The Commoner.
WILLIAM J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
VOL. 13, NO. 8
Lincoln, Nebraska, February 28, 1913
Whole Number 632
Democratic Opportunity
Last week Tho Commoner printed this sen-
tence: "Tho democrats who, as a result of the
congressional and senatorial elections, are enter
ing official life should learn early that tho secret
of success in public life is to have no secrets
from tho public."
In control of both houses of congress, as well
as tho White House, the democratic party will
have a great opportunity. While democrats
have gono to defeat repeatedly they may obtain
satisfaction from tho investigation of tho record
their party has made. In the first place tho
democratic party is the only political organi
zation that ever reformed itself. In 1896 tho
rank and file of the party rose in protest
against tho policies of tho democratic national
administration and put the party in lino with
the progressive thought of the day. It is also
gratifying to remember that although the party
has not been in power it has forced the republi
can administration to adopt somo of its re
forms and it has provided inspiration to men of
all parties who would work for the public good.
In short, it is tho only political party which,
even in defeat, has been able to force its vic
torious opponent to adopt some of its leading
reforms. The., income tax and the election of
senators by tho people are democratic measures.
They were practically accomplishd under re
publican administrations and won through tho
persistent championship of those measures by
tho party which claims Thomas Jefferson as its
leader.
Now the democratic party is about to enter
upon the administration of tho national govern
ment. The new president has the confidence of
men of all parties and ho is recognized as the
leader of progressive thought. Tho Commoner
wishes for the Wilson administration tho
highest sort of success.
THE NEW CORRESPONDENT
Tfie Philadelphia Public Ledger pays a high
tribute to its new Washington city correspon
dent, and says there is a "peculiar appropriate
ness" in tho selection of this particular gentle
man to represent a Pennsylvania newspaper at
the seat of the national government for the
Teason that his ancestors were Pennsylvanlans.
The Public Ledger then proceeds to name its
new correspondent's distinguished ancestors,
and it is plain that he came from excellent stock.
This will not, however, help him particularly
In tho gathering of news at the national capital.
That his ancestors were splendid people who
made large contribution to society will be, of
course, an inspiration to him. But, after all, tho
new correspondent will discover that in tho
gathering of news, particularly at the national
capital, there Is considerable "leg work" to bo
done, even by one who is able to boast of dis
tinguished ancestors. He will find some very
CONTENTS
DEMOCRATIC OPPORTUNITY
GOVERNOR WILSON RETIRES
FRANCE ITS LIGHTS AND SHADOWS
SOMETHING ABOUT "JOE" TUMULTY
GOVERNOR WILSON HAS DEFINITE
POLICY
AFFAIRS IN MEXICO
AN OLD QUESTION IN A NEW FORM
' CURRENT TOPICS
HOME DEPARTMENT
NEWS OF THE WEEK
WASHINGTON NEWS
PATRONAGE
THE NRW FREEDOM
Messrs." Doubloday, Fag fe Co., Now York
City. Gentlemen: I have Just road an advance
proof of President-elect Wilson's book "Tho Now
Freedom" and hasten to commond it Anything
coming from one juot ontorlng upon tho re
sponsible duties of the presidency would bo
worth reading, and tho fact that tho incoming
executive deals with great problems of interest
to tho wholo public, gives additional weight to
his utterances. And it is only fair to add that
tho value of the volume is still farther en
hanced by tho stylo of tho author clear-cut,
forcible, and abounding in apt illustrations.
Thoso who would calculate with accuracy tho
course of the ship of state under the pilot who
takes his placo at the wheel on March 4th, can
find in "Tho New Freedom" a chart of tho seas
to bo traversed during the next four yoars. Pro
gressives will welcome the book as renewed
evidence of tho author's consecration to tho
great task of popularizing tho government and
putting tho people in tho control of tho instru
mentalities of that government. Thoso who
have, from lack of information, viewed with
alarm the changes that aro taking place, will
be instructed, and, to a large extent, relieved of
their fears by tho definitions given and the dis
tinctions drawn by Governor Wilson.
You aro rendering a real service by offering
this book to the public at this time, and I feel
that I am contributing, also, to the extent that
this letter may draw attention to the book and
secure a reading of it. Very truly yours,
W. J. BRYAN.
capable men among tho Washington city cor
respondents who aro of humblo origin, many
of whom never even had a relative who could
boast of Pennsylvania blood.
Let us hope, however, that the new corres
pondent will make good, not through tho boast
of ancestry, but through tho record made by
conscientious, intelligent effort.
PERSONAL GUILT
Judge Howard C. Hollister, presiding in tho
federal district court of the southern district
of Ohio, recognized what most other federal
judges have failed to recognize personal guilt
when ho came to pass sentence upon tho 29
officers and employes of the cash register trust.
These men had been convicted of violating tho
Sherman anti-trust law. Instead of permitting
them to escape with a mere fine, Judge" Hollister
sentenced them to jail, Including even John H.
Patterson, the president, whose motto is said
to be, "Kill off competitors as you would a
dog." All honor to Judge Hollister. May his
tribe increase.
IN RESPONSE TO REQUESTS
In response to a number of requests from
time to time for permission to reproduce articles
that appear In Tho Commoner, Mr. Bryan directs
that tho statement bo made that anything that
appears in The Commoner may bo reproduced.
i iiii i i it
NEW HAMPSHIRE IN LINE
The New Hampshire legislature has ratified
the proposed amendment providing for tho elec
tion of senators by the people.
Good for New Hampshire.
Next!
Governor Wilson Retires
Woodrow Wilson has resigned as tho governor
of Now Jersey in order to prepare for tho hlghor
responsibilities to which ho has boon called by
tho American peoplo at tho November election.
As governor of New Jersey, Woodrow Wilson
has made a proud record, one that may ho held
up as a model to tho governors of thid and suc
ceeding generations, and thoso who have
watched his course feel that as president of tho
Unitod States, ho will do oven better by way
of faithful service to tho peoplo. Tho Buffalo
(N. Y.) Times woll says: Tho close of Wood
row Wilson's administration aa governor of New
Jersey has been signalized by one of tho most
brilliant triumphs of his career. Tho sovon bills
to purge Now Jersey of trusts and monopolies
and to regulate corporations havo passed both
houses of the legislature, and will become law
on receiving the signature of the governor. Tho
achievement is a superb ono and rounds out
in a consummated whole, tho memorable guber
natorial administration of which it is tho crown
ing work. It is a splendid augury to Immedi
ately procede the entry of Governor Wilson into
tho White House.
TUMULTY'S GOOD WORK
Complimenting Governor Wilson for tho selec
tion of Joseph P. Tumulty to be secrqtary to tho
presidont, Louis F. Post, writing in The Public,
says: "On tho authority of Frank Parker Stock
bridge, it may bo stated that Mr. Tumulty's first
term in tho New Jersey legislature was spent
inconspicuously but studiously; and that in his
second term ho fell into tho habit of using his
education of tho term before by explaining to
the house, modestly but significantly, the preciso
character and location of concealed graft in bills
as they came up. This disturbing habit of his
had already 'got on the nerves' of big grafters
when Governor Wilson camo into office and
availed himself of the young legislator's abilities
and fidelity."
This will give tho reader some Idea of the
characteristics that havo won for Mr. Tumulty
tho confidence and respect of those who havo
carefully watched tho young man's career.
GOVERNOR DUNNE OF ILLINOIS
Governor Dunno of Illinois is receiving com
pliments from all sections of the country for
his good efforts tovard progressive state gov
ernment. Louis F. Post, writing In The Public,
says: "There is spirit and power as well as
high principle and sagacious policy in Gover
nor Dunne's inaugural speech. It can not but
encourage tho true democracy of Illinois and
of the nation, even as it shocks reactionaries
wherever they cluster. Tho now governor pro
poses a program which will servo at once as a
guide and a touchstone. Watch tho men, watch
tho newspapers, watch the groups that ques
tion this program. They may not, Indeed, be
unfaithful; but significant symptoms call for
prudent observation."
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RENEWALS NOW DUE
Tho close of tho subscription year for
the great bulk of Commoner subscribers
ended with tho last issue in January.
Subscriptions ending at this time should
be renewed with as little delay as pos
sible in order to facilitate the work of
changing and re-entering the addresses
on our subscription books and obviate
expense of sending out statements an
nouncing that renewals are due. Sub
scribers are asked to assist by seudfugr
their renewals promptly.
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