'AUGUST 23. 1912
13
The Commoner.
himself. At the first suggestion of
Hadley ho ordered tho third party
maneuvers, lest ho lose his followers.
If ho had the evidence to prove
that Taft could not ho honestly and
fairly, nominated, why did ho not
direct his lieutenants to present that
evidence to the national committee,
and then to the convention and the
country, so clearly that the conven
tion would not have dared to nomi
nate Taft and that Taft could not, in
honor, have accepted the nomination,
if made?
The reason is obvious. An analysis
of the testimony will, I am convinced,
show that neither Taft nor Roose
velt had a majority of honestly or
regularly elected delegates. This
the managers upon both sides well
understood. Each candidate was
trying to seat a sufficient number of
fraudulently credentialed delegates,
added to those regularly chosen to
support him, to secure control of the
convention, and "steam-roll" the
nomination. It was a proceeding
with which each was acquainted and
which each had sanctioned in prior
conventions.
This explains the extraordinary
conduct of Roosevelt. He could not
enter upon such an analysis of the
evidence as would prove Taft's regu
larly elected delegates in the minor
ity, without inevitably subjecting his
own spuriously credentialed dele
gates to an examination so critical as
to expose the falsity of his own con
tention that he had an honestly
elected majority of the delegates.
He therefore deliberately chose to
claim everything, to cry fraud, to
bully the national committee and
the convention, and sought to create
a condition which would make im
possible a calm investigation of
cases upon merit, and to carry the
convention by storm.
That this is the true psychology
of the Roosevelt proceedings becomes
perfectly plain. He was there to
force his own nomination or to smash
the convention. He -was not there
to preserve the integrity of the re
publican party, and make it an in
strument for the promotion of pro
gressive principles and the restora
tion of government to the people.
Otherwise he would have, directed
his floor managers to contest every
inch of the ground for a progressive
platform before the committee on
resolutions and in the open conven
tion. But Mr. Roosevelt was not gov
erned by a suggestion of that spirit
of high patriotic and unselfish pur
pose of which Bryan furnished such
a magnificent example one week
later in the democratic convention at
Baltimore. Instead, he filled the
public ear with sound and fury. He
ruthlessly sacrificed everything to the
ono idea of his being the one candi
date. He gagged his followers in the
convention without putting upon
record any facts upon which, the pub
lic could base a definite, intelligent
judgment regarding the validity of
Taft's nomination. He submitted no
Buggestion as to a platform of pro
gressive principles. Ho clamored
loudly for purging the convention
roll of "tainted" delegates, without
purging his own candidacy of his
tainted contests and his tainted trust
support. He offered no reason for a
third party excepting his own over
mastering craving for a third term.
WICKED, WICKED
"I suppose your wife was more
than delighted at your raise of
aalafy, wasn't she?" asked Jones of
Brown.
"I haven't told her yet, but she
will be when she knows it," answered
Brown. . ,. , ,.
"How is it that you haven't told
her?" . ,
"Well, I thought I would enjoy
myself a couple qt .weeks first.".-
Judge.
4M. fmU
Out In tlio Woods
Milford-on-the-Bluo, August 9.
Tomorrow wo break camp, after
three weeks spent on the banks of a
pretty stream, under the shado of
noble trees and far enough away
from the hurly burly of tho city to
enable one to forget. It's boen threo
weeks of fun for the whole bunch.
Fish? Not enough to speak about,
but we didn't care for fish and that
isn't a case of "sour grapes," either.
But Nebraska isn't much of a state
for fish, and I would about as soon
buy fish at tho market as to catch
them with throw lines and set lines
and trot lines. That's about the only
way to catch fish in Nebraska
streams. And when you do catch
'em they are likely to bo that pisca
torial abomination known as tho
"carp." There is but one way to
cook a carp. Clean tho fish care
fully, split it evenly and spread out,
tack upon an oak board about two
inches thick, seuson to taste, then
prop tho board up in front of a well
rounded bed of hot coals. When
thoroughly baked, pull out the tacks,
throw away the fish and eat tho oak
board.
The Blue river is a very meander
ing stream, and in tho big bend
wherein wo are camped flows over
a rocky and sandy bed. This makes
a delightful swimming place for tho
"kiddies." But the presence of the
rocks will account for a terrific scar
upon the Architect's forehead. Dad
undertook to teach tho "kiddies"
how to dive, and with that in view
took a header from the stern of a
skiff. The river at that particular
point was supposed to be about six
feet deep, and maybe it is. But it
so happened that a rock stuck up
about four feet six inches, and the
Architect's noble brow knocked a big
chunk out of it. Tho accident
caused much commotion in camp,
but the injury had its compensations.
Dad was relieved for a time of car
rying water or hustling up the wood
for the camp fire. I managed to
keep the wound looking pretty bad,
being a great lover of ease.
Ever lay under a tent, away in
tho woods, and listen to tho gentle
patter of rain upon the canvas?
There's music for you! It hasn't
rained enough out here, but two or
three little showers havo mado
music and freshened tho air. But
will somebody explain why it is that
every "grand-daddy longlegs" within
seven miles will instinctively turn
towards a tent pitched in the woods?
We've got 'em here by tho thous
ands. Isn't it wonderful how easily one's
appetite is pleased while in camp?
Not that it is easy to satisfy it as to
amount, but as to kind. And as to
service. We've eaten so much bacon
during the last three weeks that the
squeal of a pig makes us feel like
homicides, and tho pile of peelings
from tho "spuds" we havo consumed
would havo filled a wagonbox.
As I am writing these lines the
"kiddies" are discussing vhat they
will do next summer when we camp
out, and rehearsing the stories they
will tell their playmates when we
get back to town. Tho "Little
Woman" is folding up the clothes
and packing the two big boxes. Bless
her, she's as brown as a berry, and
the color in her cheeks makes me
think of those days years ago when
both of us were considerably younger.
I'm afraid I'll have to rope and throw
the "kiddies" when we get hack
home, im order to compel them to
conform to tho rules of urban civili
zation. This is their first camping
out experience, and they've kept Dad
busy furbishing up his youthful
knowledge about trees and shrubs
and rocks and bugs and birds. But
now tho "kiddles" know a thing or
two about God's great outdoors that
they never know before, and know
ing it they aro healthier and better
and happier.
Tomorrow morning, bright and
early, down will come tho two tents,
and then will como tho goodhys to
the crowd of jolly camp comrades we
havo had for threo weeks. Tho
manager of tho big printing estab
lishment, his foreman a fellow
Missourlan tho man who manages
tho big wholesale seed hous, tho
barber, the linotype operator! Say,
ono would have to hunt a long timo
to find a jollier lot of camp comrades
than theso men and their wives and
children. It's going to be hard to
break camp not hard work, but
hard upon ono's feelings.
An hour ago wo camo back from
tho last dip in tho river. On tho way
back wo paused to look at tho nest
of the big crow in tho top of tho big
maplo tree that is half dead, and to
take a peep at the meadow lark's
nest at tho edge of tho woods. We
also paused to bid farewell to the
ground squirrel that the Llttlo Fel
low tried to drown out. Ho carried
water until his legs and arms ached
to pour into tho hole then learned
that Mr. Ground Squirrel had cun
ningly drained his homo by running
a gallery down to tho rivor bank.
Tho Little Follow has learned some
natural history since ho came hero.
In tho morning we'll eat a hurried
breakfast of bacon and eggs and
bread and coffee then wo'll board
a lumber wagon and away to town.
I wish everybody could spend throe
weeks, or more, in tho woods every
summer. And how I wish that every
man's "Kiddles" could bo as thor
oughly browned of cheek and limb,
and as full of red blood as my own
babies are at this writing. It's worth'
all they cost and millions more
to hear 'em laughing and shouting as
they tumble about in tho water, play
"daro base" around tho tents, climb
the trees or chaso each other through
the woods.
And now for ono more night's
sleep In the woods, then back to town
to resumo our humble part in the
great game. W. M. M.
HO MELD OP ACTION FOR A
THIRD PARTY
Careful reading of the t platform
adopted by tho Baltimore convention
but strengthens and confirms the
early opinion expressed as to its
fully meeting tho demands of tho
majority of the progressives of tho
country.
That platform closes the door to
any third party made up of dis
satisfied members of tho two great
political organizations.
It may not prevent an open rup
ture, an organized split and two
opposing- electoral tickets represent
Ing differences within the republi
can party, but all that goes toward a
reformation of the same g. o. p. and
does not stand for tho assembling of
the people, in. a third organization to.
carry out reforms neglected by both
the old parties.
The democratic' party has placed
itself by its action at Baltimore upon
advanced progressive lines, and Its
candidate are acceptable 'to' the
great majority of tho progressive of
tho union.
That the manner of procedure at
Chicago waa not satisfactory to all
republicans every one is fully aware.
That tho republican radical pro
gressives charged their associates
who controlled that convention as be
ing reactionaries and not representa
tive of popular sentiment is well
known.
That these republican factions had
each Its candidate for the presidency
and Its distinct and different declara
tion of principles to place before tho
electorate all will admit.
In viow, however, of tho subse
quent proceedings at Baltimore
whore democratic reactionaries dis
played no strength and the entire
party was united upon a most pro
gressive platform and well-recognized
progressiva candidates, tho
talk of a third party moans nothing
but the rondlng of tho republican
party In twain at this timo.
Ultimately it may bring the result
of a united republican party upon
lines as advanced as those upon
which tho democratic party is now
moving, but for this campaign the
only result at the polls will be a di
vision of tho republican vote.
Our readers, regardless of party,
can calculato for themselves as tho
campaign progresses how much this
division Is likely to affect tho result
of tho presidential election. Cincin
nati Enquirer.
GOVERNOR WILSON'S SPEECH OF
ACCKPTANCF A SPEECH
THAT WILL LIVE
New York World: Woodrow Wil
son's speech of acceptance is the
ablost, clearest, sanest statement of
high public purposo this country has
known in a generation.
Without passion, without Invec
tive, without abuso, without partisan
bitterness, without denunclr tion,
without egotism, without demagogy,
he has driven straight to tho heart
of the supreme Issue of American in
stitutions tho partnership between
government and privilege.
Every great conflict within tho
lifetime of the republic has hinged
upon this ono question. Every great
reform marking a milestone in tho
political progress of tho American
people has forced the dissolution of
such a partnership.
Federalism was destroyed under
the leadership of Jefferson becauso
federalism had becomo a partnership
between the government and a small
clasB of property-owners.
Tho democratic party swept lnt
power under Jackson because the
government had entered into part
nership with the United States Bank
and its financial allies.
Under Lincoln the republican
party obliterated tho partnership oi
government and slave-owners In "the
mightiest struggle and the most
glorious victory as yet recorded la
human annals."
It was the government's partner
ship with a shameless plutocracy
which rehabilitated tho democratic
party under tho leadership of Tilden.
Becauso of the government's lonj
partnership with, privilege under the
McKInley, Roosevelt 'and Taft ad
ministrations we are face to fac
with tho old issue in a new form.
Again wo havo what Governor Wil
son rightly describes as "an awak
ened nation impatient of partisan
make-believe."
LEADING QUESTION
She "If you could have only one
wish what would it be?"
He "It would be that that oh.
If I only dared to tell you what it
would bo."
She "Well go on. Why do yon
suppose I brought up the wishlag
gtib'Jget?"BOBton Tnmscrrpt.
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