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The Commoner
VOL. 13, NO. 28
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Congress Should Hear from the "Folks at Home"
The financiers complain that the president's currency bill puts in the hands of the government complete control of treasury note
issues. That is just why the bill meets with popular approval.
Control could n&t, with safety, be deposited in other hands. .-.,... ,
Government officials act for the people and act before the eyes of, the country.-;'-"..,
Financiers act for themselves and in secret, - . ' ' '
The country is fortunate in having a president who takes the people's side on this great question. The. people can strengthen the
president's arm by writing to senators and representatives in congress urging them to give their support .to the administration's cur-
rency bill. . '
Let the senators and the members of the house of representatives hear from "the folks at home."
fow months and the patriotism of a tariff re
former is no 'longer questioned.
Some two decades ago a movement was start
ed, having for its object an increase in the
volume of the standard money. Those who took
part in it wore denounced as dishonest and the
"cheap dollar" was held up to scorn and ridicule
by men who claimed to bo conforming to higher
moral standards. Wo now have more money,
and the purchasing power of the dollar is about
two-thirds what it was in 1896. The increase
in tho volume of money came from an unex
pected source, namely, tho unparallol' I increase
in tho production of gold, but tho result is the
same that it would have been had tho increase ,
como from tho restoration of bimetallism. We
have cheaper dollars and higher prices and no
body would advocate a return to the smaller
quantity of money and tho lower level of prices.
Then came the discussion of imperialism.
Those who opposed it were called "little Ameri
cans" and woro looked down upon as of an infe
rior order by tho high and haughty advocates of
colonialism. Now there are few who believe
that this nation should imitate the empires of
tho old world and rule subject peoples, in vio
lation of our Declaration of Independence and
our constitution.
Whon the agitation for the popular election
of senators began Ub supporters were accused
of laying a" sacreligious hand upon the consti
tution and of desiring to obliterate the sover
eignty of tho states. We were told that any
attempt to interfere with the then existing
method of electing United States senators would
bring all sorts of disaster upon the country. But
wo now have the election of senators by the
people as a part of the constitution, and" our
senate enjoys a confidence that it could not en
joy whon the voters were unable to coerce it
into obedience to tlio popular will.
The dfscussion of the income tax gave another
opportunity for an attack upon the reformers.
Those who urged it woro charged with dema
gogic appeals to the masses and with envy of
tho rich, but now the constitution authorizes the
levy and collection of an income tax and there
is practically a unanimous popular sentiment
back of this amendment, as there is back of the
amendment providing for the election of sen
ators by the direct vote of the people.
The trust is no longer a fetish to be wor
shipped and those who condemn it .ro no longer,
regarded as disturbers of the peace. We have
even reached a time when we have in the White
House a president who, in his speech of accep
tance, reiterated the declaration contained in four
democratic national platforms, namely, that a
private monopoly is indefensible and intolerable.
The demand for publicity of campaign funds,
once scouted at, has at last been acceded to. To
. advocate it a few years ago was to invito attack.
The primary is spreading and the political boss
is no longer in supreme control. The initiative
and referendum are on their way. More than
three-fourths of the voters at the last election
cast their ballots for presidential candidates who
have openly espoused theBe reforms.
Time fights on tho side of tho right. Those
who "have their quarrel just" are even more
than "thrice armed." Truth only Is omnipo
tent and those who stand with it can afford to
wait.
So much for the progress we have made. In
view of the pa3t, is it too much to hope that
the time may yet come when a public man will
be commended rather than criticised for having
a visible means of support? W. J. BRYAN.
GOVERNOR METCALFE'S DEPARTURE
The readers of. The Commoner 'will be pleased
to learn of the attention shown Hon. R. L. Met
calfe, former associate editor who, as the civil
member of the Canal Zone commission, will have
charge of the governmental force on the
isthmus. He was given a riotable banquet in
Lincoln, Nebraska, July 17, at which covors were
laid for 250. This occasion was non-partisan
in its nature, and around the banquet board
were gathered friends and co-workers from many
sections of the state. A number of speeches,
made by the more intimate associates of Mr.
Metcalfe during his career in Nebraska, abound
ed in personal reminiscences and high tributes
to his character and ability. In his response,
Mr. Metcalfe spoke feelingly on the subject of
"friendship," and expressed his thanks for the
many kind wishes for himself and family. Mr.
Mqtcalfe was also tendered a farewell banquet
at Omaha by the commercial club of that city
the week previous.
In Washington, he met Minister Morales, of
Panama, at a luncheon given by the secretary
of .state, and later attended a dinner given in
hisj hpnor by Minister Morales. On the eve of
his departure, he was tendered a reception by
the Nebraska Association of the District of Co
lumbia, where he met the citizens of his state
temporarily sojourning in Washington. At this
meeting speeches were made by Mr. Abbott, the
president, by Mr. Andrews, on whose lawn the
reception was given, by Mr. Snyder, a represent
ative of the press, by Mr. Lefevre, secretary of
the Panama legation, by Mr. Metcalfe and by
Mr. Bryan.
Mr. Metcalfe, whose oratorical talents have
increasingly manifested themselves 'during later
years, treated of the mission on which he is
being sent in such a way as to demonstrate to
all present his high 'conception of his duties and
opportunities.
The United States and Panama are not only
near neighbors, but most intimate friends, and
the republic at the isthmus will find in Mr. Met-"
calfe a most sympathetic friend and co-laborer.
It might be well if all senators and congress
men were required to commit to memory the
national platform-of their party.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE DEMOCRACY
OF PENNSYLVANIA
The democracy of Pennsylvania took a long
step forward when, at the recent meeting of its
state central committee, it effected a complete
reorganization of its affairs along progressive
lines. Roland S. Morris, the newly elected chair
man, represents the kind, of democracy that
stands for definite principles, and under his
leadership the democrats of the great keystone
state are in a position to restore their lost party
prestige and march forward to new victories.
The democracy of Pennsylvania is to be con
gratulated. In an editorial on "The New Democratic Party
of Pennsylvania," tho Philadelphia Public Ledger
makes this comment: "The democrats are pro
ceeding with skill and wisdom in reorganizing
their party. The people of America have long
suffered because they have cherished a strange
fallacy. They have thought apparently that there
is something automatic about the condua of
parties and of the government. They have re
lied upon the organization as an all-sufficient
piece of machinery that will rule them without
their personal attention, and the result has been
that parties have fallen into the hands of the
least worthy citizens. The democrats at last
find that there is posftively.no escape from per
sonality in carrying on a party, and fortunately
they have discovered what is, after all, a patent
and obvious fact, that it is necessary to have
men of high moral character and ai.ns in charge
of even a political enterprise if the political
party is to be worthy and competent to act as
an agency . of honest and efficient government.
The 'traitors and traders' have been cast out
and the Pennsylvania democracy is on a firm
basis."
THE SITUATION IN MEXICO
The Mexican situation continues to absorb at
tention. The president, without recognizing
Huerta and without encouraging the constitu
tionalists, has put forth every effort to pVotect
Americans and other foreigners while awaiting
an opportunity to aid in a friendly way in the
restoration of peace. , T,he resignation of Am
bassador Wilson has been accepted and ex-Governor
Lind, of Minnesota, has been sent to tho
Mexican capital in an unofficial dapacity as tho
president's personal representative, to advise
with first Secretary O'Shaughnessy, who is in
charge of the embassy. The president is throw
ing the weight of his great influence in the scales
against war and in favor of such a settlement
as will promise permanent order in the distract
ed republic to the south of us and the people
are wi"i him.
THE BRISTOW RESOLUTION
Senator Bristow, of Kansas, int.oduced a
resolution in the senate, the purpose of which
was to criticise Mr. Bryan for lecturing during
his vacation. The resolution was laid on the
table by a vote which was almost a party vote,
all the democrats voting to tabl the resolution
and two republicans, Borah and Poindexter, vot
ing with them. When, after the resolution was
tabled, Mr. Bristow attempted to continue the
discussion, he was answered by a number or
democrats, with the result that lecturing has
received an impetus rather than back-set.
One of the curious incidents connected with
the discussion is the wide-spread inquiry as to
the nature of the Chautauqua. One newspaper
in South America cabled to its representative
in Washington, asking "what is a chautauqua.
Its editor was evidently . nxious tc know what
crime Mr. Bryan had committed in lecturing
under the auspices of such a thing. Good! The
more people know about- the chautauqua, the
more fully will they realize that it is one of
the giaat educational institutions of the generation.
GEORGIA IS FDTCST
Tho state of Georgia has the honor of being
first to select a United States senator under the
new amendment. Senator A. O. Bacon was
chosen by direct vote and without opposition.
Senator Bacon has rendered faithful service to
the people of Georgia and his wisdom and ex
perience have served him well in dealing wun
problems affecting not only the interests of tne
whole United States but affecting, in many in
stances, world-wide interests.
Even Colonel Mulhall gave Samuel Gompers
a clean bill of health.
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