Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1905-08-03
THE PRIMARY PLEDGE
From The COmmOner, Lincoln, Nebraska
March II, 1905.
THE PLEDGE OUTLINED,


"Mr. Bryan has been In receipt of
multitude Of letters since the cleo
ton urging organization for the cam
palgn OF 1905 The rank and file Of
the party are ready to begin the fight;
they only await II plan OF cooperation.
This plan has been under considera-
ton for some weeks and Is herewith
submitted.
"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 unavoidnbly prevented, aud to
use his influence to secure n clear,
honest and straightforward doclara-
tlon OF the party's position on every
question upon which the voters Of tho
party desire to speak.
"This plan does not involve the
writing OF platform In advance OF
the primaries; IL docs 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, aud to deter
mine its position upon public ques-
tions. II also recognizes the import
ance of honesty and sincerity In poll
tics.
"This proposition will appeal to all
who believe In the rulo OF the people
to all who are willing that the ma
jority shall govern In party manage
ment and In the nation. II does not
mean that those who exert themselves
to secure good platform will be
bound to support bad platform
that Is n question which each must de-
termine for himself--but II does mean
that the democratic platform shall
give voice to the prevailing sentiment
OF the democratic party, and that the
party shall take the oountry 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
gates and these represent thousands
OF democrats. Tho county oonven-
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 It's 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 primarles-are urged to CO.
operate among themselves for the sup
port of every effort put forth to elimi-
nate corruption In politics. No cause
can prosper permanently that does
not appeal to tho moral sense OF the
country, and tho moral sense Of the
country is now being awakened to the
Importance Of purifying politics.
''The Commoner will do It's part in
aiding every movement that has for
its object the ascertaiument OF the will
OF the people aud the scrupulous en-
forcement of that will.
The Commoner will also furnish
all the Information that It can upon
che questions which are before the
public to the end that It's readers may
be prepared TO render the maximum OF
assistance to every worthy cause.
"Who will be the drst to make this
pledgeg 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 I'LL out aud mail
the blank which is printed below,
"The Commoner will be pleased 70
publish a limited number OF brief let
ters on this subject. Mr.. Bryan IL
encouraged by his correspondence to
believe that there will be q prompt
and haarkV response TO kho above