Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-04-07
The Pledge Outlined.

"Mr. Bryan has been in receipt of a
multitude of letters since the election
urging organization for the campaign
of 1908. The rank and tile OF the par
ty are ready to begin the fight; they
only await plan of cooperation. This
plan has been under consideration for
some weeks and is herewith submit.
ted.
LET each democrat pledge himself
to 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
desire to speak.
This plan does not involve the
writing Of platform in advance Of
the primaries; it does not rest upon
the paramount impor lance of any one
issue. 1t recognizes the right of the
democratic voters to control the poll
cy OF the democratic party, and to de-
termine its position upon public ques-
lions. 1t also recognizes the import
ance of honesty and sincerity in poll
tics.
HThis proposition will appeal to all
who believe in the rule of the people,
to all who are willing that the ma
jority shall govern the party manage.
ment and In the nation. 1t does not
mean that those who exert themselves
tossecu-e a good platform will be
bound to support bad platform
that is a question which each must
determine for himself, but itdoes mean
that the democratic platform shall
give voice to theprevailipg SEN iment
OF the democratic party, and that the
party shall take the country into its
confidence. The pledge proposed is a
primary pledge-because 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
egates, and each one represents thous-
ands OF democrats. The county con-
ventfens are, as rule, attended by
delegates, and these in turn represent
hundreds of democrats. At the pri-
mary 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 organiza tion, while
pledged to but one thing-namely, at
tendance upon the prinaries-are urg.
ed to cooperate among themselves for
the support Of every eff olt put forth
to eliminate corruption in politics.
No cause can prosper permanently
that does not appeal to the moral
sense OF the country, and the moral
sense OF the country is now being
awakened to the Importance of puri-
tying politics.
WIhe Commoner will do its part in
adding every movement that has for
It's object ascertainment of the win
Of the people and the. scrupulous en-
forcement of that will.
''The Commoner will also furnish all
the information that it can upon the
question which are before the public
to the end tnat its readers may be pre-
pared to render the maximum of as
sistance to every worthy cause.
"Who will be the first to make this
pledge? A record will be keptin 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