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The Commoner.
VOLUME 13,NUMBBn U
I
ThsSomEmK?vner- First Week of the Wilson Administration
Entered ut tho Poutofllco at Lincoln, Nebraska,
n Hocond-cliiHH matter.
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THE COMMONER, Lincoln, Neb.
CONGKKK8MAN STEPHENS' PLAN OF
SELECTING POSTMASTERS
Rules for selecting postmasters in the Third
congressional district of Nebraska insofar as
thoy affect the action of the present congress
man: When there is agreement among leading
domocrats, especially tho local democratic com
mitteo and club, and tho chairman of the county
central committee, who is supposed to speak for
its membership, upon a candidate for postmas
tor, I shall consider it my duty to accept such
indorsement as final and recommend such a
candidato to tho president for appointment.
If on the other hand the local democratic
committee, tho democratic club, and the county
committee can not agroo upon a candidato, they
could, if thoy choose, leave tho selection to a
voto of tho people, limiting tho tilings as can
didates to domocrats. I would consider it a
moral obligation to recommend tho candidate
who receives tho plurality of votes at such
an election. Such an election should bo con
ducted according to tho following rules:
1. Filings for nomination as postmaster to
bo mado with tho chairman of the local demo
cratic committee and only filings of men well
known as democrats to bo accopted, and theso
candidates to bo approved as such by the chair
man of tho democratic county central com
mittee 2. Aftor tho approval of the list of candi
dates by tho chairman of the local and county
committees, their names may bo printed on tho
ballot upon tho payment of a filing fee to tho
chairman of tho local democratic committoo
sufficient to pay for the cost of conducting tho
primary. b
3. Each candidate must choose one member
of tho election board to have charge of tho
election, and the chairman of the local demo
cratic committoo to act as chairman of tho
board, ex-offlcio.
4. The election board shall agtree unani
mously upon tho timo and placo of holding the
election and prepare tho ballots.
5. Any legal voter who is a patron of tho
post ofllco, whether within or without the cor
porate limits of tho town should be allowed to
vote, regardless of politics.
6. When tho voto is canvassed a certificate
or election should bo issued signed by all tho
members of tho election board, showing that
all the abovo requirements have been carried
out, and tho names of tho candidates voted
upon, together with the number of votes cast
for each candidato. This certificate should then
bo filed with mo and will at tho proper time bo
presented with my indorsement of tho candi
date named, to tho president for his considera
tion. DAN V. STEPHENS, M. C.
FINE WORDS
Tho Chicago Record-Herald says: Thosa
who feared that Mr. Bryan would bo too vision
ary or sentimental in applying high ideals to
. difficult and delicato foreign affairs admit that
his first important act showed good sense and
open-mindedness.
Sumner Curtis, Washington correspondent
for tho Chicago Record-Herald, has written the
following interesting review of the first week of
tho Wilson administration. Ho writes: Dis
tinctly favorablo is tho impression created at
tho capital by tho Wilson administration during
tho first week of its existence. Washington
wonders and speculates wildly before an in
auguration that marks a change in party con
trol, but formB its impressions quickly after the
new regime is installed. Sometimes first im
pressions havo to bo revised, but the signifi
cant thing in this instance is that many who
were cynical regarding Wilson methods in ad
vance, are speaking approvingly of the manner
in which affairs havo been started.
There is an unmistakable "tone" to the new
administration as a whole which many feared
might bo lacking. When the democratic party
went on the rocks in 1896, predictions were
mado that if it was hauled off and patched up
and perhaps put into power again, there would
be missing that high-class personnel which gave
stability and distinction to the Cleveland ad
ministration. For instance, the general atmos
phere indicates that the party has recovered its
equilibrium, its "tone," if you will.
And strangely enough, no person, next to
President Wilson himself, gives it more tone
on the threshold of its re-assumption of rule
than tho Bryan of Nebraska' who sixteen years
ago threw the conservative element of tho
country into conniption every time his name
was mentioned.
Its aim, that of making a record in the in
terest of the "common people" that much
abused and bromidic term tho administration
at tho outset, one observes, is not exciting fears
of running amuck. In this connection one can
not help observing also that the developments
of the last few years have broadened the vision
of those in the conservative fold who formerly
were imbued with the idea that the salva
tion of the country depended on the running
of the government by the privileged classes
the only ones with the God-given qualifications
for prescribing what was good for the masses.
Likewise men like Bryan have broadened.
It is interesting to note that men connected
with financial operations men whose interests
are vitally concerned with the effect of an ad
ministration on "business," speak in terms of
confidence of the outlook. They express satis
faction with the general make-up of the cabi
net. Previously they had their doubts about
what tho official family would be. In speak
ing of the prospect of a "Bryan cabinet," they
did not have in mind the presence of the" com
moner at the board so much as the bringing
in of subcaliber radicals who had been Bryan
followers.
Now it is admitted that President Wilson
has selected his advisers with a1 view to hav
!!MenMll, measure up to their positions:
that he picked each one with reference to pecul
liar qualifications that might not be apparent
on the surface when considering the rSctive
duties of administration. Merely to UluBtrote
the selection for a secretary of war of an equity
jurist of renown instead of a military or semi-
?ilHcaiyman' an eye t0 the great problems
for solution outside the tenchical management
shows tho broad objective of the executive The
selection of an equity lawyer for secretary of
the interior for the same reasons shows it also
hi JhV0?ideri?g of these and other Matures of
the situation s what leads to the conclusion
that the administration will be popular yX
safe and sane. In foreign as well as domestic
affairs no iipheayal that will unsettle or damnS
ffin'cr ablUty W - tt'Sffi'
from their respective states has brought about
an initial good feeling that is likely to bring
happy results when the exigencies of nonpoliti
cal legislation require nonpartisan pulling to
gether in congress. At the very outset, more
over, the new president showed that he was
ready to deal with the men who are in politics
regardless of their classification. He called in
Cummins of Iowa one day and Penrose of
Pennsylvania" the next. Washington under
stands the underlying purpose, recognizes that
the independence of the executive is not going
to be broken "with contact with either one cle
ment or tho other and approves.
Impartial observers approve tho mn i
jvhich President Wilson ha's e? out'to deal i S
the present all-engrossing patronage question
Fundamentally it shows his determination to
have the assistance of tho best talent obtain
able from the top to the bottom of the admi"
tration structure. The 'organization" SSi I
recognized, but it must present men ot J?
sonamerit and fitness to fill STpSu
arLS Sg-oSenS
As yet there has been no time for the presi
dent or any of his cabinet to get down to mat
ters of policy beyond those pertaining to or
ganization. The heads of departments feel a
new responsibility in having thrust upon them
in large measure the duty of making appoint
ments. They already are feeling the burden
but the onlooker says "Good!" to the presi
dent's ukase that Tom Dick and Harry shall
not trespass all over the field and confuse him
with their unsolicited explanations of what they
have done for the party and what they are
willing to do for the administration in office.
The civil service seems to be in safe hands.
Here is another cause for congratulation. Ap
pointive officers like postmasters and others of
that class are not to be removed before the
ends of their terms unless found inefficient.
Altogether a course has been mapped out which,
if followed in other matters, seems likely to
win an approval from the country that will
outweigh whatever there may be of disgruntled
feeling on the part' of some old-time spoils
politicians.
When it comes to the broader policies of
legislation, of administration, of domestic
affairs through the departments and the con
duct of foreign relations we may-only judge as
yet from utterances made before the inaugu
ration and before the election and from the
record and previously studied mental attitudo
of the members of the administration. One of
tiie things- inclining men of largo affairs to be
lieve that the administration will be wise is
the indication, from his brief record in prac
tical political life, that President Wilson will
not be tempted to approve legislation merely
because it is popular. In other words, he will
not hesitate to exercise the veto power with the
sincerity of purpose of his predecessor in office
when so-called popular legislation violates the
rules of justice and equity.
Mr. Bryan's power in the administration is
the subject of most interesting speculation. As
things have started he will be very close to the
president in matters of domestic as well as
foreign policy. Some are predicting that two
nlen ?' sucn strong mentality and positiveness
or political conviction as President Wilson and
becretary Bryan can not get along together to
the finish of the term.
Everything about Mr. Bryan indicates that
o!L? ?ar and soul in the task of making tho
administration a success. Yet predictions aro
being made that there will be a split in less
nV" yna' Trouble borrowers are suggesting
SmJ? ariff11 rl of Bryan in Wilson's cabinet and
tt nSfi A? Hal,rison's cabinet. They say Bryan
Iw i wti0UB to occupy the presidential chair;
hi J wvan.ts t0 BUCceed Wilson peaceably if
whini? i",1,1 circumstances might arise
which would Influence him to play a part simi
lar to that played by Blaine in, 1892.
tipIIL Bryan's Position in the estimation of tho
S f 4PnLs,ented by the office-seeking contin
of BtcS Wasljineton is very clear. The secretary
cmint ? the most sought-after man in tho
SSt ?h r?ncS t?e President put up the "Keep
H 5,v 'if88 Bign in tno WUite House grounds.
accoSf? iaT .t0 put u tlie ars n nis owtt
account in a day or two.
UNIFORMLY COMMENDATORY
reSlw fiIa,) Telegraph-Herald: Though
admfnilfvoM responsibilities confronting his
SbSinS??"?1 and not unmindful of tho
of Wonli0 beoyercomo, the inaugural message
It ll SdF?W Wil8m is fraueht with optimism.
thouriS J2?1,ne,5t scholarly, profound in its
been m,ffand gently sane. The press has
comment rm commendatory in its editorial
tthV