations as such. Fines punish the Bt0CK"
holder; forfeiture of charter and of tne
franchise which they are exercising paralyzes,
industry and confuses business."
"Men do not cease to be individuals by be
coming the officers of corporations. The re
Bponsibllity for violating the law, or for ne
glecting public interests, ought to fall upon
them as individuals."
"Let us clearly recognize and everywhere
proclaim that successful business and just pon
tics are not antagonistic. The business oi
Boclety is co-operation, not warfare and an
tagonism. If everybody will come with clean
hands and a pure purpose into the common
game of life, there noed be 'no clash or hurtiuj
rivalry. It ia only when a party tries to contra
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