Eastern Colorado times., 1913-01-31
THE coMMoNER
And The Common People


Under the headline, "The Commoner
and the Common People, !" the Nash
willie Tennessean prints the following
editorial:
Mr.. Bryan's paper, The Commoner,
was started twelve years ago, and in
the first issue appeared this declara-
ton:
I" The Commoner will be satisfied if,
| by fidelity to the common people, it
proves its right to the name which has
I, been chosen"
At the beginning of each year this
| statement has been reproduced, and we
! imagine that u great majority of the
readers agree that the paper has prov
ed its right to the name it bear, for if
there is public journal in America
free and unhampered, and in thorough
sympathy with the people, tha9 jour
nal is the Commoner.
In the last issue this was added to
the annual statement:
SIT is not for the editor to say wheth-
err The Commoner has proved its
right to the name it bears. Those
who have habitually read this state
ment are to be the judges. 1t is suffic-
lent for the editor of the Commoner to
know-and perhaps pardonable for
him to say-that if The Commoner has
made mistakes they have not been
mistakes of the heart;, that its purpose
has ever been to stand fors the public
interests and to make the great politi-
cal party with which it is affiliated of
practical service to the people; TO the
end that government erected, as our
government was, in liberties uncloud-
ed blaze,' shall be in truth what the
fathers intended it should be-govern-
ment by and for the people"
Mr.. Bryan and his Commoner have
done u great work for the people. The
Commoner has proved its right to the
name it bears. and Mr.. Bryan has de-
monstrated his capacity and worth as
great leader.
The Commoner has very materially
principals of democracy and free gov
ernment throughout the land, and has
made Mr.. Bryan stronger than he
would have been without its aid, be-
cause of the widespread publicity CIV
en- his ideas and contentious.
That paper has been avery conven-
lent medium through which Mr.. Bryan
has been enabled to effectively reply
to unjust criticism and slanderous
assault upon him, and to point the
way for those who believe in a gov
ernment of, by, and for the people.
Mr.. Bryan hates corrupt ring rule
wherever it may exist, and he never
hesltates to fight it. He has fought
relentlessly Sullivan of Illinois, Cuff
ey of Pennsylvania, and Murphy of
New York, and his fight against such
bosses has been effective. They are
passing frcm the scene of action.
Cordially supported by the Nebras-
kan, Governor Sulzer of New York,
replying to an inquiry as to what part
Boss Murphy would bS allowed to
take in the administration OF state uf-
fairs, said:
81 am the democratic leader of the
state; the people decreed it at the polls
and I stand on their verdict. l can't
succeed in doing what want to do Us
governor unless 1 am the democratic
leader If any democrat in the state
challenges that leadership, let him
come out in the open. and the people
will decide.'
Mr.. Bryan has given us all courage
as he gave Governor Sulzer courage
to resist the encroachments of an inso-
lent boss, for when he drove out the
agents of special interests from the
Baltimore convention and made it
possible to have democratic nominee
and platform to suit the people, he
gave increased hope to the people and
renewed courage to those who repre-
sent the people.