The Topeka state journal., 1908-07-17
For Funds With Which to Pros.
ecute the Campaign.
FIRST CONTRIBUTION
Was Made by . Tiller of the Soil
at Lincoln
Previous to the Assembling vl
the National Convention.

FalrvleW, Lincoln, Neb., July H.
The first appeal for Campaign contri-
Juti3Es by the Democratic candidates
fer rresiCe,-t and vice pre sidenr was
made today. In a formal messag, Ci-
recIee tc the farmers of the country,
Messrs. Rryan and Kern urge them 20
contribute according to thalr means and
Ia other vays assist in res. Or. ig De-
mocracy in power. The appeal is as
follows:
ITO the Farmers of the United States:
THE first contribution made to the
Democratic campaign fund this year,
SO far as We know was made by an
Iowa farmer. Just before the Denver
convention met this man who mod
estly prefers not to have his name men,
toned, Journeyed more than 100 miles
to Lincoln with his contribution of
$500 which he left with Mr.. Bryan to
be given to the committee when or
ganized for the campaign.
This farmer was born in Sweden
and for some time after he was nat
uralized was a member of the Repub-
lican party. But he was a student of
public questions and in the course of
time became a Democrat. To mani
fest his deep interest in the success
Democratic principles he made this
free will offering to the campaign fund.
1T is very appropriate that this first
contribution should come from that
great body of our population known as
agriculturists. The farmer has moth
ing to gain by privilege and favoritism;
his hope is in the application of the
doctrine of equal rights to all and
special privilege to none He has
been the victim of all special legisla-
ton and has suffered from the control
of politics by the great predatory cor
porations. Now that the Democratic
party has announced its determination
not to accept contributions from cor
porations, not to accept excessive con-
tributiOns even from individuals ana
to publish all contributions above
reasonable minimum, it ought to be
able to secure a sufficient campaign
fund from those patriotic citizens who
ask from the government nothing but
protection to their rights and consider
alton for the general welfare There
are hundreds of thousands of farmers
who are abundantly able to contribute
to the campaign fund. There are
thousands who could give 800 a piece
without feeling it; there are tens or
thousands who could give $50 without
sacrifice and still more who could give
$25 or $40 or S..
= LAS the nationalscom8nittee has not
vet been organized weSwill ask the
Commoner to call for subscription to
this farmers fund. Those giving may
indicate whether they are willing TO
have their names mentioned. and If
the contribution Is not more than
800 their wishes will be complied
with. All contributions above 500
must be made known, no matter from
whom they come.
THE farmers fund will be turned
over to the national committee as
been selected Who will be the first
to respond? The Denver convention
was a peoples convention; it adopted
a strong, clear, honest platform and
it's nominations were made with
practical unanimity. Our fight Is
fight for the whole people. Our aim
is equal and exact justice to all; our
purpose is to restore the government
to the hands of freely chosen repre-
sentatives of the voters. How many
farmers will join in furnishing the
fund necessary to present the issues?
(Signed.)
WILLIAM ]. BRYAN,
JOHN w. KERN"
Another day of comparative quiet
was spent by Mr.. Bryan today. few
struggling delegates on their way
home from the convention called on
him and paid their respects The slo-
gan of Fairview is "organize Bryan
and Kern club and departing visitors
are all made to realize that they must
get out the votes in November in or
der to secure a Democratic victory.
~. E. Lambs, national committeeman
from Indiana was again in conference
with Mr. Bryan today. Beyond the
admission that he had discussed with
Mr. Bryan some details of the cam
paign no information was impaired.
Mr.. Bryan today definitely fixed the
time of his departure for Chicago,
where he is to meet the subcommittee
of the national com mittee. The length
of his stay in Chicago depends largely
on the desires of the subcommittee,
although he feels that it will not be
necessary to remain there more than