The Commoner
VOL. 14, NO. 9 1
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The Commoner
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. I I 1 ! - HPII BUM.! I ! Ml I I MIMWMIMW
Republican campaign managers tell the re
porters that they are certain of gaining many
seats in the lower house of congress because of
what the democratic administration has done.
They must also be figuring that tho public mem
ory is so short that it has forgotten what tho
last republican administration did that caused
It to bo supplanted by a democratic administration.
Some fear is expressed by congressional can
didates that their enforced presence at Wash
ington during the campaign months will result
disastrously to them at home. Surely, however,
tho American people will look upon the man who
is willing to run the risk of sacrificing his per
sonal fortunes in the public interest as a good
man to retain in the public service. The inter
ests of the people lie in service that places duty
first.
The republican candidate for congress in the
First Nebraska district, in his opening campaign
speech, denounced the democratic tariff bill as
sectional, and cited as proof that "Underwood,
who comes from Alabama, was instrumental in
having the tariff raised on cotton, which is a
southern product." The fact that there is no
tariff on cotton and that there was none in tho
Payno-Aldrich law indicates tho depth of tariff
knowledge possessed by this republican candidate.
The special committee of congress which has
been investigating the question of whether the
railroads are receiving proper compensation for
hauling the mails has reported in favor of al
lowing them rates which will increase the ex
pense of tho government $3,000,000 a year.
Postmaster General' Burleson has been fighting
with signal success the lobby that has been agi
tating this question for months, and ho may be
depended upon to see- that no more money is
paid than is actually earned by the carrying companies.
Immediately following the direct primaries
this year, tho politicians who were deprived of
party control by this method of nominations
feained the ear of the newspaper long enough to
Btato that tho people were plainly dissatisfied
with the plan and would welcome the substitu
tion of the convention in tho larger political
units. This is a self-serving declaration. The
fact that in nearly every state a greater number
of voters than ever took part is conclusive as
to the public attitude in the matter.
Several western towns havo been trying the
experiment this summer of holding weekly band
concerts in order to attract folks in from the
country. They have been remarkably success
ful. One report said: "We have averaged fifty
autos from the country and nearby towns every
concert, which is ten times as many as we have
heretofore attracted by the saloon, the pool hall
and local racing. And the best of it is that half
of the visitors are women, laughing, happy wo
men, -who don't have to wait patiently in their
rigs for their men folks to get through drinking
bouts. They are part of tho entertainment."
There can be no decadence of the country town
under such conditions.
Pius X
The death of Pius X recalls Mr. Bryan's de
scription of a visit paid to his holiness in De
cember, 1903, and described in a letter to the
Commoner published in the issue of February 12,
1904. Jt reads as follows:
"Popo Pius received us in his private audience
room adjoining, the public audience chamber,
where the distinguished Catholics from all over
the world were collected and ready to be pre
sented and receive the papal blessing. The pri
vate audience room is a rather small apartment,
simply, but beautifully furnished and decorated.
A throne bearing the papal crown occupied one
side of the room. His Holiness greeted us -very
courteously and cordially. He wore a long,
white cassock, with a girdle at the waist; the
fisherman's ring was on the finger, and he wore
a small, closely fitting skull-cap of white. I had
an opportunity to study his face. It is a round,
strong face, full of kindliness and benevolence,
but there are not lacking indications that its
possessor has a purpose and will of his own. The
face is ruddy and the nose rather long it is
straight and not arched. His eyes are large,
blue and friendly. The scant hair visible below
tho skull-cap is white. In stature the Holy
Father is about five feet nine or ten inches, and
his figure is sturdy but not too heavy. His step
is light and gives expression of strength and
good health.
"His Holiness has already gained a reputa
tion as a democratic pontiff and enjoys a large
and growing popularity with the people. He is
an orator and often on Sundays goes into one of
the many court yards of the Vatican and preach
es to the crowds that gather quite informally.
His gestures aro said to be graceful and his voice
melodious. His manner is earnest and his
thoughts are expressed in clear and emphatic
language. There is a feeling in Rome that Pius
X. is going to be known in history as a reformer,
not as a reformer of doctrine, but as one who
will popularize the church's doctrine "with a view
to increasing the heartiness and .zeal of the
masses in the application of religious truth to
everyday life.
"I assured His Holiness that I appreciated the
opportunity that was his to give impetus to the
moral forces of the world, and he replied: 'I
hope my efforts in that direction will be such as
to merit commendation.' Answering the state
ment that I had called to present tho good will
of many Catholic friends as well as to pay my
respects, His Holiness asked me to carry his
benediction back to them. If I may venture an
ppinion upon such brief observation, it is that
heart characteristics will dominate the present
pontiff's course. He is not so renowned a scholar
and diplomat as was his predecessor, nor is he
so skilled in statecraft, but he is a virile, ener
getic, practical religious teacher; 'charitable,
abounding in good works and full of brotherly
love. I am encouraged to believe that he will
play an important part in the world-wide con
flict between man and mammon.
After meeting Pius X., late the beloved patri
arch of Venice, I feel assured that he is peculiar
ly fitted to lead his portion of the Christian
church in this great endeavor."
This was written soon after the Pope's eleva
tion to the office and the analysis of his charac
ter and qualities has been proven to be correct
during the decade that has passed. He was not
sq great a statesman as his predecessor, Leo
XIII, but his heart power and piety have made
themselves felt upon the Christian world.
He was a lover of peace and his latter hours
were filled with anguish because of the sudden
outburst of the war passion in Europe. His
death is a lojs to the peace movement, to which
he was thoroughly devoted.
W. J. BRYAN.
Upon hearing of the death of the Pone th
president requested the secretary of state to 'send
the following telegram of condolence-
"The president desires me to express his sens
of the great loss which the Christian world h
sustained in the death of His Holiness PhiB y
By his Pure and gentle character, his unaffected
piety, and his broad and thoughtful symnathv
with his fellow-men he adorned his exalted st
tion and attracted to himself the affection
regard of all who felt his world-wide influence
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DYING POrB'S PLEA FOR PEACE
Before his death, at Rome, August 20,
Pope Pius X. addressed the following
exhortation to the whole world:
"At this moment, when nearly the
whole of Europe is being dragged into the
vortex of a most terrible wart with its
present danger and miseries and the con
sequences to follow, the very thought of
which must strike everyone with grief
and horror, we whose care is the life
and welfare of so many citizens and peo
ples cannot but be deeply mofed and
our heart wrung with the bitterest sor
row. "And in the midst of this universal
confusion and peril we feel and know
that both fatherly love and apostolic
ministry demand of us that we should,
with all earnestness, turn the thoughts
of Christendom thither 'whence cometh
help' to Christ, the Prince of Peace,
and the most powerful mediator between
God and man.
"We charge, therefore, the Catholics
of the whole world approach the throne
of grace and mercy, each and all of them,
and more especially the clergy, whose
duty furthermore it will be to make in
every parish, as their bishop shall direct,
public supplication so that the merciful
God may, as it were, be wearied with the
prayers of His children and speedily re
move the evil causes of war, giving to
them who rule to think the thoughts of
peace and not of affliction.
"From the Palace of the Vatican, the
second day of August, 1914.
"PIUS X., Pontifex Maximus."
3
o
NEELEY FOR THE SENATE
The democrats of Kansas have nominated Con
gressman George A Neeley, of Hutchinson, as
their candidate for United States senator, and
have already begun their campaign. Congress
man Neeley is now serving his second term from
the old big Seventh district, formerly represented
by Jerry Simpson, and is the first democrat ever
sent to congress from that dirtrict.
The issue in Kansas this year is clearly Wilson
and anti-Wilson, by reason of the fact that Con
gressman Neeley has been an earnest and en
thusiastic supporter of the national administra
tion, and is making his campaign upon this
record. He has opposed to him ex-Senator
Charles Curtis as the republican candidate,
known for his championship of reactionary
measures and men from the Payne-Aldrich bill
down, together with Congressman Murdock, who
voted against the tariff and inoome tax fought
the new currency system designed to break the
power of Wall street over the country's finances,
and who has looked with derision upon the peace
policies of the present administration.
This is an opportunity for the people of Kan
sas to decide whether or not they will continue
to keep pace with the progressive tendencies of
the times by sending to the senate one who is in
full sympathy with the Wilson policies and the
national administration, or take a backward step
by indorsing standpatism on the one hand and
the policy of general opposition on the other.
Congressman Neeley should receive the en
thusiastic support of every progressive in Kan
sas without regard to party, because he has ac
complished things. As a member of the Pujo
money trust committee, he contributed no small
share in unearthing the disclosures used as a
basis for the demand for currency legislation,
and later as a member of the banking and cur
rency committee in the house he took a conspic
uous part in the framing of the new currency
f Vr, ea? ng the fight Dotn n the committee and
in the democratic caucus, for the recognition of
agricultural credits and for early action on the
Jw l0? bil1- He Is capable and energetic,
thoroughly progressive, and if elected, as now
seems assured, will render a good account of his
w n?8 Jthe accomplishment of things for the
benefit of the splendid citizenship of our sister,
stat0 W. J. BRYAN.
aJUm iySu know your mother. Have you ever
5 devotion to you? Don't you think
Sn?f i f tvUted t0 U8e the Fallot in your, be-
5Si ??? n benal of the cdren of others, aa
well as her own?
.mr'-