The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923, November 24, 1911, Page 2, Image 2
"? u, J Si 2 The Commoner. 't rtr.BBnBrautww hb 1 I I? V v v. Bv, r rA Mi v re iJt '.a j' j- x r & fi. . iV- I m t r. show that it was easier to compel Spain to give independence to the Philippines than to accept title from Spain and then grant independence ourselves. If we had attempted to force Spain !o grant independence wo would have found ourselves in diplomatic controversy with other nations having interest, hut by ratifying the treaty we could immediately give independence without asking the consent of any other nation. Mr. Bryan's plan came so near being carried out that it took the vote of the Vied president to defeat it, the resolution promising Indepen dence boing at a tie in the senate. It is not necessary to discuss the charge made by the Irish World that the treaty with England is "a forerunner of an offensive and defensive alliance." The treaty is identical with the treaty made with Franco. Does the Irish World charge that the treaty with France is "the forerunner of an offensive and defensive alliance?" The administration has announced its willingness to make similar treaties with Germany and Japan. Why should the treaty be denounced as the forerunner of an alliance with England unless it is the forerunner of an alliance with the other countries also? If the Irish World has any objections to the treaty there ought to be stated reasons given for them. It betrays the weak ness of its case when it attempts to bolster it us by misrepresentation and appeal to prejudice. WALIi STREET NOT AFRAID In its "News for Investors" column, the New York Evening Sun of November 9th, printed the following editorial: "In brokrago houses the acceptance by the court of the American Tobacco plan was hailed with much satisfaction. The commonest Inference drawn from it was that the stockholders of no large corporation against which suit may be brought for alleged violation of the Sherman law need fear tho ultimate outcome. It was evident, said Wall street, that they would be protected against con fiscation or against dissolution that would mean a material reduction of their equities. If the stockholders of the American Tobacco company, which was a notorious offender against the law governing monopolies In restraint of trade, were not mado to suffer substantially for the sins of tho management, ran their argument, how much less probability is there that the stockholders of any other corporation which may bo adjudged an oppressive monopoly will bo hurt by a dissolu tion?" The above is merely confirmation of the stock market report printed in the New York Journal of Commerce July 28, 1908, and relating1 to one of Mr. Taft's "anti-monopoly" speeches, saying: "The speech may sound somewhat unfavorable from the railroad point of view, but Wall street believes that Secretary Taft's public bark does not necessarily portend a serious bite later on." HONOR TO SENATOR OWEN In his speech in the senate Senator Robert L. Owen of Oklahoma forced the issue of giving the. people of New Mexico the right to yote on the question of proposing and amending their constitution by a majority vote, thuB prevent ing New Mexico from entering the union with an unamendable, stand-pat constitution. J. D. Hand of East Las Vegas, N. M., on the day following the recent election, sent to Senator Owen this dispatch: "New Mexico has at last secured freedom and Jiberty. A great victory for the democrats has been won. The ring gang and carpet bag rule breathed its last at six o'clock yesterday evening and honesty will now prevail. Your gallant stand March 4th saved us and caused this victory." THE SOCIALIST VOTE In New York, in Ohio, in Mississippi, in Rhode Island,, in Kansas and In Washington, the socialists made extraordinary gains in the last election, and won many victories. While these results bear witness to the fact that socialism I no "longer confused with anarchy, and has ceased to be regarded as a bugbear,, it Is a mistake to assume that the gains are entirely due to the effectiveness of the socialist propa ganda. In such states and cities as suffer from an evil combination between the democrats and the republicans, the socialist party is the one medium of protest. If the established organizations will not give the people decent nominees, they mut make up their minds to be eventually thrust aside by some new party. Denver News. "GLIB7 q his habit of .using unparliaihkn? language,' -the". pros detit refers to Mi'f 'Persisting in tary language, ui imubiuciii. cicid- w m, TirvnTi'fl nrit.fr.uma f" the administration 'tis "glib." It takes a good' deal of glibness to keep up" with some people's mistakegSt. Louis Republic. THANKSGIVING, 1011 For all the days of peace and joy, For homo and love without alloy, For friends close by our side; For zeal to work for those we love, For help from hand reached from above To cheer whate'er betide For all the blessings on- the way - Our grateful thanks to God we pay. For all our weary toll's reward, For home ties wrought In sweet accord, For strength to do our part; For rest when cares of day are done, For joys received from sun to sun, To keep us young of heart, We kneel to God and homage pay Upon this blest Thanksgiving day. For memories sweet of days of yore, Of loved ones who have gone before, For faith that dried our tears; For help that smoothed the weary road, For love that shared the heavy load, For all that helps and cheers, We come our grateful thanks to pay To God this blest Thanksgiving Day. Ecar Lord, Thy blessings on the home; On those who far apart may roam; Thy watch care over all. Thy love e'er hold us close to Thee, Thine arms outstretched a haven free, Thy hand lift if we fall. And in Thy time grant, Lord, we may Join hearts and hands Thanksgiving Day. WILL M. MAUPIN. TAKEN UP ON THE MOUNTAIN A wise old member of congress used to say of one who began to show the effect of the lobby's influence, "They have taken him up' on the mountain." It is a forceful phrase and too often applicable. The member goes from home honored and trusted, but the lobbyist finds his weak points and sets to work to lead him astray. His colleagues soon suspicion that secret in fluences are at work, for a man can not long conceal the evidence of his transgressions. Just now the candidates for president are being invited to the mountain; they are receiv ing ilatterlng offers if only they will fall down and "worship plutocracy. Wall street has Satan beaten badly as a tempter. All the kingdoms of the earth are not too much for Wall street to promise when one has no conscience to re strain him he can offer anything. Will the candidates become "conservative" and "practical?" Will they yield or say "get thee behind me?" We shall see. When a man is unwilling to commit himself openly upon A QUESTION AT ISSUE inquire whether he has committed himself secretly. ADMITTED Editorial in Nebraska State Journal: Mr. Bryan has the satisfaction of finding the packers' lawyers agreeing with him that the supreme court's interpretation of the anti-trust law nulli fies its criminal clause. They will appeal to the supreme court on that ground to save their .clients from the pending criminal prosecutions, taking the ground that men can not be held criminally liable for acts whose "reasonable ness" only lawyers and courts can decide. IS IT A COINCIDENCE? It is a striking"coincidence that the Omaha World-Herald should be portraying ' Governor Harmon to its readers as a progressive at the same time that it is joining the trust magnates in indorsing the supreme court decisions in the Standard Oil and Tobacco cases. Possibly it means that Governor Harmon is "reasonably" progressive that will leave his progressiveness to be definpd in one way in the east and in an other way in the west. VOLUME ll,v NUMBER 4 A BIG MANWATCH HIM Judson Harmon of Ohio is a big man. He la of sterner stuff than the gentleman from tho same state who now fully occupies the execu tive chair at Washington. The latter dents rather easily. Harmon Is Hint-like. He is as laborious as Cleveland was, without being as fat-witted. No Btuffed prophet he. He is a resolute man who knows what he wants and knows the best way to get it, Har mon is a conservative. He sees in tho prosperity of the business Interests the greatness and glory of the nation. He is more conservative than Taft and would better suit the financial Interests than Taft, who, conservative though he is, can not refrain from "monkey ing" with the trust problem and giving the interests occasional bad days in Wall street. Still, with these two men nominated by the two great opposing parties, the interests would rest In tolerable security whichever won the elec tion. And, what is more important to the afore said interests, the progressive elements in both parties would be non-suited, thrown out of court neck and heels, with no one to represent their cause before the people. Or would they? Is it not at least thinkable that just as the interests got the political cards all stacked to suit them, some meddlesome radical might raise the cry of "La Follette and Wilson," and invite all men of progressive minds to rally under a third standard. The California Outlook (Ind.) - - - - - - , TRUSTS STILL FOR TAFT That the plutocratic trust owned corporation papers do not consider Mr. Taft an enemy of tho trusts despite the "filing" of the suit against the steel trust, is reflected in the editorial columns of these papers. He is still "safe and sane," to be depended and he will get loyal support of the trusts in the next presidential election. The suit can not come to trial until after the next presidential election. If the trusts are to be put put of business and competition restored, it will be done by a democratic president not a republican president. The Bulletin . (Wash ington, D. C.) JUDGE JOSEPH E. ONG Judge Joseph E. Ong, for many years a fight ing democrat in Nebraska, died at his late home in Grand Junction, Colo, Judge Ong was a man of high ideals, over faithful, ever forceful in his convictions. Mr. Bryan was glad to count him as one of his earliest and faithful comrades, and he is proud to pay a tribute to the fine memory of this man. WAIT AND SEE The New York World calls Mr-. Bryan's at tention to the supreme court's decision com pelling all interstate railroads to obey the law In regard to car couplers and asks if the court was packed for that decision. It should consider the fact that the decision was not a very im portant one so far as the couplers are concerned and it should also remember that the papers have construed the decision as an Intimation that the court is preparing to hold that congress nas EXCLUSIVE power over state rates as well as interstate rates. AN IMITATION If those democratic members of the ways and means committee who voted to keep a tax on wool desire to explain to their constituents why they preferred to please the wool growing por tion rather than the portion who wear woolen goods, The Commoner will gladly publish the communications with comments. The communi cations ought to be accompanied by tables show ing the relative number of wool growers and consumers in their respective districts. MIGHTY EXACTING President Taft is quoted as saying that tho trusts object to his enforcement, of the anti trust law. The trusts must be mighty exacting to find fault with President Taft's record on the trust question. When he puts la trust magnate In the penitentiary it will be time enough for the trusts to find fault; they ought to be satis fied so long as criminal sentences are reserved for small crimes. WORJJ3NG FOR PEACE..- Tho American Peace and Arbitration league has designated Sunday, November 2Gth, as "Unity Sunday," on which day sermons will be preached throughout the country upon tho sub ject of peace treaties and special services held to urge their ratification. This is a good move ment and ought to have the co-operation of men and women everywhere. j . ' REV. WILLIAM MURPHY Rev. William Murphy for many years" one-of the best known priests in Nebraska, losMhis-lifo in an "automobile accident near SeWard. ' Fajfter Murphy was beloved by Protestant,. and Catho lics alike. Men of .all creeds iand J races;pai slncore tribute at his bier. ' ,;; v ' ' Wi iii.' '. '. i