The Commoner.
5
3LPRIL U. 1913,
perfectly Justified In doubting hia own good
faith upon this vital Question.
Attorney General Wicker-sham In his address
tit Milwaukee on the l'9th inst. plainly demon
strated the republican line of attack upon this
.weak spot of the democratic lines.
He showed 44 actions under the Sherman
anti-trust law wore brought under the adminis
tration of Roosevelt; 33 suits filed and 37
criminal Indictments returned under the ad
ministration of President Taft, and this record
of republican enforcement of that statute will
be proclaimed in every republican newspaper,
by every republican orator, and its effect upon
the voters of the union if a democratic derelict
is nominated can easily be foretold. The demo
crats of Ohio want to help win the presidency
for the democratic party of the union.
They want to help gain federal power that
they may have democratic policies adopted and
supporters of democratic principles placed In
federal positions.
Is there any sane democrat in the state of
Ohio, or in any other statet who believes that
any man who failed to enforce the Sherman
anti-trust law, when he held the power to do
so, can be either nominated for or elected presi
dent this year?
To nominate a democrat who was derelict in
that enforcement would be to hand over the
election to the republicans by default.
Loyal democrats will see to it that the demo
cratic party is kept from such a fatal selection
and they will cut clean away from the men who
offer such dangerous advice. Cincinnati Enquirer.
BRYAN'S ATTITUDE
Louis F. Post in The Public (Chicago) : Wil
liam J. Bryan is under a constant fire of charges
from all directions, mostly from old enemies or
cold friends, the substance of which is tha't he
is "butting in" to boss the democratic party in
the choice of its presidential candidate for 1912.
But if there is one man whose duty it is more
than any other's to "butt in" at this time, that
man is William J. Bryan.
Some protest that Bryan has had honor
enough in three nominations, and should now
be
'silent sage." Whoever looks upon
Bryan's nominations in that way exposes him
self as a politician instead of a patriot. An
honor, yes; three times an honor, yes; but only
as it is always an honor to be trusted by mil
lions as the representative of their interests
and aspirations. A mere offer of office, by
preference of one man over others, just to please
his pride, simply for the sake of the office a
presidential chair or a kingly crown there
would have been no honor in that. If the man
accepted his nomination in that spirit, it dis
honored him; if his constituents proffered it in
that spirit, it dishonored them. But if both
were actuated by a better spirit, then and only
then were the nominations honors. But in that
case the honors rest upon both. The fact that
this honor was bestowed thrice, imposes no obli
gation upon Bryan to retire or upon those "who
trust him to retire him. In fact it makes his
participation in politics now all the more
imperative as a duty, and his advice all the more
valuable.
But what is it that Bryan is doing over which
old enemies and cold friends make such an up
roar? They say he is trying to dictate the
presidential nomination. Let's see. In The
Commoner of September 1, Mr. Bryan's position
is stated, doubtless, by himself, in these terms:
"Mr. Bryan has but one desire in the matter,
namely, that the best man may be chosen. He
has hesitated to urge any one man over others
because he is anxious to have the benefit of all
the light possible. Many have already reached
a decision for one candidate or another and Mr.
Bryan is glad to see such organize and present
the claims of their choice." This Is precisely
In accord with the attitude Mr. Bryan has main
tained from the start.
As to one person, and only one, has Bryan
discriminated. This is Governor Harmon; but
he discriminates against Harmon. We can
therefore understand why. Harmon's supporters
roar. They know that, with Bryan's advice
hostile, Harmon can hardly be nominated, and
if nominated will certainly be defeated at the
polls. But how shall the other roar be ex
plained? Supporters of any of the four men
Bryan has named favorably and with no dis
crimination, upon what theory do any of them
complain that he is dictating the nomination?
We can think of none ejccept that he names four
men instead of one. But if that is their reason,
are they not in effect asking Bryan to do the
The World-Herald Did Not Explain
An Unpublished Letter
1430 Elm St., Lincoln, Nob., April 2, 1912.
To the Editor of the Omaha World-Herald,
Omaha, Neb. Dear Sir: I have been a sub
scriber to the World-Herald for many years,
during which time I have ardently championed
Gilbert M. Hitchcock as a true progressive and
the World-Herald as the "principal paper in
Nebraska advocating the people's cause.
I am one of those who originally espoused the
principle of the initiative, referendum and re
call more than twenty-five years ago. I have
bem gratified to watch this idea grow as
people learned about it. First the populists
advocated it; next the democrats took it up;
and, finally, it has percolated through the skulls
even of republicans, until now It Ib a burning
issue with all classes and shades of political
opinion regardless of party.
It is opposed by those entrenched behind
special privilege, and who are afraid of the popu
lar verdict.
I therefore, can not understand how Mr.
Hitchcock or the World-Herald conscientiously
advocate the candidacy of Judson Harmon since
he has come out flat-footed in opposition to this
most far-reaching and important of all reforms.
This is the keystone to the arch of popular
government and Is worth more than all the
other issues combined which are now before the
people.
It seems to me that at this late date, when it
is so well understood by the common people
very thing for their candidate which they mis
takenly complain of him for doing for some
other candidate? Bryan has no right to be a
boss, of course; but on the other hand hasn't
he the right not to be bossed?
THOROUGHLY DEMOCRATS
Fairbury (Neb.) Journal: Sober second
thought on the declaration of Mr. Bryan that he
will not serve as a delegate If instructed to vote
for Harmon, convinces us that he is absolutely
right.
To do otherwise would be to secure votes
under false pretenses.
That is exactly what the Harmon candidates
are trying to do right now.
Representing that they will vote for any
candidate the voters instruct for, they are at
heart for Harmon; hence will work for Harmon
and with his friends and against the very can
didates the voters of Nebraska might otherwise
choose, if they are given seats in the conven
tion. To secure votes of men who favor Wilson or
Clark, these candidates for delegates are eager
to go on record as willing to go to the conven
tion under instructions. Yet the net result of
such a condition Is to actually defeat the
peoples' will. Their real object is to go to the
convention not to carry out the peoples' will.
Mr. Bryan frankly states that ho wants no
votes of Harmon men. He warns then in ad
vance that if they send him to the convention,
it will not be tied hand and foot for Harmon.
He will let some other man cast the Harmon
vote.
Could anything be more fair?
Could anything be more democratic?
All this talk that Mr. Bryan is trying to de
feat the spirit of the primary is pettifogging.
Trying to muddle the minds of the people so
they can not see the real animus behind the
movement. It is a politicians' game which
should be checkmated by the voters at the com
ing primary.
WHERE CLARK STANDS
The following letter explains itself:
Washington, D. C, April 9, 1912. Hon. R. F.
Pettigrew. Dear Senator: In answer to your
query as to my opinion as to the reading of the
word "reasonable" into the decision of the su
preme court, I will say that while I am slow
to set 'my own opinion up against that of the
august tribunal, I am firmly persuaded that this
position is untennable. To my mind to talk
about a "reasonable" restraint of trade is pre
posterous. Moreover it seems to me that it
leaves honest business men in an incurable
muddle as to whether they are violating the
and is so simple and easy of demonstration that
politicians, statesmen, and even professors of
political economy aro beginning to understand
and appreciate its benefits; when university
fossils can forego rooting in the dust of old
sepulchcrs long enough to study this popular
weapon of defense, It Is surely no longer an ex
periment but an accomplished fact. It ill be
hooves Mr. Hitchcock and the World-IIorald to"
belabor Mr. Bryan for boldly standing by his
guns, as he has consistently done during the
last twenty years. Had ho done otherwise, ho
would have forofeltod all the respect that his
followers have for him.
I think that the World-IIcrald owes to Its
readers a full and candid statement of its posi
tion in regard to this issue and to tell thorn
whether or not a candidate who has not yet
progressed to the point of understanding whore
he can comprehend the simple facts of tho Ini
tiative, referendum, and recall, Is of sufficient
caliber for tho presidency.
If the World-Herald is willing to turn back
twenty-five years and try to destroy all tho
good It has accomplished during this poriod, I
think its readers should be informed immedi
ately. I may bo mistaken somewhat In my esti
mate but I think about three-fourths of tho
people of all partic's aro for it. Tho other
fourth will bo so as soon as hey find out that
Lincoln is dead, the war is over, and that thero
is no longer danger of Jeff Davis invading tho
north. Very truly yours, A. J. PLUMER.
law. If that decision stands a business is law
ful or unlawful owing to the opinion of flvo
judges and everybody else Is left guessing.
Your friend, CHAMP CLARK., "
WHERE AVILSON STANDS
Now York, April 15. In an interview in the
Outlook last August Governor Wilson said that
ho has "not given sufficient study to tho ques
tion of currency reform," but adds, "I am afraid
that any measure of that character bearing Mr.
Aid rich's name must have been drawn in tho
offices of a few men who, through tho present
system of concentrated capital, control the bank
ing and Industrial activities of the country." In
a speech at Chicago on April G, 1912, Govornor
Wilson said: "The plain fact is that the control
of credit is .dangerously concentrated in this
country. Tho great monopoly in this country
is the money monopoly. So long as this exists
our old variety of freedom and Individual energy
of development arc out of the question."
BUT THEY WOULD NOT FOLLOW HIM
Cleveland (Ohio) Plain Dealor: "Governor
Harmon's recent declaration before the consti
tutional convention amazeB those who regard
tho fight for the initiative and referendum as
won," says Mayor Baker in his statement.
"It has had the further effect of irritating
democrats throughout tho stato who felt that
his acceptance of the party platform indicated a
willingness on his part to lead in the movement
for a restoration of the powers of government
to tho people. If he entertained the views which
he seems to have expressed, he ought to have
stated them before accepting nomination on
stato platforms which pledged him to the prin
ciple of the initiative and referendum.
"He was silent while the people of this state
were electing a constitutional convention
pledged to the carrying out of that principle.
He now has no Tight to appear before the con
vention and In effect counsel disregard of tho
pledges upon which they were elected.
"Tho duty of tho constitutional convention is
plain. It should give us both state and local
initiative and referendum, and we should also
have the right, with a slightly higher percentage,
to bring about amendments to the constitution
itself by the use of the initiative. Neither the
openly expressed and timid doubt of Governor
Harmon, nor tho more subtle and less frank
attack made by those who advocate high per
centages ought to be permitted to prevail. If
the convention disappoints the just expectation
of the people, and the constitution submitted
by it does not contain the initiative and referen
dum with reasonable and practicabjo percent
ages, it ought to be defeated, and I hope will bo."
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