"-"AWisM7
pECEMBEB 15. 1911
The Commoner.
Let Candidate Fit the Times and Issues
5
Tho Cincinnati Ennui.. - ,,
tteet(otflo,e'1dIS1t:th0 Tta and tta tm
That in prior political campaigns political
machines within the democratic party, and "So
those operated within the republican party, have
nominated candidates for the presidency goes
without contradiction.
hera? J be denied that organized in
terests, which know no party, when it comes
to a question of pecuniary gain, have not only
made nominations in the past, hut have in
fluenced and determined elections to the highest
office in the land.
What has been done before may be attempted
again, but tho present time is not so auspicious
for the success of such outrages upon the elec
tive system of the United States.
?er.f?s been one lesson In the elections
of 1909, 1910 and 1911 it has been that exhibit
ing the revolt of the voters against syndicates
or political promoters, against boss rule and
machine politicians.
This revolt has not been confined to any poli
tical party, for it has struck at republican and
democratic machines and leaders alike, and
it will continue to strike at the candidates sus
pected of representing such machines, such svn
dicates or such bosses, no matter upon what
platform they may stand, what pledges they
may give, or what party label they may attach
to themselves.
There are known interests, powerful In
fluences, and certain leaders prominent in the
political circles of tho day that are "suspects"
among the electors of the country, and the de
feat of any such leader for a public office of
the importance of the presidency of the United
States would be assured from the very day of
his nomination.
No interest so great," no influence so powerful
as to save such a leader from most humiliating
and crushing defeat by the voters of the union.
' In the democratic party is this antagonism of
the voters to such interests especially strong,
and in the campaign of 1904 the verdict of tho
polls attested its power to defeat.
Judge Parker was doubly the victim of the
political play of that year's campaign.
He lost approximately a million of democratic
votes through the suspicion that he was allied
with certain interests, while at the same time
tho money of those same Interests was poured
into the campaign funds of the republican party.
The friendship of those interests in itself
would have defeated him, but their cash con
tributions made that defeat doubly sure.
The democratic party in 1912 deserves no
repetition of the political play of 1904.
Tho democratic voters do not wish as their
candidate any agent, counselor, attorney or
representative of interests which has been
banded against them since 1896.
They want no "suspect" of tho present nor
deserter in the past, no advocate on the hustings
for the rights of the masses while a pleader In
the courts, for the special privileges of a claBS.
THE SORT OP LEADER ESSENTIAL
"A Fight Ahead" is the caption of an editorial
review of the results of the election on Novem
ber 7, appearing in the current issue of The
Commoner, and we think that opinion is gener
ally shared T)y those who give tho closest study
to political conditions in this country. It is all
right to bo hopeful, but it is very unwise to be
so confident that carelessness results or that
the opposition Ib accorded an advantage.
The democrats have the best of the situation
at this time. That is, it looks so to us, but it
must be borne in mind that when we go to the
battle next year it will be twenty years since wo
won a victory and that more than once in those
years there was a feeling that the "party of
the people" had the advantage. Whatever ad
vantage democracy now has lies in tho awaken
ing of those people of the country who have
heretofore followed blindly the beaten paths.
East and west millions have trailed after the
republican party in blind belief. That belief
has been shaken to a considerable extent, and
the elections of 1910, together with other signs
of 'unrest, especially the insurgent movement,
gives good grounds for believing that hundreds
of thousands of men who have "heretofore voted
the republican ticket will support a democratic
candidate for president in 1912.
But lot this be clearly understood: While
the democratic party needs those hundreds of
thousands of former republican voters to cnrry
U Sff7, J30 InsurGents are not going to
vote blindly. They are disposed to desert the
republican party In 1912 becauso their eyes
have been opened, but they will not bo disposed
to vote a ticket they have never voted before
unless that ticket appeals to their reason. In
surgents are thinking men; they sincerely wisli
better government and when they lend their
influence to effecting a change of government
they must have faith in tho sincoro purpose of
the democrats to effect reforms.
The insurgents in 1912 will hold tho balance
of power between the two parties. They are
progressives; they are revolting against stand
patism. The democrats of the country outside
the influence of rlngB and bosses are likewise
progressives and anti-standpatters. Therefore,
in choosing the party leaders for 1912 with tho
certainty of "A fight ahead" It behooves tho
democrats to act soberly and with judgment.
Not only does victory In 1912 depend upon tho
leadership in tho campaign, but a continuance
of power of the democrats, should they carry
the election, depends upon wisdom and strength,
progressiveness linked with calmness and sanity,
in the White house. To retain its power those
insurgents who vote the democratic ticket in
1912 must be welded to tho paTty.
No mere politicians can lead democracy to
victory in 1912; the call of tho people tho
people who will turn the tide for one party or
tho other, is for a vigorous, militant states
man. Columbia (S. C.) "Tho State."
THE HARMON BOOM
Akron (Ohio) Beacon-Journal: Tho first
move of Akron democrats regarding tho presi
dential campaign was made this morning, when
Len Koplin, one of the prominent democrats of
Akron, and a man always closely affiliated with
the politics of Summit county and the Nine
teenth congressional district, announced that
he would bo a candidate for delegate from this
district to tho democratic national convention,'
which will be held next spring.
Koplin's platform, under the circumstances,
is considered somewhat unusual, and is said to
be backed by every man In his particular wing
of the democratic party. Koplin stands straight
for Bryan and a Bryan platform, or for any
man Bryan shall stand for at the convention.
"I will be a candidate for delegate to tho
convention," said Koplin, "but I want it under
stood that I will stand for nobody but Bryan
or tho candidate he shall suggest. I will also
work for Bryan's choice for national committee
man. "I am not for Harmon, and I do not believe
the people of the Nineteenth district will stand
for a Harmon man to go to tho national conven
tion. It is my firm belief that Harmon will not
pull half of tho delegates in Ohio."
The break from Harmon in this district by
that wing of the democratic party, coming as
it does at this early date, is unexpected, although
it has never been believed that Harmon could
win as ho pleased with democrats in Summit
county.
Koplin is supported almost to a man by the
members of his faction in Akron, and a blttr
fight is predicted between the Bryan democrats
and the Harmon branch of the party.
It has been Harmon's ambition to go to the
democratic convention with as near a solid dele
gation from Ohio as possible, and every break
in the party means trouble for him. Harmon
is preparing to carry on the fight in the enemy's
territory, and It is said that neither side will
give or take quarter.
From tho present outlook Summit county will
probably be one of the fiercest battle grounds
in tho state on the issue of who will control tho
democratic party next year.
Jacksonville, Oregon, October 27th. To tho
Editor of the Portland Evening Journal: I have
read the Journal's account of the recent meet
ing of tho Jackson club of Portland, at which
presidential candidates and possibilities wero
discussed. x. . ...
It looked as if it were a gathering of those
who put expediency before principle, for "the
noblest Roman of them all," William J. Bryan,
and his mighty, unselfish work for the people
were barely mentioned. They seemed to forget
that but for the great commoner the democratic
nartv would be but an asset of the predatory
interests in control of the republican party,
impotent for honest, patriotic service. His is a
namo to conjuro with, for no democrat has over
pojlod nearly ao many votos.
Fred Holman, who work for tho corporations
whon ho is not raising roaoa, was tuero. Every
four years he makes his ontreo, insisting that
ho Ib a Simon-puro democrat and Ib liberal in
his advice that tho democrats should nominate
for president somebody who in willing to lot big
business do about as it ploasoH. Only once uinco
Cleveland's last oicction has ho voted tho demo
cratic ticket for president, and that was for
Parkor. It is no wonder that ho should bo bo
loud in his advocacy of Judson Harmon.
Ordinarily it would acorn incomprehensible
that Governor Harmon of Ohio should bo con
sidered a presidential possibility from a demo
cratic standpoint. Ilowover, tho privileged
classes, always alert to protect thcniBolvcs and
to do business with both of tho largo parties,
have tholr minions busy in tho attempt to cap
ture tho democratic nomination for ono of tholr
friends, being reasonably certain alroady that
President Taft will bo renominated. "Heads I
win, tails you loso," you know.
Governor Harmon was ono of tho cotorlo of
Cleveland democrats that accomplished tho do
feat of tho democratic nominee for presidont in
189G. A corporation lawyer, ho Is by practlco
and environment plutocratic and reactionary
and against rule by tho people Tho measures
proposed by progressive democrats and republi
cans have no charms for him.
To nominate Harmon would bo to Invito a
repetition of tho democratic disaster of 1904.
It could not possibly make any dlfforonco to tho
corporations and trusts whether ho or Taft was
elected. They are of tho same kidney, J niaii,
different label. '
Thero aro thousands of domocrats in Oregon
and millions of thom in tho United States who
will never vote for Judson Harmon for presi
dent, and they aro tho kind of domocrats who
scratch tholr tickots only on tho groatest of
provocation. CHARLES NICKELL.
California Outlook: Judson Harmon of Ohio
is a big man. Ho is of sterner Btuff than the
gentleman from tho stato who now fully occu
pies tho executive chair at Washington. Tho
latter dents rather easily. Harmon is flint-like.
Ho is as laborious as Cleveland was, without
being as fat-witted. No stuffed prophet ho. Ho
is a resolute man who knows what ho wants
and knows the best way to got It. It is good
politics for the democrats to cIioobo tholr candi
date from the same stato from whenco comes tho
republican candidate. That obviates the stato
prido problem and makes a fairer and a squaror
stand-up fight.
Harmon is a conservative. His typo of mind
is that of the Sage of Esopus and his associates
aro very similar as to quality of mind and finan
cial predilection. He sees in the prosperity of
tho business interests tho greatness and glory of
tho nation. He is more conservative than Taft
and would better suit tho financial Interqsts than
Taft, who, conservative though he la, can not
refrain from "monkeying" with tho trust prob
lem and giving the Interests occasional bad days
in Wall street. Still, with these two men nomi
nated by tho two great opposing partiuJ, tho In
terests would rest in tolerable security which
ever won tho election. And, what Is more Im
portant to the aforesaid interests, the Degres
sive elements in both parties would be non
suited, thrown out of court neck and heels,
with no ono to represent their causo before tho
people. Or would they? Is it not at least think
able that just as the Interests got the political
cards all stacked to suit them some meddlesome
radical might raiso the cry of "LaFollette and
Wilson," and Invito all men of progressive minds
to rally under a third standard? Bourbonism
has blundered similarly many a timo and bour
bonism never learns anything from Its disasters.
If the powers aro shrewd, really politic, they
would concede to tho progressive element in
this nation a voice and a candidate representa
tive of It least a worse thing come to pass, and
then try to defeLl that candidate with a safo
and sane candidate of their own choosing. Tho
convention machinery of the country Is in tho
hands of tho powers and they may be able to
work their will at the national convention, but
let them beware lest they make their victory too
complete. Nevertheless, watch Harmon. Word
has been passed from mouth to mouth, from
ocean to ocean, that "There is nothing to It but
Harmon."
NOT A DICTATOR
Belding, Mich. Editor The Commoner: I,
herewith' enclose "clipping" from the Grand
Rapids News, of date Sept. 11, 1911. This edi-
'!.
li
4
I
i
P
M
i
1
a:
f
:
. .
'
1,4
V
e.f-HijtJ.
