Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1913-08-20
THE NEW ERA
(From the Commoner.)

January, 1901. The party was then
staggering under the second defeat
administered; Il to in under progress
sive leadership. The struggle for
emancipation from the domination OF
privilege and fayoritism began in
1896, and the deep interest manifest
cd in that campaign will never be for.
gotten by those who participated IN
it. Between 1896 and 1900, num-
Der Of causes had contributed to an
Improvement in economic conditions
and the republican party, selling up
on the cry, Let well enough alone
warned the country against a re
turn to the hard times from which
it was beginning to emerge. The
party in power was also aided by the
fact that it had conducted a success.
full war for the liberation of Cuba,
and it was at that time able to con-
ceal from the public the imperialistic
plans which its leaders had in mind
Under the circumstances, it was not
strange that the democratic party
should fail to secure control of the
federal government-the surprise Is
that it suffered so little, as compared
with its vote of 1896. .5s
However, those who measure q
party's merits by such temporary
standards + as immediate success,
loudly proclaimed the necessity for
return to Wall street leadership.
The Commoner was established to
Withstand the propaganda Of the
interests and to assist the rank and
file Of the party in holding the party
organization true to the promise
that had been made: How well this
paper has justified its claims upon
the confidence of the democratic vot-
ers-how truly it has kept the faith
must be left to the public to decide
1t will not be denied that it has put
forth an earnest endeayor; neither
will its right to rejoice be question
ed. Few journals, if any, have ever
had opportunity, in the same length
Of time, to witness the triumph of SO
many of the policies supported by it
A change has come in the political
situation which justifies a change
in the form OF the paper. While
the republicans were in power, The
Commoner was one OF the leaders in
the journalistic army which attack
Cd the policies Of that party. 1t con
ceived it to he its duty to present
arguments against those policies
and to point the way to remedial
Legislation. The laws already pass.
ed, such as the amendment which
nuts the people in control Of the
United States senate, the amendment
authorizing the collection of an in
come tax, the laws providing for
publicity. before the election, as to
campaign contributions, the laws ex
tending the primary and popularizine
] the government - these. and othel
laws along these lines assure to the
benefits for which The Commoner ha
Iabored <; and, best Of all. the demo.
cratic party has been called ito su
preme authority in the nation and to :
much larger extent than usual in the
states. The friends Of democracy
therefore, instead OF having to. urge
their opponents to recognize popu
lar demands, are summoned to en-
gage in constructive work-the ap
plicatfon of democratic principles
| to the time in which we live.
AS an incident to the democratic
victory, have been invited to be
come a member OF the presidents
official family, and, as his repre-
sentive in one Of the departments
Of the government, am brought into
contact with international problems
AS a member OF the cabinet. too
enjoy the opportunity Of partici
pating in the discussion Of such prob.
lens as the president sees fit to
bring before that body. If i were
compelled to choose between the
service that I could render as a
journalist and the service which /
can render as one Of the presidents
advisers, h would feel justified in
preferring the latter to the. former,
but as there is no necessary con-
flict between the two positions, /
am glad to perform the duties at
tendant upon both. .#Gs
AS an exponent of the plans and
purposes of the admins tration, The
Commoner can accomplish even more
as a monthly than it could as
weekly. Administrative and legislat-
i've plans develop gradually, and
there is no need Of haste in meet
ing the criticisms that may be direct
ef against the program of the party
now in authority. The Commoner
will be able to present to it's indi-
vidua1 readers and through its multi
tude Of exchanges, to still larger
audience the governments side Of
the questions under discussion.
My association with the president
has increasingly confirmed my esti-
mate Of his singleness Of purpose,
o.. his broad intellectual grasp of
the situation, and of the courage with
which he grapples with public prob
lens. !. My acquaintance with the