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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (June 20, 1913)
The Commoner. WILLIAM J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR VOL. 13, NO. 24 Lincoln, Nebraska, June 20, 1913 Whole Number 648 The Publicity Law The United States supremo court has uphold the newspaper publicity law enacted in 1912. Thl3 law provided that every newsp'aper or magazine must file semi-annually with the post ofllce department statements giving the names of the editor, managers, owners, stockholders and bond holders. Daily newspapers must glvo also their average daily circulation. It is fur ther provided that editorials that have been paid for must be so designated in print. Post office officials says that 88 per cent of the publi cations have complied with this law. There are, however, some newspaper managers who have objected to its enforcement, but these will now be required to yield. The Commoner has long advocated such a law. It is clearly in lino with good public policy. Newspaper publishers ob tain a great convenience through mail privi leges and the government has the right to ask that they take up those privileges with clean hands. The government has the right to ask that they put the public in possession of infor mation concerning the motive behind tho paper's appeals to its readers. Then the readers know the identity of the men who control the publication. Then they would bo able to place a proper estimate upon tho value of the advice that the publication gives with respect to public matters. GOOD CITIZENSHIP DAY This is a movement to observe the Sunday Just preceding the fourth day of July each year for the purpose of impressing upon the minds of the people tho practical principles of good citizenship and true patriotism In order to de velop in them the highest possible type of citi zenship and prepare the way for a more thought ful observance of tho Fourth of July. While it originated with Rev. Thomas M. Evans (now of Omaha) tho superintendent of Christian citizenship of the Nebraska Christian Endeavor Union, his purpose from the begin ning was to make it a nation-wido movement, free from party, class or creed, to be observed by everybody everywhere after the fashion of "Mother's Day." Through a circular letter ho first secured the hearty indorsement of governors from New York to Honolula and from Michi gan to Florida. Also the indorsement of such men as Wilbur F. Crafts, Jos'.ah Strong, Francis E. Clark, Frank Hanley and many others. He then issued a circular letter to the press requesting that Sunday, July 2, 1911, bo observed as "Good Citizenship Day," calling upon editors, clergymen, lecturers, Sun day schools, and young peoples' societies to give their best endeavor for the promotion of good citizenship., The Commoner has been in hearty accord with the movement ever since its beginning and is the more enthusiastic for it having witnessed its practical workings last year. In Lincoln and Omaha ministers spoke in their pulpits on good CONTENTS PUBLICITY LAW GOOD CITIZENSHIP DAY THE RIGHT TO LOBBY WHAT ABOUT THE SENATOR'S . EMPLOYERS? "WARS ARE NOT PAID FOR IN WAR TIME; THE BILL COMES LATER" POWERS OF STATES CONCEDED BY HIGHER COURT THE DECISION INTERPETED. CURRENT TOPICS HOME DEPARTMENT NEWS OF THE WEEK WASHINGTON NEWS citizenship and in tho afternoon splendid open air meetings were held in both citios. We seo in the movement untold opportunities for tho betterment of our citizenship. Wo trust that as "Mother's Day" has emphasized a deepor love and truer dovotion for mothorhood so may "Good Citizenship Day" creato in tho heart of every citizen a keener appreciation of his oppor tunities and a deepor sense of his responsibili ties as a citizen. WHAT ABOUT THE SENATOR'S EMPLOYERS? Truman G. Palmer, tho beet sugar lobbyist, told tho senate investigating committoo that a series of charts, prepared by him argumenta tive against free sugar and published as a senate document had attained a circulation of 320,000 copieB under tho franking privileges of Senator Lodge. Tho Associated Press report of tho committoo proceedings says: "Tho charts first appeared in the senate during tho speech of Mr. Lodge made last July.- Chairman Overman and Sena tor Reed developed on cross-examination that after Mr. Lodge had secured permission to print tho documents, Palmer got a proof from tho government printing office and revised it. "Tho two senators seemed intent to empha size that a representative of a private interest had been allowed to change something the senate had ordered printed, although Mr. Pal mer denied that any material alterations had been made. "Chairman Overman announced, however, that officials of tho government printing office would bo summoned to tell how such a docu ment had been sent to private hands for re vision and that if Senator Lodgo wished to testify he would be allowed to do so. " 'The mailing of this documont, I find, would cost five cents,' tfaid Senator Reed to Palmer, 'and you, therefore saved $16,000 for your em ployers.' " 'I'm very glad to know It,' replied Palmer." But what about Senator Lodge's employer? The saving of this ?16,000 to this beet sugar concern shifted the expense to tho government of the United States. Mr. Palmer rejoices over the saving to his employers. Is there any reason why a United States sena tor should bo Indifferent to tho interests of his employer? "FINANCIAL TIGHTNESS" The Wall Street Journal, hearing that an inquiry was likely to bo made in Wall street by the federal government to detormino tho cause of tho present condition of the money and stock markets, explains that "If President Wilson wants to know tho reason for tho decline in the stock market he has not far to seek. Tho Bank of England's minimum discount rate has not stood as high as 4 per cent in twenty-two years in tho first week in June, and tho comparison is with tho crisis which followed tho Baring suspension twenty threo years ago. With such a rate in London at the time when money ought to bo the cheapest of the year, the Paris rate stands at 4 per cent (and tho bank of Franco Is not restricted to gold in paying Its obligations), while tho German Reichs-bank maintains a minimum discount rate of 6 per cent and would be glad enough to make it higher but for an inevitable panic at minor financial centers of eastern Europe. . "If the world's money market is like this In tho first week of June, what will it be next October? Has wicked Wall street produced all this, or are wo not facing a world wide crisis, which neither congress nor tho president can control? The great European banks of issue do not maintain these sinister rates merely to in fluence American domestic politics." Reproducing the above the Dubuque (Iowa) Telegraph-Herald says: The statement is no less interesting as a plausible explanation of the condition, than because it absolves the Wilson administration from all responsibility for it, direct or indirect. The Right to Lobby No one .quostlons tho right of any man or Intorest to bo heard by congressional or legis lative committees with respect to legislation that might affect a particular business. To deny such a' privilogo would bo to reject the right of petition and that rlght must In popu lar government bo prosorved. Thoro are, too, somo who think, that it is not improper for tho lobbyist to discuss these matters with legisla tors as individuals. On this point thoro will bo marked difference of opinion. It will bo agreed, however, that tho safer courso for tho best in terests of all concornod would bo for tho rep resentative of special IntoroBt to conflno his efforts to pleas beforo regularly constituted committees sitting in public hearing. Tho legislator must bo given all tho arguments pro and con upon every proposition with which ho is to deal. But overy individual right may bo preserved when those arguments are presented in a public way. In this view tho tlmo may come when representatives of special Interests will bo denied tho privilogo of making tholr arguments to legislators as Individuals and re quired to make their pleas to regularly or ganized committees holding public sessions!. In tho meantime, however, It will bo agreed that the occupation of every man who represents special interests In tho matter of legislation at tho national capital should bo known to tho public, Somo of these lobbyists have been un covered In tho Investigations set on foot by tho president. Congressional investigation ought not, however, to ho necessary for this purpose. Thoro should be a law requiring ovory lobbyist or agent of special Interests to formally register at tho national capital just as theso gentlemen are required to register at many of tho stato capitals. Tho public Interest Is entitled to every safeguard. EMMET'S EPITAPH Emmet's epitaph may yet bo written. A writer in tho New York Times says: Unless all signs fail Ireland will have homo rulo by 1916. Tho present proceedings in rotation to tho bill In the British house of commons may bo described as purely perfunctory. Under a parliament act the lower house must pass tho bill three times beforo the Inevitable veto of tho house of lords becomes inactive. Tho peers may amend th bill when they make up their minds to accept it seriously and tho lower house may accept tho amendments or insist on reintroducing the bill in precisely Its present form at tho next session. The debate which will follow tho second reading of tho bill this session may bo pro tracted, but It can sorvo no purpose. Tho unionists will have their say, of course, and tho voice of Ulster will bo heard. But it is not likely that "militant tactics" will be resorted to. Irish home rulo is a foregone conclusion and the mastors of "militancy" in parliament are all In favor of tho bill. AT THE GUTIIIIIE BANQUET Abstract of Mr. Bryan's remarks at tho Guthrie dinner at Pittsburgh: "I am here for a double purpose: first, to in troduce two distinguished gentlemen, His Excel lency Viscount Chlnda, who, with such ability and distinction, represents Japan at tho capital of our nation, ajyl Ambassador Guthrie, to whom has been given the honor of representing tho United States at Toklo. My connection with tho department having to do with foreign relations makes it appropriate that I should be present on this occasion when these representatives of their respective countries make each other's acquain tance. "The second purpose of my visit is to pay my respects to, and express my personal regard for, theso gentlemen who are entrusted with th honorable mission of representing the two coua- 4