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The Commoner.
WILLIAM X BRYAN, EDrTOR AND PROPRIETOR
VOL. A, NO. 45
Lincoln, Nebraska, November 17, 19il
Whoje Number 565
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Victory of. Gov. Foss
The re-election of Governor Fobs tm Massa
chusetts on a radical platform, advance kis
Stock in the presidential market He wm
elected a year ago and is now re-elected on a
platform that leaves no doubt as to his positive
and aggressive stand for remedial legislation.
The Commoner has already printed the platform,
written largely by George Fred Williams, one
of the militant reformers of .the country. If
you are a progressive democrat read the Massa
chusetts platform and the election returns, and
then ask yourself, "What's the matter with
Foss?"
The Commoner is not attempting to express
an opinion as to the relative availability of the
various progressives who are being discussed,
but it takes pleasure in calling attention to the
fact that Governor Fobs is not only one of the
men to be considered, but to the further fact
that his claims upon the party have been ma
terially strengthened by the indorsement just
given him by the voters of Massachusetts.
MR. UNDERWOOD'S CANDEDAOT
The Harmon strength shows signs of shifting
to Congressman Underwood. This was to be
expected. The Wall street crowd does not lack
intelligence and it would bo very dull if it did
not see in Mr. Underwood a more efficient repre
sentative than Governor Harmon could possibly
be. In the first place Governor Harmon's age
is against -him. Wall street does not expect
to elect a reactionary democrat, even if it suc
ceeds In nominating him. Wall street needs a
strong man in the democratic party to lead its
fight against reforms. Mr. , Harmon does not
fill the bill as well as Mr. Underwood. He will
be sixty-six next year past the fighting age
and he lacks Underwood's fighting ' spirit, any
how. Then again, Governor Harmon is not at
Washington while Mr. Underwood represents a
district In which the Steel trust has enough
influence to keep him in congress.
If Mr. Underwood is nominated it will in
crease his prestige and he will be in a position
to lead the reactionary element of the party
against progressive measures. It would be
easier, too, to nominate him than to nominate
Governor Harmon. He lives in the south and
could take advantage of the feeling that the
south deserves the honor. Northern democrats
would like to give the place to a southern man
and those who want a reactionary could conceal
their real reasons behind a plea for the south.
Mr. Underwood has youth, ability and courage
just the combination that Wall street needs.
Watch him grow in the subsidized press of
both parties.
His nomination would, however, be unfortu-
CONTENTS
THE MASSACHUSETTS VICTORY
A FIGHT AHEAD
MR. UNDERWOOD'S CANDIDACY
THE NEXT NATIONAL CONVENTION
SPEAKER CLARK ON ANNEXATION
A PARALLEL CASE
AN OHIO QUESTION
"BACK TO THE PEOPLE" A PLEA FOR
PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES
SECOND INSTALLMENT OF GEORGE
FRED WILLIAMS' BRIEF
FEDERATION OF DEMOCRATIC PRE
CINCT CLUBS, BY SENATOR
ROBERT L. OWEN
HOME DEPARTMENT
WHETHER COMMON OR NOT
NEWS OF THE WEEK
WASHINGTON NEWS
nate for the south, for his defeat would be
wrongfully charged to his location Instead of
being charged, as it should be, to the fact that
he Is not tn harmony wtth the progressive spirit
the day.
If the south wants the candidate and thore
is no reason why that section should not have
him it should select some one who will appeal
to the progressive element in all parties.
It Is hard enough for a republican to be a stand
patter now a democratic standpatter is more
lonesome stm.
A NON-PARTISAN PLUNDERBUND
The American Protective Tariff league has
adopted the following resolutions: "Resolved,
that wo strongly recommend that our members
and connections work and vote for the defeat
of any candidate who is not a protectionist, and
work and vote for the election of all candidates
of WHATSOEVER PARTY who aro protec
tionists." Horo we have the plan of the plundorbund.
There Is no partisanship in the American Pro
tective Tariff- league. While it ordinarily works
with the republican party, it stands ready to
bolt any republican who Is not willing to take
his orders from the tariff barons; it will render
assistance to any democrat who Is willing to
betray his constituents into the hands of the
tax caters. How long will it take the consumers
to learn tho real character of the man who
makes his money out of a protective tariff?
How long can the consumer be misled by the
appeal to his patriotism when the protectionist
has no thought beyond the amount of money that
ho can squeeze from the, public through the
operation of law? "
It Is high time that the farmers, mechanics,
merchants and the general public get together
and resolve to oppose protectionists and to favor
those who are pledged to a reduction of the
extortionate tariff rates.
A GREAT FIGHT
The democrats and progressive republicans
made a great fight In New Mexico. While they
failed to carry the state legislature because of
the gerrymandering of the state, they surprised
their friends outside by what they did accom
plish and proved that New Mexico is fighting
ground. The democrats In the legislature should
begin at once to Insist upon the ratification of
the Income tax amendment to tho constitution.
That ought to be the first act passed by the
legislature, and the second ought to be the sub
mission of tho initiative and referendum. These
two acts will make a good beginning for the
new state. The Commoner congratulates the
democrats of New Mexico upon the showing
that they made and wishes them success In the
contests yet to come.
ASK LA FOLLETTE
The Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch says:
"Before nominating a successor to Justice
Harlan on the United States supreme court, it
might be well for the president to confer with
Mr. Bryan Just to see what sort of a Judge he
would appoint if he had the chance, and why."
Mr. Taft would learn something to his ad
vantage If before selecting a successor to Jus
tice Harlan, he would call in a number of
humble citizens. He need not, however, go
outside of his own party for an advisor. Let
him confer with Robert M. LaFollette of Wisconsin.
A MATTER OF TEMPERAMENT
Just before the election of 1908 Mr. Rocke
feller said that he favored Mr. Taft because he
was "temperamentally" better fitted than Mr.
Bryan for the presidency. Now we know what
he meant. He had examined both candidates
carefully and from his standpoint he was right.
Mr. Taft's temperament suits Mr. Rockefeller
tho latter would rather defend a suit in equity
than be a defendant in a criminal prosecution.
A Fight Ahead
Tho election roturns answer the claims of
enthusiasts on both sides who oxpoctod a land
slide their way. If anything can be judged
from tho voto cast on Novombor 7, thero Is a
fight ahead of both parties. Tho republicans
made gains In tho east whero sovoral olectlons
were hold, whllo tho democrats made somw
gains In tho west. They gained a congressional
district In Kansas, whero a progresBlvo demo
crat was running against a republican who
promised to support Mr. Taft's policies. The
victory in New Mexico Is very gratifying to the
democrats, but the fact that tho republicans
won tho legislature in Now York and Now Jor
soy, elected their governor In Rhodo Island by
an Increased majority, roduced Governor Fobs'
majority of a yoar ago and carried Maryland,
those things Indicate that tho predatory interests
aro lining up back of Mr. Taft and that our
party Is going to havo a tromendous fight on
hand to dislodge tho Interests.
Tho democrats will rejoice over the return of
Kentucky to tho democratic fold. Governor
McCreary's majority Is a very large one, and
the election of Congressman James to tho senate
is assured. James will add a giant's strength
to tho democratic sldo In the senate and will
greatly aid tho reform forces. Tho gains In
several cities In Ohio are encouraging, although
local Issues have contributed largely to the
result. In Nebraska tho situation Is apparently
unchanged. An effort was mado to enlist the
aid of the progressive republicans In carrying
the state ticket, but this failed, and the-ropub-.
Ilcana carried tho state. Under the circum
stances tho republican Victory In Nebraska Is
likely to encourage tho friends of Mr. Taft
and to discourage those who have counted on
preventing his nomination. Tho Third Nebraska
district elected a democrat to succeed a demo
crat In congress.
If any democrat has expected to carry the
east with a plutocratic democrat, he might as
well give up tho Idea. There Is no possible
chance of tho democrats getting the Wall street
support. If they win, they must win with the
aid of the progressive republicans, and they can
not hope for that unless their candidato is a
man about whose progresslvencss there Is no
doubt.
Let tho democrats gird themselves for the
fight and from now on demand a platform and
ticket In harmony with the progressive sent!-,
ment of tho country.
SOMETHING THE MATTER
Something is tho matter with the Omaha
World-Herald. It used to be a vigorous, out
spoken exponent of democracy. Its splendid
service gave Mr. Hitchcock his chief claim to the
rewaTd voted him In his election to the United
States senate, but since he turned the paper
over to somo one to run it has been gradually
lapsing from Its former position until Its edi
torial page can now be quoted with approval by
tho Wall street crowd that It used to take pride
in fighting.
On election day, for Instance, the World
Herald contained the following editorial:
TUB SHBIIMAN LAW
Uncommon Interest attaches to the reports of the
baiting? of President Taft by Congressman Littleton
of New York at tho banquet tendered the peripa
tetic executive by tho Pittsburg steel millionaires.
Mr. Taft, the reports agree, was made very angry,
and little wonder. But a president who spends
a large part of his time parading over tho country
as the special pleader of a political party or
rather of a faction of a party can expect that the
high respect popularly felt for the office he holds
will gradually bo lowered until he stands about
on a level with other exhorters.
Mr. Littleton, the reports agree, was given a
?enulne ovation when he made an eloquent plea
or the repeal of the Sherman act, and President
Taft was heard in cold silence when he reiterated
his Intention strictly to enforce It and bis opposi
tion to Its amendment.
And this Is full of significance.
A few weeks ago, Immediately following the
supremo court decision in the Standard OH. and
Tobacco cases, we were told that the Sherman law
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