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The Commoner.
WILLIAM J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
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VOL. 1L NO. 51
Lincoln, Nebraska, December 29, 1911
Whole Number 571
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A Question of Fact
The Houston Post settles the supremo court
question to its own satisfaction by the simple
Assertion that each of the judges was appointed
because of his special fitness for the position.
For instance, he says, "Justice Vandevanter was '
appointed because of the record he has made in
the public service representing the people."
Now who told the editor of the Post this? How
does he know that that was the reason? And
why is he so careless in his statements unless
he does know? If he will examine Judge Yon
Devanter's record, he will find that he was a
Union Pacific attorney for seven years, and if
he will examine the decisions rendered by Jus
tice Van Devanter, he will find evidence that
'Justice Van Devanter has not forgotten the fact
that he was attorney for the Union Pacific or
possibly it might be more polite to say that ho
became so deeply interested in the railroad
while its attorney that the impression then made
upon his mind in favor of the railroads has not
had time to wear off. Does the Houston Post
know whether any of the Union Pacific officials
were active in securing the appointment or will
It make any difference in its opinion if they
were?
The Post also says "Justice Hughes was ap
pointed because of his eminent position in the
public life of New York, etc." How does the
editor know that this was the reason? Does
the editor know that a number of the predatory
interests contributed to Mr. Hughes' campaign,
when he was elected governor? Does he know
that Governor Hughes vetoed a two-cent rate
bill passed by the New York legislature? Does
he know that Governor Hughes sent a message
to the legislature opposing the ratification of
the income tax amendment the amendment
since ratified by New York and thirty other
states? Does he know that Governor Hughes
appointed a committee to whitewash the deal
ings of Wall street? Does he know that Gover
nor Hughes was put forward to defend the
trusts in the last presidential campaign and that
he interpreted the republican platform to
promise the very amendment that the supreme
court has made in the anti-trust law? Does
the editor know these facts or would it make
any difference if he did?
And now will the editor of the Houston Post
tell his readers what objection there could be
to a little publicity as to the recommendations
for judgeships? ,1s there any good reason why
the people should not know at whose request
these judges were appointed? The opinion of
the editor of the Post may be enough for those
who do not want anything more, but he may
have some readers who prefer the facts to the
editor's opinion.
CONTENTS
A QUESTION OP FACT N
IN A DUAL ROLE
"NAMING" A CASE
HARMON'S RECORD THE SHORT
HOUR DAY
MEANING OF THE ALDRICH CURRENCY
SCHEME
WHERE FOLK STANDS
JUDGES FOR RECALL OF JUDGES
SHALL THE PEOPLE RULE A STUDY
IN MUCKRAKING
THE RUSSIAN TREATY
HOME DEPARTMENT
WHETHER COMMON OR NOT .
NEWS OF THE WEEK
WASHINGTON NEWS
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TO EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE-AND FOREVER!
In a Dual Role
Those who have read the literature sent out
by the Harmon bureau must have been im
pressed by the fact that a labored effort Is being
made to provo that Governor Harmon Is a
progressive. He is being urged in the same
way that President Taft was when he became
a candidate. All of the energies of Mr. Taft's
friends were employed to prove that he was b.
progressive and In harmony with Mr. Roosevelt s
policies, but it was known at the same time that
he was satisfactory to Wall street. To those
who understood politics it was plain enough
that he could not be both a standpatter and a
progressive, but the progressives were deceived.
The standpatters knew their man, and they
must have enjoyed reading the literature that
was sent out to show that Mr. Taft was going to
strike a blow at Wall street at every oppor
tunity When the election was over Mr. Taft
could not be both, and he naturally Preferred
to be himself rather than a second edition of
Mr. Roosevelt. Now the progressives are camp
ing on his trail. ... ,
Mr Harmon is the same kind of candidate
Mr Taft was. The important thing is to. make
him acceptable to - progressives, and ereforo
the literature is telling how radical he is. This
scheme worked in the republican party because
the republicans were not as well acquainted
as the democrats are with the difference between
a standpatter and a progressive. Some sixteen
vears ago the democrats passed through the
flint in which the 'republicans are now engaged,
and since that time democrats have been able
to distinguish at sight the standpat variety of
democrats and the progressive democrat It is
not reasonable to suppose, therefore, that demo
cratic voters can be deceived as republican
voters were by a candidate who is appearing in
I dual role. If Governor Harmon's managers
are not frank with the people, Governor Harmon
either knows or docs not know what his man
agers are doing. If ho knows, then ho shares
the responsibility for the deception which is
being attempted. If ho does not know, how
will he make the people believe him able to con
duct the national government if he Is not able
to control the managers of his campaign?
Governor Harmon is either a standpatter or
a progressive ho can not be both. Would the
Wall street element be for him if they did not
know where ho stood? And will progressives
be for him when they know that he Is satisfac
tory to Wall street? Ask those who were out
of harmony with the policy of the party during
the campaigns of 1896, 1900 and 1908, and
they will almost to a man tell you that Governor
Harmon is the man to nominate unless they
have shifted to Mr. Underwood. Is this a good
recommendation for a democratic candidate?
Ask the big railroad attorneys those who call
themselves democrats but vote the republican
'ticket what democrat should be nominated for
the presidency, and they will almost without
exception toll you that Governor Harmon looks
good to them unless they have decided that
Mr. Underwood has a better chance for the
nomination.
Ask those democrats who aro connected with
the trusts and you will find that they are as a
rule for Governor Harmon or Mr. Upderwood.
There Is no' reason, of course, why Wall street
should -not make a fight to control the demo
cratic party but It ought to be an open fight.
If the Wall street democrats are in a majority,
they ought to write the platform and nominate
the ticket, but it Is not fair for them to make
their fight under cover and represent their can
didates as progressives. Fairness, however, is
not to be expected from Wall street. Those who
defend privilege and favoritism are conscious
of the wrongs they are perpetrating upon the
masses of the people, and therefore do not take
the masses into their confidence. They must
win by double dealing if at all, and the progres
sives must be on their guard against the dark
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