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The Commoner.
5
JANUARY 2f, 1112
it going to take to got two-thirds of the stall
to ratify it? How long is It taking to pass th
income tax amendment?"
That was all. Not a word a to its urgency,
not an argument In support of It Simply
perfunctory setting forth of it as one of the
platform pledges to be redeemed. And this is
all he said in the course of a long address. He
was equally terse when he referred to it in the
special message urging the senate to enact
measures which had been promised to the
people. Here is all ho had to say on this big
issue; in urging the pasing of tho law:
"The nomination by statewide primary elec
tion of all who are in any way to act or repre
sent the state officially or politically, and the
determination by such elections of tho choice of
the state for senators of the United States.
Until provisions shall be made by amendment
to the national constitution, this result can be
secured by the method provided in the bill now
ponding. Such amendment is still uncertain
and years may be required for 4ts adoption by
the states, even if it be proposed at this session
of congress."
The reasons for Mr. Harmon's lukewarmness,
to use a complimentary term, are well known to
Ohio democratic leaders. In private interviews
he had opposed this plan, and it was not until
he realized its value as a presidential asset that
ho declared in favor of the Oregon plan. After
he had taken such a stand, in the state con
vention at Dayton he used his influence to de
feat such a declaration in the platform, and
simply wanted to declare for the election of
senators by the people. Finally Chairman
Finley arranged a compromise by which the
party pledged a democratic legislature, if
elected, to take the necessary steps towards a
convention of the states to adopt a constitutional
amendment of that character. In spite also of
his claim that he favored the direct election of
senators, he opposed the nomination of the
Dayton democratic convention of a candidate for
senator, calling party leaders into his office to
impress upon them his wishes. At the same
time he knew four-fifths of the delegates wore
committed to that principle and in favor of tak
ing such action. ..Out of deference to him they
surrendered these' convictions and allowed the
convention to adjourn without making a nomi
nation. c Q D
A SOUTHERN CANDIDATE
If the south wants tho presidential candidate
"why does she not pick out some democrat who
represents the progressive democracy and pre
sent him to the country. The north has no
objection to a southern man but it would object
to a Wall street man residing in the south or
in any other section. The south is full of big
men; there 1b scarcely a state in the south
which doesnot contain men of presidential size.
Why are these overlooked and only those men
tioned who are aristocratic or plutocratic in
sympathy? There is Hoke Smith, for instance;
he has a national reputation. He was in Cleve
land's cabinet and resigned to support the ticket
in 1896. He has been elected governor twice
and is now senator. He is a reformer with
courage enough to fight a whole regiment of
Wall street mercenaries. What's the matter
with Smith?
Then, there is Senator James of Kentucky, one
of the ablest and bravest reformers at Washing
ton. He, is one of the most eloquent campaign
orators in the country. He would be a million
votes stronger than Underwood.
Governor Campbell of Texas would make a
splendid president and a popular candidate, too.
He has been tested and has met every responsi
bility. These are only a few their name is legion.
Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ten
nessee in fact, all the states of the southland
have men who have won distinction at home by
championing tho rights of the people. Why not
select one of these? Why is it that no man
east, west or south can be considered unless he
has the brand of the New York plunderbund on
him? It Is simply because a subsidized or ter
rorized press magnifies tho ability and avail
ability of every betrayer of the masses and be
littles every public man wno speaks out against
the exploitation of the common people.
t;
WILL YOU JOIN IN THE EFFORT
TO INCREASE THE COMMONER'S CIR-
CULATION FOR 1912?
TAKE IT UP AT ONCE WITH YOUR
NEIGHBOR. .
Governor Wilson and Harper's Weekly
Harper Weekly, a paper generally believed
to be under the control of J. Piorpont Morgan,
recently printed tho following self-explanatory
editorial:
"To our readers: Wo make tho following re
ply to many inquiries from readers of Harper's
Weekly
"The name of Woodrow Wilson as our candi
date for president was taken down from tho
head of these columns In response to a state
ment made to us directly by Governor Wilson,
to the effect that our support was affecting his
candidacy injuriously.
"The only course left open to us, in simple
fairness to Mr. Wilson, no less than in con
sideration of our own self-respect, was to cease
to advocate his nomination.
"We make this explanation with great reluc
tance and the deepest regret. But wo can not
escape the conclusion that tho very consider
able number of our readers who have co
operated earnestly and loyally in advancing a
movement which was Inaugurated solely in the
hope of rendering a high public Bervico, are
clearly entitled to this information."
In the newspaper dispatches of January 18th,
many people had considerable to say concerning
the "break" between Governor Wilson and Har
per's Weekly. Henry Watterson gavo out a
long statement in which ho said that he was
present at a conference between Governor
Wilson and Mr. Harvey, editor of Harper's
Weekly when Governor Wilson bluntly told the
editor -that he preferred not to have the support
of his publication. Mr. Watterson as well as Mr.
Hemphill, a South Carolina editor, is very
deeply grieved because of the "ingratitude"
shown by Governor Wilson. Mayor Dahlman of
Omaha, has issued a statement which would
lead some people to believe that he had been
a supporter of Governor Wilson and now de
sorted him because of his break with Harvey.
Mayor Dahlman long ago announced himself for
Judson -Harmon and he has neverbeen in favor
of Governor Wilson.
SENATOR NEWLANDS FOR WILSON
A Washington dispatch, carried by the As
sociated Press, says: Senator Francis G. New
lands of Nevada declined to permit the use of
his name as a candidate for the democratic
presidential nomination, and declared himself
in favor of the candidacy of Governor Wilson of
New Jersey.
Senator Newlands has received the indorse
ment of the Nevada legislature, as well as
pledges of support from several .Pacific and
intermountain states. In his letter of declina
tion to Clay Taltman, chairman of the Nevada
state central committee, Senator Newlands said:
"The movement for higher political stand
ards inaugurated by Bryan has made a pro
found impression upon both parties and has
produced a new crop of statesmen, differing in
ideals and standards from those of a previous
generation. Among these Woodrow Wilson has
become the national choice, and haB become, to
a greater degree than any ono else, except
Bryan, representative of the democratic con
science. It is""evident that the big interests
have isolated Wilson from all the other candi
dates and have made him the special object of
attack. There is all the more reason, there
fore, why democrats of Nevada and the west,
should recognize him aB the true progressive
leader and rally to his support."
WOODROW WILSON AND HIS FRIENDS
In an editorial entitled "Wilson and His
Friends," the Lincoln (Neb.) Journal says:
We need be in no hurry to reclassify Woodrow
Wilson as a result of the Harper's incident. Wo
have Henry Watterson for it that Wilson told
Harvey, when pressed to say, that the latter's
support was hindering the former's presidential
chances. That is a matter long widely recog
nized as a fact. It Is generally understood that
the paper Colonel Harvey edits is owned by the
financial kings of the United States. This fact
was well advertised, while Harper's was sup
porting Wilson, by the latter's enemies. There
was no quarrel, so Mr. Watterson who was
present tells us. Colonel Harvey merely took
Wilson's statement of fact to heart and hauled
down his Wilson flag. Whether there was an
lngrato part, wo would hotter wait for further
developments to tell.
Conspicuous rocont incidents in tho presi
dential campaign give good roason why those
who havo been his friends hitherto should not,
as Colonel Watterson does, throw Wilson ovor
at just this point. It Is stated by men who havo
tho best moans of securing accurate information
that tho break between tho two men was caused
quite as much by Governor Wilson's refusal to
"take orders" from Colonel Harvey, as by his
frankness in telling tho colonel tho truth about
tho effect of his support. There has been
obviously a desperate and none too scrupulous
show of enmity against Wilson of lato In quar
ters such as invito friendship in other quarters.
There was first tho story of Wilson's application
for a Carnegie pension, an act not discreditable
in itself yot published for tho obvious purpose
of discrediting him. Collier' boldly ascribos
thls leak to members of New York's financial
hierarchy who are also trustees of tho Carnegie
pension fund. Then came tho publication of
tho Jolino lottor, a private letter to a former
railroad president who sees nothing despicable
or improper in publishing confidential corres
pondence. Still other private lottoFs havo been
published for his embarrassment. Clearly some
powerful machinery has beon engaged in efforts
to undermine Wilson. This Harper's Incident
may or may not bo a part of this process. Wo
can wait and see.
Wo observe that Mayor Dahlman, who spon
sors tho Harmon campaign in Omaha, sees in
Wilson's supposed broak with a friend final evi
dence of the former's unfitness for public honors.
We should 'not bo too sure of that. Dovotion to
friends Is a great thing, but tho history of
America Is blotted with official loyalty to friends
at tho price of disloyalty to tho public interest.
"What's the constitution between friends?" Wo
shall never havo honest or just government so
long as loyalty to personal frlonds is held a
higher virtue than loyalty to country. Before
condemning Wilson for breaking with Harvey
we should seo what would havo been tho price
of continued friendship.
SENATOR GORE'S OPINION
United Press dispatch: Washington, Jan. 19.
Senator Gore (dem., Okla.), today gavo his
views of tho break between Governor Wilson
and Colonel Harvey, as follows:
."This whole Wilson-Harvey-Watterson inci
dent Is a bubble, not a billow. It seems that
the head and heart of tho governor's offending
Is that he told the truth.
"No honest man can accept an office with a
lien upon his conscience or his conduct.
"To decline tendered aid and alliance is a
most difficult and delicate task.
"To do so in the face of danger is an act of
moral and political heroism of which few men
are capable.
"The critics of Governor Wilson should tell
the public frankly whether their candidates
would assume such an obligation as the gover
nor declined, and, if so," whether their candi
dates would disregard or would discharge such
obligations.
"I would rather see Governor Wilson defeated
with his heart an open book, than to see him
triumphant with a skeleton in his political
closet, which has been concealed from the eyes
of the public."
WHEN THE BREAK BEGAN
The Washington correspondent for the New
York Sun tells the story of how the break be
tween Messrs. Roosevelt and Taft began. He
says: But possibly the crowning act was when
President Taft on the eve of President Roose
velt's departure for Africa sent him a missive
wishing for a happy and healthful trip, and clos
ing with the expression: "I owe more to Charles
P. Taft and you than any two men on earth," or
substantially those words. Roosevelt's friends
have made no secret of his anger over that let
ter, for they tell you that in his vociferous way
he brandished the letter and cried:
"Good Lord, he puts money above brains,
does he!"
Whether that was a tactful letter for Presi
dent Taft to write to a man of Roosevelt's
strenuous mentality is a matter for political
philosophers to solve. President Taft, however,
has told his friends when speaking of that let
ter that he Intended to pay Roosevelt the highest
compliment at his command.
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