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Editorial
February 18, 1908
Twice A Week Plain Dealer
Cresco, Howard County, Iowa
What is this article about?
The Plain Dealer endorses William Jennings Bryan's advice from The Commoner, urging Democrats in Howard County to guard their party organization against corporate influence, scrutinize candidates, instruct delegates, and root out members biased toward corporations to build trust and ensure reform success.
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Democrats on Guard
The following from Mr. Bryan's Commoner meets the entire approbation of the Plain Dealer and is the sentiment of the Democrats of Howard county.
1. "Be on guard lest the party be crippled by an organization out of harmony with the party's purposes."
2. "Let every aspirant for a position in the party organization be scrutinized. If his present position or his past record is open to objection let him stand aside. The party has more important work than apologising for its representatives, and no representative ought to desire to make himself an issue."
3. "The corporations will attempt to control the organization, and they will have candidates for every vacancy from precinct committeemen to the top of the organization. The people must have their candidates, and it is well to begin at once to look out for the right man for each place and have him ready."
4. "What the party now needs is to prove to the people that it can be trusted to carry out the desired reforms, and this confidence can only be established by rooting out of the democratic organization every member whose business connections are such as to bias him in favor of the corporations which have been securing privileges and favors against the people."
5. "Each community has a RIGHT TO INSTRUCT ITS DELEGATES, for the delegate is the representative, not of himself alone, but of those who elect him. The VOTERS HAVE A RIGHT TO INSTRUCT and the representative is in duty bound to obey. And while it is generally safe to trust a man to obey instructions, even when he does not agree with them, it is better to select delegates who are in sympathy with instruction. IT IS BEST TO INSTRUCT, and it is SAFEST to put the instructions in the hands of those who agree with the voters as what is best to do."
6. "With a platform that is really democratic, with candidates who really represent the platform, and with an organization that is really in sympathy with the platform and the candidates, the democratic party can enter upon a vigorous campaign with splendid prospects of success. Will the rank and file undertake the work and thus pave the way for victory?"
The following from Mr. Bryan's Commoner meets the entire approbation of the Plain Dealer and is the sentiment of the Democrats of Howard county.
1. "Be on guard lest the party be crippled by an organization out of harmony with the party's purposes."
2. "Let every aspirant for a position in the party organization be scrutinized. If his present position or his past record is open to objection let him stand aside. The party has more important work than apologising for its representatives, and no representative ought to desire to make himself an issue."
3. "The corporations will attempt to control the organization, and they will have candidates for every vacancy from precinct committeemen to the top of the organization. The people must have their candidates, and it is well to begin at once to look out for the right man for each place and have him ready."
4. "What the party now needs is to prove to the people that it can be trusted to carry out the desired reforms, and this confidence can only be established by rooting out of the democratic organization every member whose business connections are such as to bias him in favor of the corporations which have been securing privileges and favors against the people."
5. "Each community has a RIGHT TO INSTRUCT ITS DELEGATES, for the delegate is the representative, not of himself alone, but of those who elect him. The VOTERS HAVE A RIGHT TO INSTRUCT and the representative is in duty bound to obey. And while it is generally safe to trust a man to obey instructions, even when he does not agree with them, it is better to select delegates who are in sympathy with instruction. IT IS BEST TO INSTRUCT, and it is SAFEST to put the instructions in the hands of those who agree with the voters as what is best to do."
6. "With a platform that is really democratic, with candidates who really represent the platform, and with an organization that is really in sympathy with the platform and the candidates, the democratic party can enter upon a vigorous campaign with splendid prospects of success. Will the rank and file undertake the work and thus pave the way for victory?"
What sub-type of article is it?
Partisan Politics
Economic Policy
What keywords are associated?
Democratic Party
Party Organization
Corporate Influence
Political Reforms
Delegate Instruction
Candidate Scrutiny
What entities or persons were involved?
Mr. Bryan
Commoner
Plain Dealer
Democrats Of Howard County
Corporations
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Guarding Democratic Party Against Corporate Control And Ensuring Reform Alignment
Stance / Tone
Vigilant Endorsement Of Party Purity And Reform
Key Figures
Mr. Bryan
Commoner
Plain Dealer
Democrats Of Howard County
Corporations
Key Arguments
Guard Against Disharmonious Organization
Scrutinize Aspirants For Party Positions
Resist Corporate Candidates And Prepare People's Candidates
Root Out Members Biased Toward Corporations To Build Trust
Communities And Voters Have Right To Instruct Delegates
Select Sympathetic Delegates And Instruct For Best Outcomes
Strong Platform, Candidates, And Organization Lead To Success