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The Commoner.
VOLUME 13, NUMBER ft
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I)AUL VALLIBRS, In a Paris letter to the
. Birmingham (Ala.) Age-Herald, says:
Bryan's plan for world pcaco appeals to Presi
dent Poincaro, who has long cherished tho am
bition of leading Europe out of tho bondage of
military enslavement. It is to bo doubted, how
cvor, that oven tho interest of a popular presi
dent and tho Frenchman's over-present desire to
second any American project will secure for tho
Nobraskan's proposals anything more than an
academic approval. War scareB may bo made in
Essen, but tho conviction still prevails that
Franco Is constantly menaced by her Teutonic
neighbor. And with tho spectre of war casting
his shadow through tho Rhino window there is
no serious notion of turning swords into plough
shares or dedicating international diplomacy to
tho servico of tho dove of peace. "Bryan is a
vory good man and a very groat man," said M.
Poincaro recently to an American woman guest
of tho cxecutivo mansion. "I admire him very
much. Ho is ono of tho most notable Americans
sinco Thomas Jefferson, whoso doctrines he has
made moro logical and comprehensible."
V v Vy
STARTLING statements with respect to the
presidential campaign of 1876 are made in
the lotter and diary of the late John Bigelow,
just printed in book form. Tho Washington cor
respondent for tho Chicago Record-Herald tells
tho story in this way: Samuel J. Tildon is
quoted as saying a justice of tho United States
supremo court, who was a member of tho elec
toral commission of 1877, offered to sell the
presidency for $200,000. William II. Seward is
quoted as authority for tho statement that cer
tain members of congress had to bo bribed to
insure tho purchase of Alaska and names and
amounts are given. While the electoral com
mission was in progress Bigelow made the fol
lowing entry in his diary, February 9, 1877:
" 'On Thursday Tilden told mo a man had called
to say that the commission was for sale. When
I expressed an Incredulous sort of astonishment
ho said ono of tho justices (republican) was
ready to give his vote to Tilden for $200,000. I
asked which ono; ho thought ho would not tell
mo that at present. I told him it was improb
able for tho judgeB were all well paid and had
life terms of their offlco. Ho said the justice
in quostion is reported to be under embarrass
ments from old engagements and obligations.
Tilden said the Florida returning board was
offered him and for tho same money. 'That,' he
said, 'seems to be the standard figure.'" Tho
following day Tilden's nephew, Colonel W D
Pelton, who was in Washington looking after
Tilden's interests, wrote Bigelow, saying: "It
is of vital importance you see John A. C. Gray
and as an old and tried friend advise him to see
that Justice Bradley does right (Italicizing the
last two wordB.) Mr. Gray can do this. It's
best ho should act at once. It is probably best he
come here Sunday night at latest." Bigelow was
In Seward's confidence at tho time of tho pur-
le ? AHka'.and he Sives this inside history
of that affair: " 'Do you wish to know how that
treaty was consummated?' said Mr. Seward Of
course I answored I did. 'Then,' he replied 'I
must put you under oath. Before that money
could be voted $2 000 had to be given to Robert
J. Walker, $10,000 to his partner, F. K. Stan
iSftAnl ; n two members of congress, and
120,000 to Fornoy, who had lost $40,000 by tho
defalcation of , his clerk. Ono thousand more
were to have been given to poor Thad Stevens
but no one would undertake to give that to him'
80 I undertook it myself. The poor follow died'
and I have it now.' This statement gave mo
much food for reflection on my way back to
tho hotel.
J J &
NOW they have introduced free rural delivery
of Ji00??' ,a writor in th Independent
says: What is known as tho "book wagon" has
become a familiar sight through Washington
county, Maryland. It is a welcome visitor to tho
30,000 rural inhabitants of the county, for it
supplies them with free books from the public
library of Hagerstown, tho county seat. When
the plan for a free library in the county was
first brought up the public-spirited people de
cided to have it serve tho whole population in
stead of a few in tho largest town. But just
how to get tho books to the country districts
became a problem. After depending upon the
farmers to take cases of books out to tho de
posit stations for a yeaT or two, it became ovi
dent that if this library was to be as vital a
thing to the rural residents as to tho city dweller,
it would bo necessary for them to have their own
conveyanco. So a specially built bookcase was
constructed on a wagon, and for tho last three
years it has traveled over the country, leaving
cases containing fifty books each at sub-stations
and along the route, serving the people at their
homes direct from the book-shelves of the
wagon. Tho schools are supplied with cases of
books suitable for the children, and to this ser
vico the librarian has added the distribution of
pictures, of which the library has a good supply.
Miss Mary L. Titcomb, the librarian at Hagers
town, is enthusiastic over the success of the work
and tho appreciation shown by the families, and
she is aiming high in her plans for its develop
ment. & & l
TIE fourth American peace congress in ses
sion in St. Louis, adopted resolutions chief
of which are the following: The congress re
joices in the failure of the militia pay bill to be
come law and urges the people of the nation to
be on their guard against allowing any such
system to be established, as will ultimately fas
ten on the nation a' great and burdensome mili
tary establishment, like those of the old world,
for which our great country has no conceivable
need. We call upon all friends of peace to guard
against the insidious efforts to extend military
training in the schools and to make naval re
cruiting stations of our colleges and universi
ties. The congress congratulates tho country on
the failure, for two years in succession, of the
two battle ship program, believing that the na
tion is so completely protected by its geographi
cal situation, the great strength of its people,
and the universal friendship of the other na
tions, that it does not need to go any further in
naval rivalry with the other powers. The con
gress respectfully urges upon the president of
the United States the initiation, at the earliest
practicable date, of negotiations for an interna
tional agreement, for not only the arrest of the
current naval and military rivalry, but, also, of
a simultaneous reduction of armament; that the
peoples may be relieved from the heavy and ex
hausting burdens of taxation, under which they
are now suffering. The congress has learned
with much pleasure of the plan which President
Wilson and Secretary Bryan have just an-
SSSJeH fr ?5?uplnB treaties of unrestricted
arbitration, with not only Great Britain and
France, but also with Germany and the other
powers, and for the investigation, by a com
mission of inquiry, of the facts of any dispute
which either of the parties may not consid
proper for arbitration, before any steps are taken
towards hostilities. As it is expected that ho
third Hague conference will assemble in 1915
the congress respectfully requests the president
to appoint, without delay, a committee of not
less than five persons, especially fitted by ability
and international experience for the task to con
sider what proposals the United States shall pre
sent for the program of the third Hague con
ference. It is the judgment of this confess that
the difference which has arisen between the gov
ernments of the United States and Great Britata
over the question of Panama tolls, should be d
posed of by the prompt repeal by congress of
the provision in the canal act for the exemption
of vessels engaged in coastwise trade from thn
payment of toll Failing this, the confers?
should bo submitted without delay to The HaJp
court for arbitration. The congress makes
earnest appeal to the legislature and people of
California and to tho national administration at
Washington, to secure such just and lmn??Si
Ei-i ? V10 que8tlon 0f allGn omSp
land in the state as may not discriminate against
the citizens of a groat and friendly powef and
turn a long-standing historic friendship ffln
enmity and friction for the future. The concn
recognizes the vast importance to the caSfe of
good will and peace between nations and race?
of early education in the principles of interna'
tional justico and morality, the interdepe
dence of peeves and races, and the co-operation
of the nations for the promotion of the com
mon good of humanity.
v w iv
WRITING of Stephen A. Douglas, Henry
Watterson says: From my boyhood to
his death I knew Judge Douglas well. The last
two years of his life and especially the last
few months I was with him every day. Ho
was as lovable as he was great. Lincoln was not
a truer friend to the union, and, had his life
been spared, there is reason to believe he would
have been Lincoln's second self during the dark
days of tho sectional war. When he returned to
Washington after the famous Lincoln-Douglas
debate of 1858 I heard him asked about tho
strange, new being who had so suddenly risen
above the national horizon. "Mr. Lincoln," ho
replied, "is the very ablest debater I have ever
met here or anywhere else." Generous to a
fault, captivating before every audience and de
lightful in all private companies Mr. Blaino
himself not more so he was bound to the dying
body of institutional slavery which he abhorred,
and dazzled by the presidency as were Clay,
Webster and Calhoun.
PRESIDENT WILSON BRANDS "TARIFF
LOBBY"
President Wilson stirred congressional circles
with an emphatic statement denouncing tho
"industrious" and "insidious" tariff lobby in
Washington. The president's statement, issued
May 26, follows: "I think that the public
ought to know the extraordinary exertions be
ing made by the lobby in Washington to gain
recognition for certain alterations of the tariff
bill. Washington has seldom seen so numerous,
so industrious or so insidious a lobby.
"The newspapers are being filled with paid
advertisements calculated to mislead the judg
ment of not only public men, but also the public
opinion of the country itself. There is every
evidence that money without limit is being spent
to sustain this lobby and to create an appear
ance of a pressure of public opinion antagonistic
to some of the chief items of the tariff bill.
"It is of serious interest to the country that
the people at large should have no lobby and
be voiceless in these matters, while great bodies
of astute men seek to create an artificial opinion
and to overcome the interests of the public for
their private profit. It is thoroughly worth the
while of the people of this country to take
knowledge of this matter. Only public opinion
can check and destroy it.
"The government in all its branches ought
to be relieved from this intolerable burden and
this constant interruption to calm progress of
debate. I know that in this I am speaking for
the members of the two houses, who would re
joice as much as I would to be released from
this undesirable situation."
A PALPABLE HIT
"A true indictment of the (Underwood) bill
is that it aids foreign laborers by throwing open
our markets, and discriminates against laborers
in the United States." Representative Payne,
author of the Payne tariff law.
And the Payne law, to what extent, aided the
foreign laborers in the mills of Lawrence and
Little Falls, of which Mr. Payne and his party
took such good care in order to preserve the
"American standard of living?" New tfc-rk
World.
COERCING THE GOVERNMENT
Secretary Redfield meets the 'Associated Em
Ploying Lithographers on their own chosen
ground in his address at Washington recently.
Ho can threaten as well as they. They tbeaten
reductions of work and wages if the Underwood
bill passes. He threatens a government inquiry
in that case which will put them to the proof
of the necessity. Any government coercion of
industry In this? Rather it is simply a case or
Industry trying to coerco the government. New
York World.
' iv.