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1 i
THIS INCOMK TAX MIjL
Tho Commoner in heartily In favor of the in
como tux bill and congratulates democrats of. tlio
houso upon their good work for that measure.
In opposing the incomo tax amendment to the
coiiHtltution In 1008 Mr. Tuft said that the in
come tax could he secured by statute whenever
tho pcoplo wanted It. It is plain that the people
want it now and it is well that congress seems
disposed to give It to thorn. Tho objection mado
to tho constitutionality of tho mcasuro by men
who would bo opposed to it oven if Us constitu
tionality had been specillcially atllrmed by tho
supremo court should not deter any friend of
tho mcasuro from supporting it. The supreme
court can be depended upon to nullify tho
mcasuro if it is not constitutional, and tho court
would bo likely to resolve any doubt against
tho measure rather than in favor of it.
That boing tho case, senators and epresenta
tlvcs ought to feol free to resolve tho doubt in
favor of tho pcoplo. A good rule to follow in
mattors of legislation is to give the people tho
bonoflt of tho doubt in case a constitutional
objection la raised to a desirable measure. No
body oxcopt tho supreme oourt is in a position
to docldo a constitutional question, and the court
can not decide such a question until the caso
roachos tho court.
If the proposed income tax measure is de
feated in congress wo Bhall have no- way of
knowing whether it is constitutional-or not. If
tho mcasuro is passed we shall soon know, and
If tho court upholds it wo shall have a good
law. If tho court nullities the mcasuro tho de
cision will furnish us a guide for tho drafting
of futuro bills.
Tho Commoner is also in favor of tho free
sugar bill. Taking tho tax off sugar and put
ting It on incomes reduces tho tax on consump
tion. Tho tax on sugar taxes people not in pro
portion to wealth, but in proportion to the
amount of sugar they consume. All taxes on con
sumption overburden tho poor and underbidden
tho rich, and a tax on sugar is especially open to
this objection. A poor man with a large family
probably consumes more sugar than a rich man
with a Binall family.
So largo a proportion of our federal revenues
is dorived from taxes on consumption that wo
ought to welcome any stop toward equalization
of the burden.
IHIYAN BIRTHDAY DINNER, LINCOLN, NEB.,
MARCH 10TI1
Nebraska nows report: The Bryan Birthday
Dinner given at Lincoln, Neb., annually, in
honor of Mr. Bryan, has always been a large
affair. Tho indications are, however, that the
celebration this year will be the biggest and
liveliest in history. William J. Bryan's birth
day is March 10th. Tho dinner and celebra
tion of this ovent will be under the auspices of
tho Lincoln Bryan club. Tho dinner will bo
hold in Lincoln's large auditorium on the even
ing of March 10th. Mr. 0. W. Meier, president
of the club, will act as toastmaster, and tho toast
list will comprise a largo number of America's
distinguished men.
Among tho speakers at this dinner will be
Olllo James, senator-elect from Kentucky, Sena
tor Thomas P Gore of Oklahoma, former Sena
nr ,Rrm. Pottierow of South Dakota, George
Fred Williams of Massachusetts, Representative
Robert L. Henry of Texas. Frederick Townsend
Martin, member of ono of tho wealthy famiHea
measures will bo taken for tho further oreani
sation of Nebraska democrats to the end tlm
a real victory may be won at tho polls in Novom
? ,Evo,ryno Ia invited to attend the Bryan
birthday banquet. Tickets for this dinner will
bo $1.00 and may bo obtained by addresslm?
Frederick Shepherd, chairman banquet com-
iGf?'hnCOln' ' No special invltaUoxiBaro
Issued but everybody welcome.
1 i
A SIGNIFICANT PHRASE
vJJlQ following significant phrase in Mr. Roose
velt s announcement seems to have been over
ooked by tho press. He said: "I will accent
the nomination for president if it is tendered
to mo, AND I WILL ADHERE TO' THiq nS?
OISION UNTIL THE CONVENTION HaS Sy
PRESSED ITS PREFERENCE I "
Why does he feol it necessary to insist that
THIS announcement will be ADHERED to
it a confession that other announcement linJf
been withdrawn? Did the ppSSwBrtemSS
The Commoner.
this "burning of the bridges" to insure them
against being left holding the bag? Or Is it
simply an answer to Mr. Taft's statement that
nothing but death would withdraw hjnfrom
tho race? It has a meaning that does not
appear on the surface what is it?
One thing is certain, it indicates that the ex
president will not demand an overwhelming ma
jority ono will do.
A HARMON BOOMER
Tho Chicago Inter-Ocean, a Taft organ, whose
owner admitted borrowing money from Hines,
the Lorimer agent, is now booming Governor
Harmon. It says:
"Some conspicuous democrats in northern
Illinois have organized in support of Governor
Harmon of Ohio as a candidate for the presi
dency and have opened headquarters in Chicago.
This movement is timely and needed.
"The strength of Governor Harmon is that
he has remained sober when other democratic
leaders have gone crazy, and has thought and
spoken sense while they have thought and
spoken nonsense.
"Such men as Judson Harmon are not con
tinuously chattered about, but they are re
membered when their party and the country
needs men to do men's work."
Is it not enough to have the reactionary demo
crats pushing Mr. Harmon? Must we endure
the added humiliation of having him forced
upon the party by reactionary republicans.
AN AVENUE FOR ALTRUISM!
Thero ought to bo a weekly democratic paper
in every county in the United States and there
should be a state weekly in every state. It doeB
not cost very much to run a weekly it can not
possibly lose much and ought to be self-supporting.
Here is a field for the altruist. We
have an increasing number of men who can edit
such a paper and who can afford to take such
chances as are involved in it. Such a paper can
be edited without withdrawal from other work.
The Commoner commends this avenue of use
fulness to those who yearn to render an unselfish
public service.
NO MORE JUDICIAL NEGATIVE
Publicity as to recommendations for judicial
positions is coming. For a little while longer
the president may be permitted to retire to tlie
dark room of tho White house and develop judi
cial negatives appointed upon secret requests
but only for a little while. The demand for
publicity is growing. The president must step
wuim0, th(J 8Un light and let tue People know
WHAT he does and WHY.
TIME TO ACT
imBaIi?nSra?ra?.1898 Congressman Jones of
the state of Washington introduced a bill pro
viding for publicity as to the ownership of
newspapers Is it not about time foi -the ubUc
to know who owns the newspapers? The news
paper i8 at present, a dark-lantern- throws
light on the public while darkness conceals the
one who holds the lantern. Lonceais the
NO MEGAPHONE
natus did not leave Mb plow Kfli f
months before the conveSZ and rush VZ
front gate with a megaphone the
CONSPIRACY PAYS
sum to pay a nnancial bandt? for o?w,g
conspiracy against tho people. or,oreanl'11S a
WIIEBE HE STANDS
there IztCuvM lT'l hlT"' But
siae.-Si.oux Cityit.VjournalhVep)n nltUer
Good! They know enouSK oach otr.
tlons. When repnWiCMs t?J'BBrace ,bth too
win 8et their flueT &, Cr &?
lr VOLUME 12, NUMBER i
THE GONSOIiATIONS OF AGE
On another page will he found a cartoon,
taken from the Cleveland Leader. It was drawn
by Mr. Ole May and is reproduced by permis
sion. It is such an artistic presentation of a
beautiful sentiment that it is thought worthy of
reproduction at this time when Mr. Bryan ia
passing the fifty-second milestone on life's path
way. Age has many consolations, the gathering
in of the results of early effort, communion with
the children who have grown up about tho fire
side, visits with grand-children, etc., but among
the joys that crown the latter years none are
sweeter than' those that come from the confi
dential companionship of a congenial pair who
grow old together each increasing in the
other's love. The song, "Silver Threads Among
the Gold," tenderly and touchingly strikes the
heart-strings and turns the thoughts back over
the stretch of wedded bliss, warmed with affec
tion and brightened with fidelity and suggest
a. closing that only a glorious sunset can parallel.
The readers of The Commoner are invited to
share with Mr. and Mrs. Bryan the delightful
reminiscences recalled by tho cartoon and tho
song which brought it forth:
-SILVER THREADS AMONG THE GOLD
1.
Darling I am growing old,
Silver threads among tho gold,
Shine upon my brow today,
Life is fading fast away.
But my darling, you will be,
Always young and fair to me,
Yes, my darling, you will be,
Always young and fair to me.
' CHORUS
Darling, 1 am growing old,
Silver threads among the gold
Shine upon my brow today,
Life is fading fast away.
2.
When your hair is silver white
And your cheek no longer bright,
With the roses of the May
i wni kiss your lips and say,
Oh, my darling, mine alone, .' ':
You have never older grown, " ' "''
Yes, my darling, mine alone,'
You have never older grown.
3.
Life can nevermore grow old,
Locks may lose their brown and gold.
Cheeks may fade and older grow,
But the heart that loves will know
Never winter's frost and chill,
Summer warmth is in them still.
Never winter's frost and chill,
Summer warmth is in them still.
0
4. ' , 4
Love is always young and fair. ' ;.
What to us is silver hair,
Faded cheoks or steps grown slow
To the heart that beats below.
Since I kissed you, mfne alone,
You have never older grown. .
Since I kissed you, mine alone,
iou have never older grown.
s
CHINA'S EXAMPLE
we esAta,blisnnient of a republic in China, the
i1, ln,AVa under which some 400,000,000 of
th A1! g J?11 sovorn themselves, will shako
rhiJ?n0B f the world- We nave regarded the
nonfC ia! iJery backward People in many re
thn n they have certainly surprised us in
ffltahE88'? flsht they havo mado for the
Plimen? ?w .a rPb1. It is a. great com
SeoS??ai,mat, thGS0 hundreds of millions of
fffi,?!i d.paM over kinss and emperors and
5 tmJ , fl ejJecutive of the now government
?oiortP,f TPnod after ours' Tne PaPers nav0
th 1 aPan as usln ner influence to retain
friend afrCT That was not unnatural. The
Chinv llhe, emPeror could easily see that
reDublfp i ?P1 W?Uld lnsPIre a desire for a
iXencn of faDa?' 3ust a8 tne reduction of tho
woakiSipfl lth,0UBe of lords Jn England has
weakened hereditiary government everywhere.
Tan- tn I R!0Bevelt managers condemn Mr.
securo. bi Vrely. for usine the patronage to
ber thn A0n?minati011 thy ought to reinem
his Si volt, when president, used
relies nn?faEei to nomlnate Mr. Taft and now
officially g y on men whom he alded
iSS!S!Smmmtmam
MwrwttAo.
