Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1905-08-17
THE PRIMARY PLEDGE
From The COmmOner, Lincoln, Nebraska,
March II, 1905.
THE PLEDGE OUTLINED.

"Mr. Bryan has been in receipt of
amultitude of letters since the cleo
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 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 unavoidably prevented, and to
use his influence to secure clear,
honest and straightforward '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 oflthe people
81 Ill 10
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 a 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 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. The county conven-
tions are, as a 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 primaries-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 the moral sense of the
country, and the 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 ascertainment of the will
OF the people and the scrupulous en-
forcement of that will.
1.-The Commoner will also furnish |
all the information that it can upon
the 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 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 10 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 |
tors on this subject. Mr.. Bryan is
encouraged by his correspondence to
believe that there will be prompt
and hearty response to the above
proposition.
W. ba,rd oanflaman re.