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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 16, 1912)
vrsa t I 16 The Commoner. VOLUME 12, NUMBKH IMN WBMM 1 SIB fiiH Editorials by Commoner Readers J. 13. Goodcll, Albuquerque, N. M. Tho enclosed Is from a republican paper, one that baa opposed Uryan In tbreo campaigns, and oven avers that It does not understand why Bryan Is still today tho idol of all dornocratlo democrats; yet aftor more than ten years it shows the folly of imperialism and even ad mits tho weaknoss of a supremo court which has been largely chosen by President Taft. As timo goes on the country is drifting deepor and deeper into what has been called "Bryanlsm." And is this not a proper name, for it is Bryan who has led tho light all along. Others are following. Roose velt admitted that tho recall of Judgos would bo proper in Califor nia, which Is Just over an imaginary lino from Arizona, where his crea tion (Taft) declared this reform should not exist. Wilson was able to sco the wisdom of placing the courts in the hands of the people by tho time ho reached Oregon; and, bad the United States extended a few hundred miles farther westward, would have become fully convl'fod Why even Taft himself, who sees In a Judge tho nearest approach, on earth, to tho Creator himself, ad mits that It Is timo something should bo dono. Ho sees the hand writing on tho wall. Something will be done aftor 1012. Yours for "Bryanlsm." J. F. Parsons, Ogden, Utah The Chinamen of theso western states are vory anxious for a republic in China. Many have contributed money to that end and received notes similar to our "greenbacks," payable by the China republic In gold. Several con sulted with mo .about it and I sug gested to them the signs were that Japan and England would oppose tho establishment of a Chinese re public and be backed in that view by tho United States administration. Thcso Chinamon hero say most of tho provinces are in tho hands of tho robols and most of tho loaders are ablo and learned men, nearly all or many can speak English and received their education In tho United States, and feel they should havo our sym pathy in their struggle for a re public. Tho condolence wo offered tho South African republics I fear is of tho same brand Undo Sam will glvo to tho Chinese republic. Oh, for a LaFayotto! Or, havo all such men long sinco died? looks up his record of cases won, of ability shown and of legal knowledge proven in hard fought battles Why, then, when it comes to selecting a candidato for an impor tant odice, where tho ability de manded must bo great, and where tho position of tho applicants on the mighty questions of the day must be not only well understood, but so rock-ribbed that there can be no after dodging, and no evasion, it Is enough to simply "question tho can didate" and take his word for what ho is and will do if elected? Why not go more into details, and do as any good business man would do, demanding proof that the would be officer has been an advocate of tho principles you desire enacted Into tho law long enough to have those principles firmly fixed In his mind? Then question him. and you will havo not only the present day statement that he will be true, but you will also have his record of the past to hold him in line when the fight becomes hot, and the tendency to quibble and to compromise and to dodge Is before him. and when every inducement to go bacu on his word is being made to him. Men will say glibly enough, "Oh, yes, I am in favor of the initiative and referendum, for instance, and yot when that measure comes up for a voto will as glibly support an nmendment to make tho initiatory per cent forty, as was attempted here in Colorado, which is in effect a death blow to such a measure. He could comply with his ante-election pledge and still help to practically kill tho measure. By selecting men who have In the past hold certain opinions, and fought for them, too, we make it all tho harder for them to switch, and at the same time make it certain just what thoy mean when thev stand up when wo proceed to "question tho candidate." it would do away with land specula tion, with its Inflated values and put values whoro they rightly belong. "In conjunction with government ownership or control of telegraph, telephone and interstate transporta tion and municipal ownership or control of street railways and public utilities, It would form tho basis of tho best government on earth, 4of, for and by tho people,' and is the logical, sane, honest, Christian method of bringing the Kingdom of God on earth. Monopoly and privi lege one and the same have this country by the throat. The people have the remedy in their own hands. Think it over. A. A." B. M. Olena, Champlain, N. Y. I notice there has been considerable discussion of late in the newspapers in regard to selling and disposing of a goodly number of United States war vessels which, It is claimed, are out of date, and therefore unservi. able for war purposes. It BeoniB to me In view of the fact that the same vessels having cost the peon of these United States hundreds of millions of dollars, and many of them having made a glorious record in the Spanish-American war that they could be converted into man ships, or as The Commoner hai urged, United StateB mail routei could be inaugurated and theso ves. sels used to carry the mails and could also be used for the purpose of training ships for American sea men and midshipmen. I am not sura but that some of them could be con verted at very little expense into merchant vessels and thereby ba used as a hasis for the upbuilding of our merchant marine, which sadly needs a stimulus of some kind. I hope that Mr. Bryan will take up the fight and save these valuable war vessels to the American people. J. Q. Adams, Hammond, La. In ro of letter of Levy Mayer on corporations, why should not all of tho profit above a certain per cent belong to tho people? On what theory hns one man a right to exact a greater percentage of profit than another? 0. C. Skinner, Montrose, Colo. I note in Tho Commoner that Sena tor Owen and others heartily indorso the suggestion of Tho Commoner that tho candidate bo asked to state how ho stands on public questions, which is all very woll as far as it goes. But before the candidato is nominated by tho party there is somothing of more importance. If one Is engaging a printer to work in his offlce, he not only questions tho candidato" but ho wants to see recommendations as woll. If he is hiring an engineer for some mportant work, ho not only questions tho candidates" but he wants to know whon and how the applicant won his right to be apply ing for tho job. l ' Tf ho Knnlrra n lon.. r important caso, ho not only "ques tions tho canfUrlntn" i,i.i. , WA . case is tho lawyer applicant, but he Jesse J. Barker, Philadelphia Iho enclosed quotation from a speech of William Pitt, (the rejec tion of whose advice to George III caused tho American revolution) appears to me to bo apt and ai nronrint in mnnt i, ' " " apeemes or Mr. Taft on his 40 days' itinerary: q."T0 tiSi!?d,to,of 'The Bulletin' Sir: William Pitt, the English statesman, said during a speech in the British parliament (a) 'To levy a tax of 7 per cent is a dangerous experiment in a free C0"n!7' ?"!? excit0 revolt wiiii But there is a methd by which you can tax the last rag from moi,?hCkw5Sd ?le W bite Si mouth without causing a murmor against high taxes, and that is ?o tax a groat many articles of dailv use and necessity so indirectly that tho people will pay them and not know it. Their grumbling then will he of hard times, but they will not bynLn ha,d time3 - pf all the poverty and distress Tin Zl land of plenty. The protective tariff and our system of taxation are tie bulwarks of monopoly and privilege would settle the trust que tT0n the money question, the land question A1?0' question, the labor auet t on. the poverty question, the char oypqpotePninand mak this c The Mnn,? fi" a Way "beamed of. ine land tax would open idla inmi to capital and labor to'get busy? SPECIAL LOW-PRICE CLUB OFFERS ON STANDARD PUBLICATIONS FOR 1912 For tho convenience of our readers the following combination otters havo been arranged. Write us for best prices on any combination of periodicals The Commoner must always be included. Wo will save you 20 per cent In most cases and m some cases 50 per cent from the regular price of such periodicals. 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