Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1905-06-22
THE PRIMARY PLEDGE
From The COmm0ner, Lincoln, Nebraska,
March II, 1905.
THE PLEDGE OUTLINED.

IL vi lCJutlS SlhCt bllC tlCb-
ton urging organization for the cam
paign of 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 cousidcra-
ton for some weeks and is herewith
submitted.
"Let each democrat pl, dge himself
to attend all of the primaries Of his
party to be held between now and the
next democratic. convention,
unless unavoidably prevented, and to
use his influence to secure clear,
honest and ightiorward declara-
tion of the party's position on every
question upon which the voters of the
party desire to speak.
"This plan does not involve the
writing Of a platform in advance of
the primaries; it does not rest upon
the paramount Importance OF any one
issue. 1t recognizes the right Of the
democratic voters to control the policy
Of the democratic party, and to deter
mine its position upon public ques-
tions. 1t also recognizes the import
ance of honesty and sincerity in poll
tics.
'This proposition will appeal to all
WHO believe in the rule of the people
to all who are willing that the ma
jority shall govern in party manage
ment and in the nation. 1t does not
mean that those who exert themselves
to secure a good platform will be
bound to support bad platform
that is a question which each must de-
termine for himself-but it does mean
that the democratic platform shall
give voice to the prevailing sentiment
of the democratic party, and that the
party shall take the country into its
confidence. The pledge proposed is
primary pledge-becaus the people
speak at the primaries. The national
convention is attended by delegates,
and each delegate represents tens Of
thousands OF democrats. The state
convention is also attended by dele
gates and these represent thousands
of democrats. The county couven-
tiOns are, as rule, attended by dele
gates, and these in turn represent hun
dreds of democrats. AT the primary
the voters speak for themselves: there
democracy has its citadel.
"When the work of organization is
sufficiently advanced, time can be
set for the meeting of the members in
their various localities. The members
Of this organization, while pledged to
but one thing namely, attendance
upon the primaries urged to CO.
operate among themselves Tor the sup
port of every effort put forth TO oiiui-
nate corruption in politics. No cause
can prosper permanently that does
not appeal to the moral sense OF the
counuyrand the moral sense oI the
country is now being awakened 10 the
Importance of purifying politics.
1.-The Commouer will do its part in
aiding every movement that has for
its object the asccrtainment of the will
of the people and the scrupuLous en-
.forcement Of that VIII.
The Commouer Will also furnish
IN the information that it can upon
the questions which are before the
public to the end that lis readers may
be prepared to render yhe maximum Of
assistance 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 ad-
dress of each person who enters into
this movement. Those who desire to
be enrolled can either write APPROX
ing the object of the organization, and
asking TO have their names entered on
the roll, or they can ill out and mail
the blank which is printed below
"The Commoner will be pleased to
publish limited number OF brief et-
tiers on this subject. Mr., Bryan is
encouraged by his correspondence to
believe that there will be q pron pit
and hearty response to the above
proposition.