* * * * *
_An Old Reformer._
Your magazine read and reread in my home every month by myself and
five grown sons. We all admire the principle set forth in your grand
editorials and know that what you say is truth, but I do think that
you are a little too harsh and a little too personal when you speak
of Cleveland, Rockefeller, Ryan, Belmont, Morgan, McCarren, Taggart
and others of that class. You know that poor human nature is the same
the world over and if we were to kill out these men whom you handle so
roughly, others would soon take their places. So then the system which
brings this state of affairs about in our government is to be blamed more
than these men. Therefore, let’s strive (in the right spirit) to remove
the evils which beset us as a Christian people. “Vengeance is mine, saith
the Lord.” And besides, I want you to live long and lead this grand fight
for reform, but when I read your cutting editorials I shudder for fear
some of these people may have you assassinated.
I address you as “dear comrade” because I am getting to be an old man now
and enlisted in this movement for reform away back in the palmy days of
the Grange, and myself on the “Ocala Platform”, believing it to be just
and in line with the principles later on, under the Alliance banner,
planted our Revolutionary sires fought for, and I am proud to say that
out of fifty odd Congressmen who were elected on that platform, Tom
Watson is the only one who remained true, and I admire every red hair on
your head for your loyalty and bravery, and have always voted for you
when an opportunity was offered, and if I were called upon to make a
national ticket of men whom I believe to be true, it would be,
Tom Watson,
Theodore Roosevelt,
Gov. Folk,
Frank Burkitt,
Gov. Vardaman,
Scott Hathorn,
W. R. Hearst.
* * * * *
_D. L. Anderson, Soochow, China._
My son was on a visit to the States last summer and he sent me your
books—“The Story of France,” “Napoleon” and “The Life of Thomas
Jefferson.” The books reached me during the summer holidays, and as new
books are somewhat scarce out here and yours moreover looked so inviting,
I began to read the day after their arrival, and day after day this
reading continued until I had gone through the four volumes.
On finishing the last volume I purposed to write and thank you for the
pleasure you had given me through your books, but the fall term of the
University opening about that time I was very busy and so did not write.
But now I wish to thank you for a very pleasant summer, for the enjoyment
and instruction I received from your excellent books. New light has
been thrown on France and her relations to the other powers of Europe,
especially to England. Napoleon becomes, to me at least, a new man in
your hands. Your “Thomas Jefferson” is a much needed antidote to much
of the history that has been written and gives a clear view of the man
and his times. Especially would I thank you for your statements with
reference to the formation of the Constitution of the United States, also
for your explanation of the “Genet Affair.”
In one or two allusions that you make to affairs out here, you have
evidently been misled by the newspapers. In your “Napoleon,” page 215,
you say:
“In the year 1900 Russians, Germans and other Christians invaded China to
punish the heathen for barbarities practiced upon Christian missionaries.”
I don’t think that you state correctly the real object of this invasion
of China. The missionary’s part in this Boxer affair was to suffer. Not
only were many murdered, but both those who were murdered and those who
escaped were made the “scape goats” in the eyes of the world. I enclose a
slip that recently appeared in one of the Shanghai papers that gives the
true genesis of this Boxer trouble. The armies of the different nations
did not “invade China to punish the heathen for barbarities practiced
on Christian missionaries,” but they came to rescue their respective
ministers, who by their blundering policy had gotten themselves shut up
in Peking. If these officials had not been in Peking the armies would
never have come. I don’t know of any Government that cares quite that
much for a missionary, though they all seem quite ready to use a murdered
missionary to advance their land-grabbing schemes.
Again on page 218 you mention that Admiral Seymour ordered his wounded
killed, etc. This was published in the papers at the time, but there
never was any truth in it. It was simply one of the many horrid stories
that went out from Shanghai during those dark days—manufactured in
Shanghai.
And now, Mr. Watson, I trust that you will pardon me for inflicting you
with this, but I felt that I ought to write and thank you for those
books. I trust your pen will not rest. I sincerely wish that you would do
for Germany or for Italy what you have done for France.
* * * * *
_W. E. Brown, Gainesville, Fla._
It is a splendid work you are doing. Your Magazine is a live wire and
you are a powerful dynamo. The good you and Bryan are doing can never
be reckoned or measured. You are right, and right is the most powerful
force in existence, because God himself is the author and is behind all
right. May you live to see your work crowned with success. While touching
up other things, don’t forget we poor farmers of Florida. Between high
freights and commission merchants we catch it. I am what you might call
a one-horse farmer, but every year I pay the railroad $2,000 to $3,000
freight on stuff I make to get it to market to say nothing about the
freight I pay on what I buy. I would like to make a trade agreeing to
give one-half my stuff to get the other half to market and sold. And when
on account of delays or for want of ice or any cause not traceable to
downright negligence our truck arrives in bad condition and is sold for
freight the railroad takes it all. I had one year 102 baskets shipped
over one line and 15 over another. The 15 sold for $3.00 per basket, the
102 were refused because the car was not properly iced on the way to New
York and arrived rotten, and I never got a penny. A piece of negligence,
but could not be proved. This is by no means an unusual case and every
truck farmer in the state, I guess, could make such a complaint or one
equally unjust to the shipper. But the railroad agent for the A. C.
L. at this place, so it is commonly talked on the streets, absconded
with $2,000 of rebate paid to him by the railroad to be paid to a big
phosphate concern here, and there is nothing doing. They say he won’t
even be arrested and, of course, the railroad and the receiver of stolen
money will not be punished, although I was told by an attorney of this
city that the railroad commissioners were notified of the facts in the
case.
So I say, God speed you, and may you be the means of accomplishing great
good for this, our glorious country—too good to be wrecked by sordid
greed.
* * * * *
_J. S. Pearson, McEntyre, Ala._
I had a sack of one bushel of oats (32 lbs.) price 75 cents and 20 cents
worth of seed (all in one cash) sent by express from Birmingham, Ala.
to Thomasville, Ala. (a few hours run by rail). I had to pay $1 charges
and part of the oats were eaten (I suppose) by rats. I shipped a box of
pears (50 lbs.) from Thomasville, Ala., to Braidentown, Fla. I was told
by clerk or agent the express charges were $2.00. I told him I would not
pay such a charge. Another clerk or agent looked in a book and said the
charges were $1.00. I paid it. That was on Friday. The pears reached
Braidentown, Fla. Tuesday. They should have been in Selma or Mobile
Saturday morning, and where they were from then until Tuesday we know
not. A letter saying the box had been opened and a part of the pears
taken out was received yesterday. Have I no redress? I wrote to the Mayor
of Birmingham to know if such thieving was allowed in his city.
* * * * *
_N. W. Rogers, N. Y. City._
I have read, with increasing interest, all the issues of your very
excellent Magazine, and it gives me pleasure to express my appreciation
of the effort you are making to educate the public.
The task of one who is endeavoring to expose corruption and corporate
greed is, as I know from personal experience, a discouraging one;
nevertheless I have a firm conviction that justice must finally be
meted out to the smug respectability that has been robbing the whole
country. The loathsome and criminal devices resorted to by our would-be
aristocracy, in their greedy desire to acquire money, merits a more
active opposition than that brought about by a public exposure of their
crimes. Complete restitution of all funds wrongfully acquired in the
exercise of an extortionate monopoly would be but a small punishment.
I wish you all success in your endeavors and only regret that I cannot at
the present time take an active part in the campaign.
* * * * *
_F. Schweizer, Woodlawn, Nebr._
Even Diogenes with his lantern would in vain search justice in this
country. To tell the truth in this country is punished as lese-majesty.
Therefore I may be hung for lese-majesty, but I don’t care.
I was born and raised in free Switzerland and I will die as a free man
who dares to express his honest opinions. If I am wrong, show me my
errors. It really seems that people never will hear and accept the truth,
until some fellows have been hung for telling the truth.
Let us be honest and acknowledge that our so high praised Christian
civilization is a total failure. Might is right. The greatest hypocrite
and most brutal beast is the absolute master, who dictates the terms by
which he will rule. Their mottos are:
“Everyone for himself and the devil takes the hindmost and—The people be
damned.”
* * * * *
_F. Hodgman, Climax, Mich._
I find in the literary department much to commend and little, if
anything, to find fault with. In the editorial and political department,
I can not say as much. You advocate many things which men of all
parties have always been agreed on—that is, honest men of all parties.
If you could only get the people to take you seriously and make the
ten commandments a partisan issue, you would win out hands down, for a
big majority of the people are honest in principle and want an honest
Government. I dissent from very much that you are trying to teach in the
way of political economy and you make many assertions and statements
which I believe to be errors. But that does not count. The greatest
fault I find with it as a magazine is the tendency toward being a common
scold—with a good deal to denounce and little or nothing to commend.
* * * * *
_C. E. Hedgpath, Centralia, Mo._
Mr. Watson, allow me to say that while I admire your talent and much more
your honesty, I cannot agree with you that the “great middle class” are
the only ones needing protection. There is a party in the field fully
organized and standing for “all the people”. “Government ownership”,
with the Government as it now stands, would only add to our burdens. But
first—Let the people own the Government. For this the Socialist Party
stands.
* * * * *
_O. E. Samuelson, Kiowa, Kan._
I have received two numbers of your Magazine and have studied them when
I could spare time. I was in the Populist movement one time. It was
all right in its time, but its time is past and now we have something
better—Socialism. So your Magazine is not enough revolutionary.
* * * * *
_P. R. Richardson, Gardi, Ga._
“Hon. Hoke Smith, Atlanta, Ga.
“Dear Sir: There are so many high-flying silver-feathered
Democratic office-seekers that unless a man is well posted
he can never tell the real man from the political tool. But
seeing that Thomas E. Watson has promised you his support for
Governor of the great State of Georgia, it explains away and
clears up all doubts. So around our fireside cane-grindings we
will talk and drink to your health, and when the day of the
primary comes along we will roll in our votes.
“Yours very truly,
“P. R. RICHARDSON.”
Being a subscriber to the Magazine, I offer the above letter for
publication in the Magazine.
* * * * *
_D. C. Pryor, Uvalde, Tex._
I send you a “legal tender,”
A thing you have often seen,
For which, please send to me, “dear Tom,”
Your splendid Magazine.
Whilst I am a Democrat
Its ranks I’d hate to leave,
But I’d vote for you, “dear Tom,”
Before I’d vote for Cleve.
* * * * *
_Dr. H. P. Boyce, Los Angeles, Cal._
Your editorial “Peonage in Panama” published in the December number,
was read by me with a great deal of interest, as I have lived for seven
years in Central America and am thoroughly familiar with labor conditions
there, having during my residence there had constantly in my employ on
plantation work from 15 to 50 laborers, or mozos, as they are called.
Of course, I do not know the exact conditions under which these laborers
were contracted in Martinique, but am confident the conditions were
similar to those under which all labor in that country is contracted.
The employer of labor signs up a number of men and the men ask for,
expect and receive an advance of money against their future services of
an amount equal to from two to four months’ wages. There is a form of
contract signed in which the laborer acknowledges the receipt of so much
money paid him for future work to be done by him under the contract,
by which he also agrees to work for the employer for a specified time
at the rate of so much per month. This is the general custom in those
countries and with the class of labor available is the only way in which
the employer can be reasonably certain of securing and retaining his
laborers, as the law forces the mozo to live up to his contract and also
makes him secure in obtaining his money after he has worked out the
amount advanced.
It was unquestionably the case with the Martinique negroes that they
had all received advances of money against their future services, and
that the money had all been spent before leaving their homes and, such
being the case, where would the employer have found himself if he had
submitted without any resistance and allowed the laborers to nullify
their contracts and return home?
The Martinique and Jamaica negroes are as a rule a very unruly,
unreliable and impertinent class and it requires strenuous measures to
keep them in subjection and make them live up to their contracts. They
cannot be compared to the American negro, who is much easier to manage.
I appreciate your feelings in the matter, but do not think you thoroughly
appreciate the conditions of affairs as they exist in regard to the
relations of employer and employee.
When the Martinique negro claims he does not know conditions as they
exist at Panama, or other points on the Central American coast, he is
lying, as they are all of them more or less familiar with the entire
coast from personal visits to it or information acquired from friends who
have been on the coast.
I know nothing from personal observation of the Peonage system in the
Southern States but I do know that the contract labor system is the
only way to handle labor in Panama, for you cannot get them without the
advance of money and if you do not protect yourself by the contract, the
chances are 9 out of 10 that your man will never show up to work it out.
A gang of those negroes numbering 500 or 600 are not easily handled by
any means, and force must be used at times, or at least a strong display
of it made or discipline would not be maintained twenty-four hours.
Conditions are altogether different from anything existing here and
matters must be judged differently. Existing conditions must dictate the
line of action to be pursued in any given case and from my knowledge
of the character of the men and the conditions, I do not see how the
authorities could have acted otherwise than in using force, if necessary,
to persuade these negroes to disembark. You certainly would not consider
it just that these negroes take the contractors money, spend it, have
their fare paid on the steamer to Colon and then on arrival deliberately
say they would not land and work out what they had already been paid, but
were going to return home. There would be no justice in such a course and
if the employer had to use force to obtain what was coming to him, the
man’s labor in exchange for his money which the man had already spent,
it seems to me he was entirely within his rights. These laborers owed
this money to the employer just as much as a man owes money that he has
borrowed from another and given his note for, and, just as much as the
borrower should expect to pay his note, just so much should this laborer
expect to give his services in payment of the money advanced to him. As I
have stated before, the laws of these countries recognize this condition
of the field of labor and uphold the employer just as our laws recognize
a man’s liability when he signs a note agreeing to repay money advanced
to him. When the laborer has repaid by his services the money advanced to
him he can no longer be held to his contract, but just so long as the
laborer demands the advance of money before doing any work, just so long
must he expect to be forced, if necessary, to carry out his agreement,
and his services as laborer being his only asset he must give those
services.
In those countries you only have your laborer as long as you keep him in
your debt, for as soon as he gets a month’s wages in his pocket, he is
ready to loaf and get drunk.
I think if you were thoroughly acquainted with conditions there, as I am,
you would take a different view of the matter. I have been a constant
reader of your Magazine since the first issue and enjoy it very much, but
felt I must give you my views on this question.
* * * * *
_John C. Sanner, Redding, Cal._
“Who Are The Rabble?”
It is _de rigeur_ nowadays for a “genteel” personage travelling along
a country road in a buggy or automobile to address any casually met
pedestrian as “my man” when seeking local information. This seems boorish
to my old fashioned notions. We are evidently becoming very aristocratic
along with our tremendous increase in national wealth. It is a very
great exhibition of gall for a large employer to so bespeak an humble
subordinate.
I will present to the editor of the TOM WATSON’S MAGAZINE, if he can find
space, an article addressed mainly to the uneducated and unthoughtful
hard working men and voters of our United States. The writer is an
uneducated man and a life-long hard toiler and acquainted with grief,
sorrow and adversity and has lived over three score and ten years. My
mother being left a widow with four little dependent children, she
was forced to hire me at seven years old for bread and hence I feel
interested in millions of men, women and children that are dependent
and in grief and sorrow, that if they had equal rights and justice in
this government, they would be a prosperous and happy people, and a
just principle that presides in my heart prompts me to write an article
addressed to that dependent, unthinking army of men in this government.
Though I am forced to write from the hand of an uneducated man or from
the language of my mother’s tongue, I hope my position will be understood.
In the first place I want to draw your minds to the man that has no equal
in this government to wit: Thomas E. Watson. The day before the national
election of 1901 I heard him make a speech in the city of Gainesville,
Ga. He said that there was no chance for the Populists in this election,
but that he would commence the fight the next day after the election
for 1908 and now you see he is true to his word. He has begun with an
educational school by offering his school-book or magazine in the house
of every family in the United States that wants it, when each monthly
book or magazine is worth more than the year’s subscription to any
thinking man, and I feel greatly astonished that every workingman of the
nation does not take it, for I am sure it is the greatest educator as
to how the world has moved on in the great governmental ways since the
creation until the present day, and especially the last forty years of
the government of the United States. Then I earnestly beg and solicit
all men to take the magazine, and especially the workingmen, that you
may learn that this little delicate man, Tom Watson, is the workingman’s
friend and is making a fight for you and your weary wife and children
that they may be freed from slavery and brought from under the greedy
law of the privileged few that are now corporated into a thievish and
robbing body, that they may steal and rob the workingman of his hard
earnings. Yes, he has taken this greedy lion or corporation by the throat
with a cry that he surrender to the working people their rights and that
they must be equal to you. Then, my brother workingman, I appeal to you
with all my earnest and honest heart to rally to this honest and brave
man, Watson, and stand by him and vote for him and aid him to devour the
greedy lion that you may have your liberties and rights for yourself,
wife and children. Now, in conclusion I will say I have been a hard
laboring man all my life and I am now standing on the bank of Jordan and
may, before you read my little message to my brother working voters that
I am so much interested in, be across the river. Though I am in eternity
at the election of the next President I have three sons and seven
sons-in-law and grandchildren that will vote for the hero, Watson, for
the interest of workingmen.
* * * * *
_J. N. Hale, Cairo, Ga._
Forty-eight years ago I was born a Democrat and I have been one ever
since. I love true democratic principles now, but find it impossible to
work and vote for these principles and remain true to the party as it is
now organized and run. I have been a member of the State Dem. Ex. Com.,
was Chairman of the 5th Congressional Committee when you were being
cursed, abused and robbed and was glad of your defeat because I thought
you wrong. I thought the fight for reform should have been made within
the party; but, alas! there is no reform and never will there be reform
so long as the Belmonts, Gormans, Clevelands and other trust tools are in
control.
I now believe that you are right. The only hope for the people is to
rise up and hurl from their rotten pedestals both of the old parties and
take the reins of government into their own hands. Never before were
the people more ready to act. Here in the new County of Grady, which
was “officially born” today, the people are overwhelmingly in favor of
cutting loose from the old parties and marching under a new banner. I
will advocate in my paper which I have just started, new, clean methods,
and fight for democracy as you see it and so ably preach it.
The people are now with you and pure democracy is going to win.
* * * * *
_J. F. Laman, Arp, Tenn._
I have been a subscriber to TOM WATSON’S MAGAZINE from first to last and
expect to continue as long as the light holds out to burn and I believe
it is getting brighter. I hope and pray for Tom Watson to live to see the
good day when he can realize that his work has been crowned with complete
success.
You ask me to give my views concerning the Magazine. I know it is the
best I ever saw, and I have seen a good many. As to improvement, I have
no suggestions to submit in regard to the make-up of the Magazine, but I
do suggest that you make it hotter, if possible, for the scoundrels who
rob honest toil of the fruits of its labor.
I have been a Populist as long as anybody I know of and the older I
become the deeper my belief is in the justice of our cause and our
principles. I was an admirer of Tom Watson when he was a member of
Congress years ago and I am for him now and will remain for him as long
as he travels in the road he is now in and I have no fear that he will
apostatize.
With best wishes for you and all your co-workers, I remain your friend to
the end.
* * * * *
_T. A. Thompson, Guntown, Miss._
1 am a Populist and have been one since 1880 and opposed to Fusion
first, last, and all the time. I have been receiving your Magazine since
November. I have three brothers that live in Alabama that have been
voting the Democratic ticket all their lives, and I want them to read
something that will open their eyes for I consider them politically
blind; and I want to help you in your gallant fight for the right. I
like your Magazine. I wish I was able to send you 100 dollars to have it
sent to men that think that they cannot afford to spend one dollar for a
paper. But the trouble with them is that they don’t think at all. They
use their heads to hang their hats on only. In the Presidential election
of 1876 I voted my last Democratic vote for President. I hope to live to
see a reformer elected President of our Government. I believe that time
is near when the people will get their eyes opened. Bossism is dying
slowly but surely. Populism is not as dead as the two old twin parties
would like to see it.
Success to your Magazine and to the People’s Party and its principles.
A Happy New Year to you.
* * * * *
_J. W. Waite, So. Hadley, Mass._
I have much enjoyed the Magazine; but have for sometime been in doubt as
to whether I should be warranted in letting you continue to send it. Its
good strong meat has not disarranged my digestion; it’s not that, but it
comes near—very near—to being a lack of circulation of the life current
of the country on the little corner I occupy.
I was a railroad man over 20 years and was discharged, not for
incompetency, but for propagating Populist doctrines. Vocally and with
the pen I spread the words of Jefferson, Lincoln and many others. I
posted them on bulletin boards and wrote some articles for the Dedham
_Transcript_—near Dedham, Mass. I was laboring the last few years of
my railroad service. However, my story is not so interesting as that
of many. I have three sons railroaders—all scattered, and I have been
living here alone on a little corner belonging to the oldest, locomotive
engineer for the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad. He reads your
Magazine occasionally and I send one occasionally to the others.
* * * * *
_A. C. Hillman, Salina, Kan._
I am one of the nineteen that voted for you in the 3rd ward of our city
in the last Presidential election. I am of the same opinion still.
* * * * *
_J. H. Vandegrift, Branchville, Ala._
I desire to say to you that I have been reading your Magazine carefully
ever since it was put in print and I am proud to say that it is a great
eye-opener to our common laboring people.
Now, I will say to you that I am 78 years of age, was born in St. Clair
County, Ala., was raised a farmer and I certainly know how to sympathize
with our laboring farming people all over the country.
I am proud to see that we have such patriotic men as Thomas E.
Watson going over our country educating our people in the cause of
righteousness. Now I am happy to know that the people are waking up
to know that justice and righteousness will prevail against fraud and
rascality. I feel happy to believe that Tom Watson will be our next
president. Now let us all get to work by showing up the light of truth to
our misguided laboring people. Our forefathers taught us the principles
of self-government—equal rights to all and special privileges to none.
I would say that every voter should read WATSON’S MAGAZINE and vote for
Watson for President.
* * * * *
_W. V. Edwards, Lewisburg, Tenn._
It is the best paper published. I don’t know how you could improve it. I
have been handing out my paper so you see I have obtained four old yellow
dog subscribers. I hope to send more soon. I am one of the Old Guard. I
am for Tom Watson against all comers. Tom and Hearst would make a team,
so put me down for them.
* * * * *
_J. R. Murdock, Dallas, Tex._
TOM WATSON’S MAGAZINE is the best educator that I read. I learn more by
reading it than I do from all the daily papers I can get. Mr. Watson’s
editorials are worth the subscription price. I believe Tom Watson is
the greatest and grandest statesman in America today. With Watson for
President we can smash the present National Banking system and abolish
corporate railroad robbery and regain our freedom stolen from us through
corrupt legislation both State and National. I am for Watson in 1908 for
President. Can vote for him with a clear conscience without fear of ever
regretting casting my vote. I am still proud I voted for him November,
1904. Give it to old Grover and the wiggle tails and trust. As ever I am
for Watson and Liberty.
* * * * *
_J. E. Reed, Collinsville, Tex._
I have read every number of your most wonderful Magazine. I say wonderful
because it has no equal in championing the cause of the people and in
denouncing the big thieves who go scot free because they have plenty
of money with which to bribe both judge and jury. For the last decade
there has been a huge suspicion in the minds of the masses that both the
old parties are dominated by the same Wall Street influences and your
brilliant editorials have confirmed this suspicion. There was a huge
suspicion that the leaders of the so-called Democratic Party in 1904
betrayed the people into the hands of Wall Street, and your editorials
have certainly confirmed this suspicion. Indeed the “magazine with a
purpose back of it” is having a mighty influence with every honest and
fair-minded man. The literary features of your Magazine are excellent.
The “Educational Department” alone is worth more than the subscription
price. In fact your Magazine has no peer for the price in America.
Dear Tom, we trust your health will continue good, that you may continue
to expound those sacred principles that have emanated from the Sage of
Monticello.
* * * * *
_J. R. P. Wall, Rutland, Fla._
I desire to express my appreciation of your superb Magazine. I have read
every number and shall continue to read it as long as you are at the head
of it. The only way to improve the Magazine is to put more of your own
writings in it—say “The Life and Times of Jefferson” in serial form.
May your health be preserved that you may continue the good work.
* * * * *
_T. A. Calhoun, Mansfield, Ga._
“The Life Worth Living” expresses my opinion of your Magazine. It teaches
the true idea of scholar, statesman and patriot. Let us make a sacrifice
of ourselves for the good of mankind and then we will be led out of the
wilderness.
I have been in the fight 39 years and will be to the end. I am for
principle and not party.
* * * * *
_Hart Henley, Dallas, Tex._
Public opinion should be so modified that a man desiring peace could
remain peaceable without being branded coward. Had such been the case,
young Branch’s life might have been spared.
Deduced from the papers it seems a dread of opprobrium had as much to do
with young Merriweather’s acceptance of Branch’s challenge as irritation
or resentment.
Have read your Magazine. Admire it very much and like the way the
opinions of the people are voiced. Being one of them, I send you an
opinion to voice.
* * * * *
_T. L. Wheeler, Staunton, Ind._
I like your Magazine and realize that you are doing a great work for the
people.
* * * * *
_L. D. Riggins, Clanton, Ala._
I consider that TOM WATSON’S MAGAZINE is doing a Godly work for humanity
in teaching them to know how to discriminate between a democratic and an
aristocratic government.
* * * * *
_A Subscriber, Petaluma, Cal._
My husband and I have read your Magazine since its first issue, and we
would not be without it. There is often a conflict as to who shall read
it first though perhaps half a dozen other new magazines are lying about
unread, for we take many. My husband, busy high-school teacher, says Tom
Watson refreshes him after his hard day’s work. As he reads it, I can
hear him chuckling occasionally, sometimes laughing heartily. We enjoy
the editorials, especially, but it is all good. The fiction is of a high
order. I hope to see your Magazine in our public library. Many more would
like it if they knew of it, and a great many do most of their reading
here in the public library.
My husband has his life insured in the Equitable—I hate the word. He did
it to protect me and the children in case of his death. But now we are
undecided whether to keep up the thing or not. Do you think the Equitable
might fail to fulfill the contract in case of death? I should like to
know your opinion. We have just paid three premiums and another will be
due next spring. I have two little children and if my husband should be
taken we should be in a dreadful plight. But we are trying to make other
provisions. It is simply outrageous the way the people are treated. It
fills one with helpless rage.
I was interested in the article “Phases of the Peonage Question.” Was the
planter who “had to kill a negro” ever tried for it? I would like to know
that planter’s name and address, so that I can follow his suit when it
comes off. I am interested in this question. Won’t you request the author
to give me this information, if you cannot give it. I prefer to have it
through the pages of the Magazine. With best wishes for your success in
trying to bring about more just conditions.
* * * * *
_Charles Burbage, Row, I. T._
I have read and reread every copy of TOM WATSON’S MAGAZINE from cover to
cover and like each number better than the proceeding one. It is far the
best of the fifteen magazines that I read each month and I would not do
without it for twice the price.
Your editorials are convincing. Just keep on pumping the hot shot into
the trusts and corporations for, if they are let alone, they will soon
be taking the house and lot while the old man and boys are at home. They
would not wait for the old lady to become a widow.
* * * * *
_Matilda Magley, Green Ridge, Mo._
I have been one of your true friends, since I got acquainted with you as
a Congressman. I love your style of calling things and people by their
right names. Your paper is doing a noble work now, while the people are
being confused over the late insurance frauds, railroad and banking
scandals, trust, corporations and thefts from the honest common laborer,
and they see it is worth while to do a little of their own thinking. I
hope the day will soon dawn, when people will see the folly of relying on
other men’s views not in accord with true reform.
Yours till victory is won.
* * * * *
_W. O. Robinson, Smyrna, Ga._
I regard your magazine as one of the grandest magazines of the day and
I, with many other loyal Georgians, regard it as a great privilege to do
honor to the illustrious name of Tom Watson as the South’s Greatest Son.
I voted for Watson for President, and am proud of my vote.
* * * * *
_G. S. Ward, Island, Ky._
I regard Tom Watson’s Magazine as one of the best magazines published
today for truth telling and divulging the hypocrisy of high official men.
It now has plenty of cartoons. In fact it is the best I ever read.
* * * * *
_G. W. Crook, Camden, W. Va._
I have a fixed arrangement with our news-dealer, T. P. Wright and Co.,
of Weston, by which I get it promptly; but for that, of course I would
subscribe. I think, as some others do, that it is all right to encourage
news-dealers, as many copies in this way pass into the hands of persons
who otherwise would not become readers of it.
I have no suggestions to offer as to improvement. Tom will attend to
that. What he don’t see “ain’t” worth discussing. His last reply to
Keely, was worth to me all the magazine has cost me from March to January.
My chief regret is that Tom and W. J. B. are not pulling the same line.
Hope they will soon.
* * * * *
_George G. Bryson, Gallatin, Tenn._
I was among the first subscribers to your magazine. If spared by Father
Time, will be among the last of its readers. Nothing better in point
these days than Tom’s editorials.
* * * * *
_George Heywood, Binghamton, N. Y._
I think 15 cents more appropriate price and think most who read it at
all, or buy it, feel the same way. I would like to be on your list, but I
move about so I must get it at news stands.
Seemingly few people have time for anything but getting a living. It
is such a “bread and butter” world, do you wonder at the enthusiastic
Socialists? There is plenty produced and the distribution is so unjust
and cruel.
* * * * *
_C. C. Edmonson, Grand View, Ark._
Populist is the synonym of right. Success to your magazine.
* * * * *
_John Medert, Indianapolis, Ind._
The million and a half of voters who were freed from party thralldom by
the Populist movement have made it impossible for the Democratic Party to
get back to Clevelandism, or for the Republican Party to “stand pat” on
anything. The Senators who “grinned like Cheshire cats” at Senator Allen
when he made charges against them, are having troubles of their own. The
outlook is hopeful, and the law of disintegration is still at work.
* * * * *
_Thomas Wybrants Lodge, Ha Ha Tonka, Mo._
I am, and intend to remain, a regular subscriber and reader of your
fearless and honest Magazine, which, along with Post’s _Public_, are
the only papers I care to read, and see you also consider Post’s paper
“excellent.” I do not think you are just to Tolstoi, and so enclose
you his own letter of April 27, 1894. In your editorial of October you
confound “ownership” with “possession.” If you will read chapters XVIII
and XIX of “Social Problems” the great essential difference will be
clear to you. Neither George nor Tolstoi ever proposed any division or
partition of the land—nothing of the sort. George indeed, in chapter
II, book VIII of “Progress, and Poverty” makes this most plain, saying
“I do not propose either to purchase or to confiscate private property
in land.” But surely, Mr. Watson, if you have not, carefully, without
bias read these incomparable works, you ought to do so; he expressly
disclaims his “fundamental reform” as being any “panacea;” he fully
recognizes and so does Tolstoi “that even after we do this, much will
remain to do.” I am an old and very poor man of 73. Had I the means I’d
buy and send you George’s “Condition of Labor.” No honest Christian after
reading that little, but truly logical and ethically admirable “Open
Letter to the Pope,” could say, much less maintain, that Nature (God)
did not intend the Rent of Land—Land values—for the use and the support
of human Governments. I hope you will honestly “read, mark, learn and
inwardly digest” George’s works. You then would see and own that “The
Land Question is the Labor Question” and far more important than “The
Money Question,” serious though that certainly is. I subscribe myself
your earnest and true admirer.
* * * * *
_Dorrance B. Currier, Hanover, N. H._
Frankly—I enjoy reading TOM WATSON’S MAGAZINE, especially his editorials,
more than anything else I read, for I agree with them and have for the
past thirty years advocated them.
If the Magazine can be improved you know how to do it better than I do,
but we readers should supply you the means by a united effort to double
your subscription list. Whatever may be the alignment of political
parties two years hence, the principles advocated by Mr. Watson will
be represented by one of them. To you, then, reader of this letter
in California, Florida, Minnesota or among the granite hills of New
Hampshire, what will you do to help and do it NOW?