Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1905-07-06
THE PRIMARY PLEDGE
From The commoner, LiHcOln, Nebraska,
March IL, 1905.
THE PLEDGE OUTLINED,

"Mr. Bryan has been in receipt OF
amultitudc of letters since the oloc-
tios urging organization for the cam
paign OF l9NS, The rank aud file VI
the party are ready to nes In TIE dEhU
they only await ~ plan Incorporation,
This plan has been under cousiiera-
ton for some weeks aud is herewith
submitted
"Let each democrat pledge himself
to attend all Of the primaries Of his
party to be held between now aud the
next democratic national convention,
unless unavoidabiy prevented, and To
use his influence to secure u clear,
honest and straightforward declara-
tion OF the party's position on every
question upon which the voters OF the
party desire ~ speak,
This plan does not involve the
writing OF u 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-
lions, 1t also recognizes the import
ance of honesty and sincerity in poll
tics,
This proposition will appeal t. all
who believe in the rule OF the people
to all who are willing that the ma
iority 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 a question which each must de-
termine for himselt-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 a
primary pledge-beCauSe the people
speak at the primaries, The national
convention is attended by delegates,
aud 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 conven-
tions are, as y 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 u
but one thing namely, attendance
upon the primaries-are urged 10 CO.
operate among themselves for the sup
port Of every effort put forth to e.iwi-
nate corruption in politics, No cause
can prosper permanently shat does
not appeal u the moral sense OF the
country, and the moral sense OF the
country is now being awakened to lhe
Importance OF purifying politics.
The Commoucr will do its part in
aiding every movemyu, that has for
its object the ase1rtSiams0t q ias will
OF she people and the scrupulous en-
forcement of that will
The Commoper will also furnish
all the Information that it can upon
the questions which are before the
public IL the end thai its readers may
be prepared 70 render The maximum Of
assistance to every worthy cause
who will be the first IL make this
pledge? \ record will b. kept In The
Commouer Office OF the name aud adj
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 fill out and mail
the blank which is printed below.
"The Commoner will I've pleased To
publish a limited number Of brief let-
ters on this subject, Mr.. Bryan is
encouraged by his correspondence to
believe that there will be pro pit
and hearty response 70 the above
proposition"