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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 2, 1912)
vr- The Commoner. , WILLIAM J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR VOL- 12, NO. 30 Lincoln, Nebraska, August 2, 1912 Whole Number 602 One Hundred New Commoner Readers in a Bunch L. E. Smith, editor and S. R. Stewart, trustee, Indiana: I, L. E. Smith and S. B. Stewart, trustee of Worth township, Boone county, staU of Indiana write : Believing in your honesty, integrity and fidelity to the cause of Jeffcrsonian democracy, and feeling as we do that you fought a great fight and won such a sweeping victory for progressive political principles at the recent Baltimore convention, we want to manifest to you in some way our appreciation of your splendid effort and final success in behalf of the common people of this nation. W have thus gone out and obtained for you the following named one hundred subscribers for The Commoner until after the fall election. W do not know your subscription price for this period of time so are forced to ask you to kindly wait until you send in the bill for the samo when we will forward the amount. You were our choice for the presidency at Baltimore, but we also feel kindly toward Woodrow Wilson and will do all we can for his election. A Deserved Compliment Mr. Roosevelt, in the Outlook, pays a deserved compliment to Governor Wilson when he quotes with .approval the following sentiment expressed by the democratic candidate: "No one pretends to And a reason for not voting for Mr. Wilson in the character or in the ideals of Mr. Wilson himself. It is plain that he approaches public questions from the point of view of the public interest. What he said the other day in a speech at Atlantic City" is a genuine expression of his spirit. He "was speak ing of an issue raised in that place by lawless ness and corruption, of the need of moral pride, and of the willingness to fight evil at all co3ts. 'There can be,' said Mr. Wilson, 'so long as wo ai;e hpnest men, no quarter with any man who deals privately or publicly in a practice that is unrighteous a man who lays himself, his life, down for that purpose, ought to die more happy than he lived. Life is a little thing. Life lasts only a little while, and if it goes out lighted with the torch of glory, it is better than if it had lasted upon a dull level a thousand years. That is the test of manhood, it is the test of humanity, and it is the glory and sign of Chris tianity, that a man will lay down his life for another, no matter what the consequences may be to himself, either in this world or in the next.' "These words, especially as they come from a man just chosen to receive the highest gift in the hands of his party; presents a view of public service that should actuate all men in public life. They are a pledge of his own purpose. "So far as the country at large kaews it, Mr. Wilson's record since he entered public life two years ago has not been inconsistent with his lofty purpose or his high character. While in office he has been not only the chief executive of his state, but also the leader of his party in the state." CONTENTS A DESERVED COMPLIMENT - POOR ADVICE "THE HONOR OP VIRGINIA" BERGER IS RIGHT THE BALTIMORE AFFAIR FROM THREE ANGLES JUDGE WESTCOTT'S GREAT SPEECH .THE SUGAR MONOPOLY DR. WILEY FOR GOVERNOR WILSON MR. CLARK'S FRIENDS PROTEST. THE STANLEY COMMITTEE REPORT NEWS OF THE WEEK WASHINGTON NEWS TWO PICTURES Mr. Hearst draws a .harrowing plcturo of Mr. Bryan leaving tho Baltimore convention ."gen erally detested by thoso who had been his friends." Mr. Bryan is so discredited that ac cording to Mr. Hoarst, "tho best thing Bryan can do is to hold his tongue, and keep out of sight and give Wilson and democracy a chanco to win." Too bad, too bad, to thus lose tho con fidence of so great and good a man and so loyal a democrat as tho owner of tho New York, Chi cago, San Francisco, etc., Examiner, Journal, American, etc. And the worst of it is that Mr. Bryan has fallen in spite of tho splendid ex ample set by Mr. Hearst who bas spent his lifo showing ambltibiis young men how to rise in politics. Ho began in a very humble way in 1900 as president of tho national organiza tion of democratic clubs to hold which it was necessary to go through tho humiliating experi ence of supporting Mr. Bryan for president. Thin, in his opinion, Is tho only stain upon his character, but his youth and Inexperience ought to be considered In mitigation. Ho next ap peared as a candidate for president in 1904. Ho had the support of nearly all of his employes and a few others. In 1908 ho assisted in tho election of Mr. Taft by running a ticket of his own In" a personally conducted campaign. By peculiar efforts he secured for his tickot, 82,872 votes, Including the votes tho candi dates drew on their own merits. This year ho has added to his laurels by superb generalship In the management of Speaker Clark's cam paign. He made a brilliant play when he threatened to become a candidate himself If Mr. Clark was not accepted, but his known modesty robbed the threat of value. The sight of on so universally beloved as Mr. Hearst is makes it harder for Mr. Bryan to bear being "detested by those who had been his friends," and it is ungenerous in one occu pying so exalted a -position as Mr. Hearst does to kick one so completely "down" as he thinks Mr. Bryan Is. IOWA DEMOCRATS PROGRESSIVE The Iowa democrats are progressive. The convention recently held indorsed the reforms outlined in. tho. national platform and declared for the Initiative and referendum. Good for .-Iowa and the. democrats are to be congratu lated also for not allowing the Hquor Interests ' to run their convention. "BILL MURRAY'S" GOOD WORK Hon. William H, Murray, commonly known In Oklahoma, where he Is beloved of all men, as "Alfalfa Bill," was one of tho striking figures at the Baltimore convention. Mr. Murray's great ability, courage and 'devotion to principle were of great service to those who fought to hold the democratic party true to its ideals. THIS IS MEAN The Ohio State Journal says: "It is sadden ing to reflect that there is almost certainly somo conscienceless person who will blithely suggest that It bo called 'Tho Tennessee Coal and Iron Party.' " Now isn't that just too mean for anything? Poor Advice Tho Now York World ndvlaes Governor Wil son that ho should not bo governed by tho one term plank In tho democratic national platform. According to tho World that plank is very good for tho future and men may bo govorned by it when It becomes a law, but tho World saya Governor Wilson ought to mako it clear that he does not consider that ho is limited by this platform to one presidential term. Tho World Is giving Governor Wilson very poor advice. Tho one term plank grow out ol the conviction that tho occupant of tho presl tlal chair Is In better position to servo th 'people when ho is not shaping his policies and his conduct to the view of re-election. Whila a constitutional law will be necessary to raaka it effective, the party that advances the proposed reform is bound by It even boforo tho enactment of tho law. Governor Wilson's announcement that he will not bo a candidate for a second term will bo tho highest sort of proof of democratic sincerity so far as its one term plank Is concerned. BERGER IS RIGHT Federal Judgo Hanford has resigned, evi dently for tho purpose of escaping Impeachment proceedings. Several members of congress havo expressed tho opinion that further proceedlnga . against Judgo Hanford would not bo necessary for It would take on the form of persecution. Unquestionably, Judgo Hanford has suffered sufficient disgrace. The investigation of hfa methods disclosed that ho used his position on the bench to aid certain special interests. It la freely charged that representatives of these In terests persuaded Judge Hanford to resign la order that they might avoid further exposure. Mr. Berger insists that thero shall bo thorough investigation of tho disclosures concerning this federal judge's agency for corporation con cerns. Mr. Berger is right. A thorough investiga tion on this line may open up investigation with respect to other federal judges. No ono could desire the further humiliation of the unhappy man who has brought disgrace upon the bench, vbut theje ought to bo no turning back now .iLat tho way has been opened for inquiry ail ahjng the line. BUT ItE KNOWS SOMETHING ABOUT SLAUGHTER HOUSES "But when it comes to presidential timber. Colonel Bryan sizes up Marse Henry as a poof stick." St. Louis Republic. "Well, anyhow, your Marse Henry has not been beaten threo times in succession, each de feat being greater than its predecessor." Henry, Watterson in Louisville Courier-Journal. But he has "marched through a slaughte houso to a bloody grave" on several occasions when he undertook to betray democratic prin ciples and sacrifice democratic ' candidates. Take an anti-Morgan, Ryan, Belmont resolu tion every morning if you feel any internal symptoms of reactionaryism. It is a sure cure. n HI fniforiUf'"' imaHfr jjg- k?" ai iitfc--...-