. i - : w '?mwp)l -"rw,"X 5T N VOL. 21, NO? 3 The Commoner 8 I: K I down that rule to John D. Rockefeller. .With tho price of crude oil down one-half, the price of gasoline has fallen 4 cents a gallon, or about one-seventh, Tho only satisfaction we got out of such a situation is that John D. must bo get ting ready to pay even a larger income tax in 1921 than ho did in 1920. The Palrbury Journal. .' NATIONAL COMMITTEEMAN ENDORSES PXjAN Grand Island, Nob., March 4,"l921. Tho Commoner, Lincoln Nobr. Gentlemen: In re your National Legislative Program I am much ploased with the suggestions therein contained. Tho idea is along the linos of the. resolutions adopted by the Executive Committed of tho Na tional Committee at its recent meeting held in Washington, D. C. Wo can -rally party strength around principles easier and with much less friction "than around men. A. live principle is always more appealing in a government like ours. As these and other planks, as It were, are presented, and discussion is had thoroon by individuals, by the press and at public meetings, leaders will naturally arise who aro in harmony with public thought, and public ndeds, and will thus draw, the younger men and women at least to them Theso natural leaders will come forth and take their placos unhampored by past alignments and differences. Organization of- those who think alike will make it moro easy for, the Na tional' Committee to push their work unto every state, and to aid tho state organizations to reach every county, and tho County Committeeman to carry tho work into every ward and precinct. Personally, I like the manner of strengthening our party, and, the principles suggested meet my approval. There is a great work ahead. First the discussion of principles,, then the meetings looking to organization. By opening tho way you are doing the country as well as the party, a great service. Respectfully., W. H. THOMPSON, National Committeeman for Nebraska. - -, v Letters from the - People Frankfort .-Ky., February .16, 1921. Tho Commoner, Lincoln, Nebraska: It is laughable and at tho same time pitiable, to read the rant ings In . the editorial columns of some of "the newspapers, most especially Louisville Times and Courier-Journal, owned and published by R. W, Bingham, of Louisville, Ky., in which he makes a feeble attempt to read Colonel Bryan the greatest living American, out of the Demo cratic partyv , In an editorial of Fob. 11th, there tire strong objections given to Colonel Bryan having any hand in tho reorganization of the .party, and it goes to the extremes of accusing Mr, Bryan of deserting the party in the recent election, when tho facts aro that Colonel Bryan ode thou sands f miles to vote the straight Democrat ticket. If we mistake not, this is more than the "naive" Judge Bingham from Kentucky did only a few years ago, when he allowed Govern or Gus Willson, and other Republicans, of Louis ville, induce him to allow his name go on the regular Republican ticket, as the nominee of that party, against Judge Shackleford Miller the regular Democratic nominee for. judge of the court of appeals. Yes, and if our memory serves us right, this is the same "Judge" Bingham after ho was badly defeated by Judge Miller who" accepted the appointment of Governor Willi son, tho then Republican governor of Kentucky to the judgeship in the city of Louisville, made vacant by Judge Miller when he went upon the appellate bench. Colonel Bryan has more loyal Democratic friends in Kentucky today than ever, desnite the rantings of the publisher. You can count on me, and thousands of other Democrats of this state, to help organize for anything that Colonel Bryan advocates. Ho has done more against corporate greed, and more for the com mon people of this country, than all the so called leaders. To make a long story short he is the only real leader the Democratic party" can now look to. Sincerely yours, MOSES R. GLENN. Chicago, 111., Feb. 23. Mr. Chas W Rrv Lincoln, Neb, My Dear Mr. Bryan?' iTea? wUh very much-interest, the front page of ourtiS "The 'Commoner, and while It is fot my plSo to know, you personally, as I do.wj? T fe NOW IS TIME TO REORGANIZE While I have my doubts about some things I still believe that the Democratic party has within it the ability to come for ward, shake itself of tho touch of the spe cial interests, and say to tho American people, "Wo have cleansed ourselves of the past and have come to champion tho rights of the common people, whatever may come." , , Now is the time to start. Not 1924. And your "National Legislative Program" pro vides that needed start. I would like to discuss this program, as I view it, section by section, but space prohibits my doing so. However, I shall take the liberty to discuss them in part. Although I have my doubts about the advisability of trying to secure disarma ment by conferences or otherwise, I still bolieve that such steps would do much to bring this condition about. Your proposed referendum on war is, in my opinion, the most progressive plank in your program, and will meet with considerable approval from the American people. Your stand on military training is to be commended very highly. This problem presents to us one very great 'question "Are we going to fasten upon our own nation what we fought to put down in another nation?" We are not. ,, And your statement clearly shows that the Democratic pary .on its new footing is going to fight for what the , people want in regard to this question. The section providing for- the prohibition of gambling in foodstuffs will meet with universal favor in the agricultural indus try, which constitutes a very large share of our population. It is a very progressive plank and most sorely needed, particularly at this time. Another important feature, to my mind is that section favoring national-and state legislation guaranteeing the people's de posits in national and state banks against loss through bank failures. Already some progressive states have enacted such leg islation and it has met with the approval .of ALL the people, . ' . And lastly, With regard to your program, the section .favoring a national primary election law will do much to eliminate ma chine operations in politics, which showed" their work to perfection at the last two conventions of the two major parties. I, for one, can say without reserve that I subscribe to every section of your "Na tional Legislative Program," but most especially to those sections discussed above. You have presented to the people what they want in a small package and it is now up to each and every believer in progres sive legislation to carry to every individual. I think that it would be a very good planV if The Commoner would print this "Na tional Program" in circular form, cheap enough, so that a large number of in dividuals could purchase them for general distribution. Such a move would do much to popularize the program with the people. --Submitted by R. Forest McConnell, Edi- i?r Lth I2 DQPartment, Co-operators' Herald, Nashua, Iowa. that we have a common Interest at heart that is the resusitation of the Democratic part With me, politics has always been part of my patriotism, .never part of my business and it seems to me that somewhere in this broad Universe of ours, there are enough true-blooded real Americans who are interested in thd wel fare of this country and it people to the end that they can place selfish ambitions aside and dn something that will bo a credit to posterit? The average so-called politicians of today uses a party only as a vehicle for a livelihood or sbmo 'personal or material gain. These people for 32 present, we cannot interest, neither shoiXi e ;attempt to. We should endeavorTo 'read the heartstrings of those whose love of God nd Tf wntry are thei Paramount idqals I wish to assure you that anything von undertake to do that I am hK! .1 P11.7 therewith. I believe ? that Se P?a0rm Vtwl ,by the Honorable William JetiningBaJ i ;an Ideal one and by the broad phblicS at same, much can be a'ccomplisbed 7?, J?0, I note with much mteresthe-newspapericoni- ment on same an ck believe that if-we keepeyor--Jastingly at it, frominow until ourext National Convention, We will -be "a "power that shall be reckoned with. - , . V -,., - Yours truly, . VL.-.'.' ' L.. J. ALTERS. BrMgeport, Ala., March 8, 1921.--1 Com moner, Lincoln, Neb. Sirs: With much; interest, I have noted tho comments on the announcement of Mr. Bryan's suggested platform for the re organization of the Democratic party. As an admirer of Mr. Bryan, for manyyears, with a deepening conviction that he is humanity's friend, actuated by the highest, purely unselfish motives, I hail with delight the idea of his. lead ership in tho Democratic partyuring thfs, period of most uncertain, and peculiar, conditions in governmental. affairs all over the world. To my mind, Mr. Bryan, without- a-rparallel in statesmanship today, is the logical jnan to lead a great political party in the struggles to bring about a.happy adjustment of all the conflicting claims within the realm of state with; the view of conserving the best elements- in .our oytjl .na tional life and with a purpose to, extend thehand of fellowship and brotherly love to ,thq, jjoyern ments and nations that are groping through a period of darkness and uncertainty. As the great- American Commoner, styled- the world citizen of this age, the great champion oi human rights, with the.v.oice of inspiration and prophecy, the forerunner and leader of the great governmental and moral reforms o this age kthat are bearing fruitage in our own Jife, as well as in the lives of other nations and governments of , eatth, Mr. Bryan may well be styled a true re former in. which all liberty-loving, God-fearing people may take pride. He stands consistently, both in public and private life, on. a plane,-,that gives him fellowship with the highest iype thoughtof ,all the ages and summons.theworld .of thoughts assemble before the bar oThumaa justice and there recjtify the wrongs. .among all classes cif men. . r . ". ' ' In this hour, of the. world's bleedings,, and disasters, this. man, a herald of the'ause of .righteousness and of the Christian religion. be-fore-the courts and pariiamcmts. of eartntands, with the ear 'of thworld,and bepko'ns ftuman- ity toward the goal' of' Christian civilization and liberty.. . ' -""J With an abiding appreciation . of the sacri fices made by this apostle of. human .frefdom, and with a .wish and prayer for Jtfs future -ministry in the interests of mankind, I am, ' v Very sincerely, . 'f', ' . T. E. JELGlN. M.& .....j President Tennessee River Institute. r" Dr. J. D. Motley, Missouri. I am in: hearty sympathy with Mr. Bryan's slogan, "Deserve1 to winthan- organize." This will givers "a Volid foundation to build on and offers a-reasonable hope for success in the' future. Everyone sees now, and the posted ones saw before that the actions of the national convention at Sari 'Fran cisco destroyed all hope of success at thep6lls last November. The magnificient figlit -put up by Mr. Bryan at the convention, that we might have some hope at the polls, though turned "down Lt C.?nV,entl01 wlU not b forgotten by the rank and file of his party.. The Murphys; Tag garts, Brennans and John" Barleycorn have had tneir inning and been overwhelmingly repu ?n?tei and must e legated ,to the rear, in the &?iUr party,is to be a faciorin the-next presidential campaign. Honesty is the best . .Policy and will triumph if faithfully adnered : to! R. B. Fisher, Minnesota. The February merSe1ts forth a NationaLLogislative Pro gram. One clause would limit the term of. presi- onfninn0 XTS 8iX yGarS B, 3ta my ?i?' !? dea(i wrong, for this' reason: If the irt?wontv,8h01ildAappen t0 be lik some'presi Se winbnannohad past (Wilson excepted JLw f P? ar In hiatory as 01e of our great presidents) six years, would be too Ion and for bete" EdelwS8COln wlssy0yne?Vsawoi?dr oe too short. What the people want from tholr Treo'tftheir8' hAs hat " ! SeonTG from irJatiB.facion' nQilaw ohouia-bar.the SssSyfi?5 BUCh a man r-a;many a 'uSjLV1" word' from ' Jto stodSt f ?wXtag Pesent day "additions. S lettinr ?eadv 'fe88.?08-that theworld industrial mL a period1o real' progress in know thathe ala1"1d gT? soclallrefm' Wa Christ isfnot RniSi!?611 5"1 as tauent by the . elem-ent on th!a5J3g - -Si1 -Li; v 4,'v-