Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1905-04-19
THE PRIMARY PLEDGE ORGANIZE NOW.

The following editorial appeared in
The Commoner of March IL:
Mr.. Bryan has been in receipt of a
multitude of letters since the election
urging organization for the campaign
or 1908. The rank and file of the party
are ready to begin the fight; they only
await plan of cooperation. This plan
has been under consideration for some
weeks and is herewith submitted.
"14et each democrat pledge himself
20 attend all of the primaries of his
party to be held between now and the
next democratic national convention.
unless unavoidably prevented, and to
use his influence to secure clear, hon
est and straightforward declaration of
the party's position ON every question
upon which the voters of the party de.
sire to speak.
This plan does not involve the writ.
ing OF platform IN advance of the mi.
maries; 1t does not rest upon the para.
mount Importance of any one issue. It
recognizes the right of the democratic
voters to control the policy of the dem
ocratic party, and to determine it's DO
sltlon upon public questions. 1t also
recognizes the Importance of honesty
and sincerity in politics.
This proposition will appeal to all
who believe in the rule of the people
to all who are willing that the majority
shall govern in party management and
In the nation. Ii does not mean that
those who exert themselves to secure
platform will be bound to support a
bad platform-that is question which
each one must determine for himself
but 1T does mean that the democratic
platform shall give voice to the prevail.
ing sentiment of the democratic party,
and that the party shall take thecountry
into It's confidence. The pledge proposed
Is primary pledge-because the PEG
pie speak at the primaries. The nation.
al convention Is attended by delegates
and each delegate represents tens of
thousands of democrats. The state con
vention is also attended by delegates.
and these represent thousands of dem
ocrats. The county conventions are as
a rule. attended by delegates, and these
in turn represent hundreds of demo
Gratis. At the primary the voters speak
for themselves; there democracy has it's
citadel.
when the work of organization is
sufilclently advanced, a time can be set
Tor the meeting of the members in their
various localities. The members of this
organization, while pledged to but one
thlng-namely, attendance upon the
prlmarles-are urged to CO operate
among themselves for the support of
every effort put forth to eliminate cor
ruptlon in politics. No cause will pros.
per permanently that does not appeal to
the moral sense of the country, and the
moral sense of the country is now be-
ing awakened to the Importance of pur-
flying politics.
line CommOner will do its part in
aiding every movement that has for it's
| object the ascertaInment of the Will of
the people and the scrupulous enforce
ueuC VI eHdC VIII.
"The Commoner will also furnish all
the information that it can upon the
| questions which are before the public
to the end that its readers may be pre.
pared TO render the maximum of assist
ance to every worthy cause.
WHO will be the first to make this
pledge? A record will be kept in The
| Commoner Office Of the name and adj
dress OF each person who enters into
this movement. Those who desire to
De enrolled can either write approving
the object of the organization, and ask
Ing to have their names entered on the
roll, or they can fill out and mail the
blank which is printed below.
1.-The Commoner will be pleased to
publish limited number of brief let.
tiers on this subject. Mr.. Bryan is en-.
couraged by his correspondence to be.
lieVe that there will be prompt and
hearty response to the above PROPOSE.
tion.'
600 100000 100000 90 O
o THE PRIMARY PLEDGE O
o promise to attend all the pri- O
y mares of my party to be held be. O
tween now and the next demo O
o cratic national convention, un. O
o less unavoidably prevented, and o
o to use my influence to secure a o
o clear. honest and straightfor- O
o ward declaration of the party's O
o position on every question upon O
o which the voters of the party de- O
o sire to speak. O
o Signed. O
o p o.. ..... ....... O
o County. O
10 State. n
| % ELL blanks md