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JANUARY 12, 181S
The Commoner.
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labor. Today tho struggle of mankind is to
avoid work, to put It upon others; and, as
Tolstoy has said, we no sooner shift tho bur
den of labor upon others than we begin to look
down upon them. A lack of sympathy with our
fellow-men is the cause of most of human in
justice and misery."
The schools, too, came in for some comment'
as he added: "I sometimes think that our
educational system is at fault in separating our
Intellectual progress from our moral advance
ment. Too often education is sought to enable
one to avoid hard work. When this becomes
tho prevalent idea, education ceases to become
a blessing and becomes a curse. The most im
portant thought that can be lodged in each
child's mind is that education is to onlargo one's
capacity for work, and not to relieve him from
the necessity of it."
"About the most toil-demanding place is tho
farm. You evidently believe in tho back-to-tho-farm
movement."
"Decidedly. In the cities men accept posi
tions giving small pay because they are enabled
to dress more stylishly and keep their hands
clean. They consider this the badge of respec
ability, and they prefer it to greater pay for
manual labor. It is not only labor they avoid,
but the physical and often moral development
which goes with it. The farm, toil and all,
gives tho greatest opportunity which is left to
us for tho development .of independence and
character and strength I believe that wo shall
only do our full duty to ourselves, our country
men, and posterity when we emphasize the fact
that it is the idler, not the toiler, who is a dis
grace. In disseminating this idea there is work
for us all."
Mr. Bryan is positive in his estimate of poli
ticians, but when he, talked of various leaders
of both parties it was with an understanding
that he was not to be quoted.
It was characteristic of Mr. Bryan's tempera
ment that he exerted himself to be in Lincoln
on the day that President Taft visited that city.
He proposed a toast to the president at tho
luncheon in his honor, in which he paid a
courteous tribute to the man who had defeated
him. "I ask you," said he, "to rise, fill your
glasses with the beverage upon which the Al
mighty has set his approval, and drink to tho
health of President Taft, and may God give him
wisdom to discharge aright the onerous duties
imposed upon him!"
It must have been pleasing to tho speaker
that a little later in the day Mr. Taft, making
an appeal for the support of arbitration treaties
with France and Great Britain, gave him credit
for making one of the most important sugges
tions incorporated in the pacts. He said he
first heard from Mr. Bryan the scheme of ap
pointing a commission to make a preliminary
Investigation prior to the actual submission of
the question to a board of arbitration, with the
further proviso that this investigation should
continue for a year, thus giving both nations
time to calm down before the final issue was
reached. So it was typical of the attitude of
western people toward the democratic leader
that this reference was greeted with cheers.
Mr. Bryan, in discussing national politics,
fits every phase to his own theory of govern
ment, which he has worked out satisfactorily in
his mind, and which, in his view, accounts for
all conditions. He is as sure of his position
today as he was in 1896. The public always
likes that sort of public man though he may
not secure a majority of the votes. That Mr.
Bryan will be a most influential factor in the
coming campaign is evident, as it Is that ho
will use his utmost power to shape his party's
policy and nomination in accordance with his
views of democracy. With the activities of a
national campaign added to present demands
upon his time, it means a year with few resting-places.
But he is used to it.
The belated train arrived at 9:15 p. m. Ho
hurried to an automobile, was driven a mile to
an audience of ten thousand that had waited
Ian hour and a half for him, and applauded him
jto tho echo through a sixty-minute talk. Then
hack to tho station and aboard another Pull
man for a lecture two hundred miles away.
. These are busy days for Bryan.
V
FORGETTING DEMOCRACY
Tho New York World quotes Mr. Underwood
as saying that tn dealing with the industrial
Question wo ought to forget that we are demo
crats. After one reads his views on public
Sestions it Is easy to understand his advice
illustrates it by his example.
JS NEBRASKA
I. J. Dunn of Omaha, on of Nebraska's most
faithful democrats and the man who placed Mr.
Bryan In nomination at tho Donvor convention
in 1908 is a candidate for delogate-at-largo from
Nebraska to the democratic national convention
of 1912. Mr. Dunn has issued the following
statement:
"To tho Democrats of Nebraska: I shall bo
a candidate for delegate at large to tho demo
cratic national convention. I favor tho indorse
ment of candidates for president and vice presi
dent who are known to be progressive, and tho
selection of delegates who will work for tho
nomination of such candidates, and of the adop
tion of a progressive platform. I favor the
indorsement of tho principle of free raw ma
terial, including wool, regardless of tho action
of tho democratic majority in the house of
representatives. I believe that the anti-trust
law should be amended to mako it effective as
a criminal statute, such as it was prior to the
decisions of the supreme court in the Standard
Oil and Tobacco trust cases.
"If chosen a delegate I shall endeavor to aid
William J. Bryan in whatever manner he may
see fit to lead the fight for a progressive plat
form and candidates. While I have not at all
times agreed with him on local state issues, I
believe he is and has been right on national
issues for eighteen years, and today voices tho
sentiment of tho real progressive democracy of
the nation as no other democratic loader does.
"I consider the influence of Mr. Bryan and tho
confidence that progressive democrats have in
his leadership, courage, honesty and devotion to
tho principles of truo democracy, the most valu
able asset our party has today or will have in
tho coming campaign.
An effort is now being made to weaken, If not
to destroy Mr. Bryan's standing as a party
leader. The opposition may not, in this state,
go so far as to try to defeat him as a candidate
at largo to the convention. His opponents,
however, will endeavor to elect delegates not in
sympathy with his views regarding t,he platform,
and a fight is on to secure the indorsement of a
candidate to whom he is opposed. We all recog
nize the right of every democrat to vote for any
principle or candidate he pleases. Consequently
those who agree with Mr. Bryan, and desire to
send him as a delegate, together with a dele
gation in sympathy with him, who will work with
him in the convention to secure tho adoption of
a progressive platform and the nomination of
progressive candidates, ought to state their
position plainly and invito the opposition to do
tho same.
"If the democrats of this-state are ready to
desert the leadership of Mr. Bryan for that of
some other democrat, well and good. That is
their privilege. But let us have tho matter
determined in a manner open and abovo board
so that all democrats may know just what the
issue is, and just who. and what every candi
date stands for. I. J. DUNN."
Omaha, Neb., January 4, 1912.
result Is to glvo to tho packers no more than
a fair, just, and reasonable profit, that is less
than the profit mado by any other great enter
prise in tho world.
DESTROYING THE LAW
MR. NICHOLS' STATEMENT
Cincinnati, O., Dec. 26, 1911. Editor of The
Commonor: My attention has just been called
to an articlo entitlod, "Liko Judge Parker,"
publlshod in your issue of dato, December 22,
1911.
Tills articlo Is a republication of an allogod
interview with mo purporting to have boon sent
out from Cincinnati. Tho interview is a fako,
pure and simple. Furthermore, it has tho badgo
of falsehood and malice written all over and
through it. I can not imagino tho source of
such an intervlow unless it oraanates from a
bureau under republican auspices with head
quarters at Cincinnati, now quite busily engaged
in sending throughout tho country falso and
malicious attacks on Governor Harmon.
My attention has never been drawn to the
publication of the alleged Interview until I saw
It In your paper.
Mr. W. J Bryan wrote mo Juno last, that he
was opposod and would continue to oppose tho
nomination of Governor Harmon as the demo
cratic candidate for president, but that in his
opposition ho was determined to employ only
fair and honorable methods Such assurance
was hardly necessary from Mr. Bryan.
In that spirit I ask publication of tho refu
tation. Sincoroly, HUGH L. NICHOLS.
Campaign Manager for Governor Harmon.
Tho Interview to which Mr. Nichols takes
exception was sent to Tho Commoner by a
Farmorsvlllo, Texas, reador, and It was also
printed very generally throughout tho United
States. The article as It appoared In Tho Com
moner December 22nd, was as follows:
LIKE JUDGE PARKER?
A Cincinnati, O., dispatch credits Lieutenant
Governor Nichols, Mr. Harmon's campaign
manager, with this statement:
"Wo will not bo drawn into any arguments
with Mr. Bryan or anybody else on tho presi
dential matter. This may seem a bit odd to
some of tho people, but it Is tho truth. A great
many big men In this country have been pulled
down to medlocracy by talking too much. How
ever, this Is one point where Governor Harmon
will outdistance them all. Any of the democrats
of this country who do not like him have the
free will to vote for him and ho will ask them
no questions, and he in turn will allow these
arguments to go for naught and to keep on get
ting delegations to vote for him at the conven
tion next summer."
Referring to Mr. Nichols' statement, R. S.
Rike, of Farmersvillo, Texas, writes: "Does
Governor Harmon expect to outdistance Judge
Parker in playing shut mouth? If he can he Is
a good one. However, from tho attached clip
ping he is going to try we had as well pre
paro for another Parker trouble."
Those democratic newspapers that have de
fended tho supreme court decisions in the Ofi
and Tobacco cases on the theory that those de
cisions upheld rather than interfered with the
Sherman anti-trust law as It was written by tho
lawmakers might learn something to their ad
vantage from tho opening statement made by
George T. Buckingham,, ono of tho beef trust
attorneys, in the case now on trial at Chicago.
Mr. Buckingham said:
"I now again call your attention to the fact
that tho Sherman law has been construed by tho
supreme court of the United States as to tho
meaning of its language. On its face it pro
hibits 'every combination, contract and con
spiracy in restraint of trade.' The supreme
court, however, has held that this language is not
to bo read literally, but that the act is to be
construed as if it read "that every combina
tion, contract or conspiracy in undue or un
reasonable restraint of trade, is prohibited.' Or
to put it in another way, no act restricting com
petition, comes within. the technical definition
of 'restraint of trade unless it is 'an undue
and unreasonable act of restriction.' Now, just .
what acts aro undue and unreasonable may in
some phases of the case become a question of
fact before this jury; and if it does so become
a question of fact, then I insist that you pay
close attention to these facts and figures with
reference to operation and to profits which will
be put in evidence for the purpose of establish
ing before tills jury that whatever has been
done, is not undue and unreasonable, when the
A VALUE LIMIT TO PATENTS
Have we not reached a tlmo when we need
a value limit on patents? Now, a patent runs
for seventeen years, whether the amount de
rived from it be much or little. Why should
it not expire In less time if a reasonable sum
Is derived from it at an earlier period? Suppose
a limit of one million, half a million or a quarter
million be fixed, would not the reward and
stimulus be sufficient? A provision -for a like
sum might bo given to the inventor if he has
not received sufficient compensation, but why
permit the lucky holder of a patent a monopoly
to an unlimited extent? Why?
ABOLISH THE JOB SESSION
What has become of Congressman Henry's
constitutional amendment changing the day for
inauguration and tho date of the sessions? A
later date for inauguration is desirable, both
on account of weather and to give the incoming
president moro time to shape his policies and
make necessary appointments, but it Is even
moro important that the first term of congress
should be held earlier than now and that the
second term should adjourn before the follow
ing election. The second session is now the
job session it should bo changed.
LOCATING BLAME
If the members of labor unions are to be
blamed for the unauthorized acts of their leaders
why should not the stockholders be censored
for the criminal acta of the trust magnates who
presided over the Oil trust, tho Tobacco trust
and the Steel trust?
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