, 1U'
4
The Commoner.
VOLUME -11, NUMBER "itVt.
ru
-i
The Commoner: SHALL THE PEOPLE RULE?
ISSUED WEEKLY P ?" " -
PASS IT ALONG
En tared at the Poatofflco at Lincoln, Nebraska,
as sccand-class matter.
WlLUAM J. BRTAM
Editor ami Proprietor
RICHARD 1m MlCTCAT.jrK
Associate Editor
ClIAJFUICS W Dryak
Publisher
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MR. ROOSEVELT ON TRUSTS
The Outlook editorial on the trust situation
is being variously construed. Some regard it as
evidence that the ex-president is Irritated by the
administration's charge that he was DECEIVED
by the Steel trust. Others regard his editorial
as a bid for the presidential nomination. It
may be both. He does not like to have his judg
ment questioned and he does not like to have
a friend and the Steel trust has been his friend
attacked. He may not be averse to another
nomination and he may reliBh an opportunity to
retaliate on the president for his abandonment
of some of his Mr. Roosevelt's policies, but
the fact is that Mr. Roosevelt has never shown
any clear comprehension of the trust evil. He
has clung to the idea that there are good trusts
and bad ones and he thinks that the burden
of proof is upon the people to show that a trust
is Injuring the public. This is the weak point
in his position. There is the same distinction
between "corporations that there is between ani
mals. The cow is PRESUMED to be harmless
unless shown to be vicious; the lion, on the
other hand, is PRESUMED to be vicious. So
ordinary corporations are PRESUMED to be
engaged in legitimate business but a private
MONOPOLY should be PRESUMED TO BE
HARMFUL. It is as much tho nature of the
monopoly to injure competitors- and the public
as it is the nature of a lion to devour.
REGULATION of a private monopoly Is an
absurdity; prevention is the only remedy.
The system proposed by Mr. Roosevelt would
prove a dismal failure, and it would, in addi
tion, encourage the socialists.
DISTINCTION WITHOUT A DIFFERENCE
Tho difference between Mr. Taft and Mr.
Rposevelt on the treaty is not a matter of great
Importance. Mr. Roosevelt magnifies the dan
ger of the plan to arbitrate and the president
magnifies the effect of the change asked. The
treaty can be safely ratified as it Is but it will
not weaken it to add the provision suggested by
Mr. Roosevelt. The ex-pre3ldent says:
"As a people we wish to make a genuine -advance;
we should agree definitely to submit
to arbitration all disputes that do not involve
the vital interest, the independence or honor of
the nation, and we should at the same time,
make provisions which will tend to bring about
a pacific solution of all disputes not covered by
the treaty.
"To this end a provision should be inserted
in such treaty that If either party to it claims
that a dispute involves its vital interests, lta
independence, or Its honor, then, always pro
vided that neither party takes a position that
neceesitates immediate, action by the other
party on the request of either party, all ques
tions of fact and all questions of law involved
In the dispute shall be referred to arbitrators,
ivho shall hayo no power to decide the dispute,
but shall be authorized to pass on the contro-
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 tho 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 tho People Rulo? is the
Overwhelming Issue" Democratic
National Platform, 1008.
PLEDGE
The Presidency in 1912.
Organize
Let Us
I believe in The Rulo of the People, and the party and tho legal mechanism to make it ofTcc
tive; on 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 is Identified, with tho Progressive
Movement to bring the government closer to the people and make it responsive to 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 tho 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 ,
NQTE If you favor the above principles and desire to see them enacted, into law kindly .sign
this slip and mail it to R. L. Owen, Chairman Federation Democratic Precinct Clubs, Washing
ton, D. C. -V, -
(SEE OTHER SIDE) , - , . ' - "
On the reverse side of this pledge the following appears:
' He. .-. ''"
J-
krt-A r- Ht -V Jw, Ij. Vmi""
mi v i ai to Ml Ufi
AN APPEAL
j.'
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. AddresB
ji
THE FEDERATION OF DEMOCRATIC PRECINCT CLUBS'. . "j
. Bliss Building, Washington, T$. C.
; -
L
vorsy as to questions of fact and of law and to
recommend such settlement of the "dispute as
may seem just and honorable to both contend
ing nations."
INVESTIGATION is the important thing
allow time for investigation and there will be
no war. Tho treaty ought to be ratified at once
as it is if possible, with the Roosevelt change
If necessary, but let It be ratified without delay.
PREVENTING TRUSTS
defined by law and in that zone a failure to
observe the law could be punished by fine;" be
yond it by imprisonment. There is no difficulty
if congress wants to PREVENT monopoly; the
difficulty is that so many senators ttnd members
TALK against the trusts but either do not desire
to interfere with them or are afraid to do so.
With sixty democratic majority in congress,
however, it ought to be -possible to do some
thing, especially with a group of progressive
republicans to1 help us.
Those who have no remedy for the trusts but
content themselves with finding fault with all
remedies proposed object to the democratic
platform remedy on tho ground that It Is Im
practical. They say that there is no way of
knowing when a corporation Is exceeding the
prescribed percentage. As a matter of fact .it is
not so difficult as one might think. The bureau
of corporations could obtain reports on Im
portant business enterprises and each corpora
tion cou,ld easily learn its proportion. A graded
tax could bo fixed as a penalty to compel care.
Suppose, for instance, tho law compelled a cor
poration to take out a license In order to control
more than 25 per cent of the total product, the
penalty for not taking out the license might be
one per cent on an excess of one per cent, two
per. cent tax on an oxcess of two per cent, etc.,
up to 5 per cent and criminal punishment be
yond that. Tho same rule could be applied as
to the 50 per cent limit. A zone broad enough
to cover any reasonable uncertainty could be
IT BROKE UP THE .CLASS
At Laramie Mr. Taft catechised a crowd of
some 400 school children.
"How high Is It here?" he asked them.
"Seven thousand one hundred and forty-five
feet!" they shouted. " , .
"You don't feel above other boys in. other
cities because you are higher up, do you?" tie
continued. :
"No, sir," they answered. ',...'"
"What state do you live In?" he queried "",-
"Wyoming," they cried. ", HVv
"Is it a territory?" - ' ,1- ;
"It's a state." - $
"Have you a governor?"-
"Yes, -sir." ' k a '.-..
"Have you senators?" - .
"Yes, sir."
"What do your senator do?" t r
But that question stumped the children. al
broke up the claw. -New Tor Inn, , ",
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