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The Commoner.
VOL0UB li, NU&SER 47
11.
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The Commoner. Will Democrats Stand by Stanley of Kentucky
ISSUED WEEKLY
Entered at the Postofflce at Lincoln. Nebraska,
as secan d-ela&s matter.
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Awodato Editor
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Address all communications to
THE COMMONER, Lincoln, Neb.
The house committee charged with the duty
of inquiring into the affairs of the Steel trust
of which committee Stanley of Kentucky is
chairman, has rendered great service to the
public. It was the investigations by this com
mittee that forced the administration to begin
the Steel trust suit and upon the disclosures
made by this committee the government must
depend for a conviction of the Steel trust. Re
cently Alfred and Leonidas Merrltt gave sensa
tional testimony before the Stanley committee
with respect to the methods used by John D.
Rockefeller in securing control of certain ore
mines and'railroads. Mr. Stanley and his demo
cratic associates undertook to summon John D.
Rockefeller as a witness. In this effort Mr.
Stanley was supported by Representatives Mc
Gillicuddy of Maine, and Beall of Texas. He
was opposed by the republican members and
Martin Littleton, tke democratic member from
New York. Messrs. Stanley, Beal and McGIlli
cuddy announced that they will call upon the
democrats in the house to aid them in forcing
Littleton's retirement from the committee.
In this position Messrs. Stanley, McGillicuddy
and Beall will have the sympathy of democrats
generally. It is very plain that Mr. Littleton
can not be depended upon to aid in carrying
out a democratic program of genuine antagon
ism to trust imposition. He is a thorough-going
reactionary and he "will be retired from the
committee if the house democrats really desire
that, democratic profession on the trust ques
tion be accepted seriously.
The three faithful democratic members of
the steel committee have raised a question that
can not be dodged or trifled with. It can only
be met by removing Littleton from the committee.
4 ' Shall the People Rule "Pass it Al
ong
"MR. BRYAN ON THE ROOKS"
The ship on which Mr. Bryan is sailing to
Jamaica went aground, and newspaper dis
patches indicated great danger to the passen
gers. The following telegrams received by
Charles W. Bryan are self-explanatory:
"S. S. Prinz Joachim at Sea, Nov. 22. Via
Key West, Fla., Nov. 22. Charles W. Bryan,
Lincoln, Neb: Ship aground mile from land.
No danger. Do not worry. BRYAN."
"New York, N. Y., Nov. 24, 1911. Chas.
Bryan, Lincoln, Neb: Have received cable
advices Joachim passengers proceeded by
Vigilancia last evening to Santiago and Jamaica
from where they will proceed to their desti
nation. HAM. AMN. LINE."
"S. S. Vigilancia, at Sea, Via Key West, Fla.,
Nov. 23. Charles W. Bryan, Lincoln, Neb:
Safe, Ward line steamer Seguranca. Will reach
Cuba via Nassau. BRYAN."
Following is an Associated Press dispatch:
"New York, Nov. 25. The following message
from W. J. Bryan, who, with his wife and
grandchild and the greater portion of the other
passengers of the wrecked steamer Prinz
Joachim, are on the steamer Vigilancia, bound
from Nassau, New Providence, "where they were
taken after the wreck to Kingston, Jamaica:
" 'Thanksgiving services were held this after
noon in the cabin of the Vigilancia. The ser
vices were opened with the twenty-third psalm,
the passengers reciting the scripture In concert
and then listening to solos rendered by several
members of the company. All joined In sing
ing 'Nearer, My God, to Thee, and repeated the
Lord's prayer. The services were concluded
with the benediction.'
. " 'During the voyage funds were raised to
purchase loving cups for Captains Curtiss and
Jones and also to present a purse to the
sailors who had endured hardships.' "
Kingston, Jamaica, Nov. 26. The passengers
of the stranded steamer Prinz Joachim were
landed at Port Antonio today by the Ward
Vigilancia to which ship they were transferred
from the steamer Seguranca, twenty miles
from Nassau.
The passengers reported that the Prinx
Joachim is lying easy off Atwood bay, and that
attempts are being made to salvage her. Wil
liam Jennings Bryan is among the passengers
here and is proceeding to Panama.
New York, Nov. 26. The difficulty in getting
word by wireless from the Prinz Joachim to
steamers in the vicinity when the Prinz Joachim
went ashore in the Bahamas last Wednesday had
led William J. Bryan, a passenger on the
steamer, to suggest legislation requiring the
assignment of two wireless telegraph operators
to each steamship at sea. Mr. Bryan's ideas on
this point are contained in a wireless message
received today from him beforo the steamer
Vigilancia reached Port Antonio.
Mr. Bryan's dispatch follows:
"On Board the Steamer Vigilancia at Sea,
Nov. 25. (by wireless, via Tampa, Fla., Nov.
26.)
"Our ship Prinz Joachim went ashore on a
coral reef at Atwood key at 3:45 o'clock
Wednesday morning. Fortunately, the vessel
The democratic precinct club organization
work Is now proceeding in an encouraging way.
Every Commoner reader ought to help in this
work. The headquarters of this movement has
prepared a pledge to which it asks the signa
tures and address of all democrats who want to
keep the democratic party true to its great mis
sion. The Commoner prints herewith a copy
of this pledge and asks every reader to clip
the same and forward it to Senator Robert L.
Owen, chairman Federation Democratic Precinct
clubs, Washington, D. C. The headquarters will
send out on request printed copies of this
pledge. Here it is:
"Shall the People Rule? is the
Overwhelming Issue" Democratic
National Platform, 1908.
PLEDGE
The Presidency in 1012. Let Us
Organize
I believe in The Rule of the People, and the party and the legal mechanism to make it effec
tive; a Honest Registration and Election Laws, a thorough going Corrupt Practices Act and
in the Election of Senators by the direct vote of the people.
I favor the election of party committeemen and of party delegates to the Democratic National
Convention of MEN who are KNOWN to favor the People's Rule Program as above Indicated and
the progressive principles of the Jeffersonian Democracy.
It is. of the utmost importance to the masses of the people that a man be nominated as candi
date for the presidency who Is Democratic from Principle, who Js Identified with the Progressive
Movement to bring the government closer to the people and make it responsive isr the peoples'
will and one who is Courageous Enough, to lead a fight for such principles.
I will endeavor to attend all Caucuses, Conventions and Primary Elections of the party and
will assist in organizing a Democratic Precinct Club in my precinct as a part of the National
Federation of Democrat Precinct Clubs and will assist In making effective the principles above
set forth in seeing that the Democrats are registered and attend the primaries and elections.
Name.
; P. O
County R. F. D.
NOTE If you favor the above principles and desire to see them enacted into-iaw kindly sign
this slip and mail it to R. L. Owen, Chairman Federation Democratic Precinct Clubs, Washing
ton, D. C.
(SEE OTHER SIDE)
On the reverse side of this pledge the following appears:
AN APPEAL
The time for action is at hand and we appeal to progressive democrats to im
mediately write for copies of the constitution, by-laws, organization blanks and
literature for use in organizing precinct clubs that will affiliate with the State and
National Federation of Democratic Precinct Clubs In an effort and determination
to have the Democratic platform declare for progressive principles and to nominate
candidates who are in sympathy with and who will wage a fight in behalf of the
principles set forth In the platform. Address
THE FEDERATION OF DEMOCRATIC PRECINCT CLUBS
Bliss Building, Washington, D. C.
was almost upright and the passengers were as
sured that there was no immediate danger.
"Captain Fey made all necessary arrange
ments for taking the passengers off In life boats
and used the wireless constantly in search of
relief. The station at 42 Broadway, New York
city, and six other land stations responded, but
no ship answered for several hours, owing to
the fact that ships in this section carry but one
operator and In consequence there are often
times when danger signals can not be heard.
This should be remedied by legislation requir
ing two wireless operators on each-ship.
'Captain Jones arrived wlli his steamer.
i
Seguaranca, about 2 o'clock and the passengers
were transferred before 5. The transfer was
across several miles of rough sea in opes, boats
and full of exciting incidents.
"The Seguaranca took us to Nassau, where
about eighty of us were transferred to Captain
CurtiBs' ship, Vigilancia, the rest returning to
New York.
"The rescue has been remarkably complete
and all are happy. We are now sailing for Port
Antonio, Jamaica, over smooth seas and undeS
a smiling sun, and will arrive tomorrow mons
Inc. Land will look cood to us."
ft-c.