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The Commoner
WILLIAM J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
VOL. 15, NO. 1
Lincoln, Nebraska, January, 1915
Whole Number 669
National Prohibition
in Congress
In the last issue of The Commoner I expressed
the opinion that, this was not an opportune time
to propose a national prohibition amendment
not 'because of any objection to the principle in
volved (I stated I would vote for the amend
ment if submitted) but because the submission
of such an amendment at this time would 'divert
attention from other issues pressing for consid
eration, without advancing the cause of prohi
bition. On another page will be found the vote upon,
the amendment. It will be seen that while it
lacked? the two-thirds necessary to pass such a
resolution, it received a majority of eight a
striking proof of the growing tide, against the
liquor "business. '
- "Whleithe brewers and distillers are congrat
ulating, themselves that- the .prohibition -orce&
could not securo a two-thirds majority,, theyaro
ldoidn'with'Dlahched faces and trembling hearts'
upon the declaration, solemnly made on roll
call, that a clear majority of the people's rep
resentatives in congress are arrayed against
rum selling.
As it only requires a majority to pass laws, the
iliqiior interests see in the vote on the amend
ment the'laeginning of the end of their suprem
acy. The death knell of the saloon has been
sounded and it is only a question of a few years
when the business, now made an outlaw, will
be driven from the highways and forced into the.
secret places, where, after a few years more ot
fugitive life it will meet its death. From now
-on the liquor business can consider itself a fu
gitive from justice, living in constant fear of
arrest and punishment.
Many who voted for the prohibition amend
ment were opposed to its submission t this
time, but, when compelled to vote yes or no, they
preferred to ally themselves with the temper
ance forces rather than run the risk of being
counted on the side of the saloon. Ttthers, who
have fought the liquor interests in their several
states, voted against the submission of the
amendment at this time because they preferred
to center the light on the states where it is .at
issue rather than to have the attack scattered
over the entire country. These will be for a
national amendment whenever they think the
time is ripe for such action and in the mean
time they will redouble their energies and en
ter with still more earnestness into the state
contests against the liquor interests. The tem
perance element will not deal harshly with the
man who voted "No," provided he is in the fore
front of the battle in his state, but woe unto the
man who pleads "state rights" against national
prohibition and then allies himself with the
liquor interests in his state! He will find it
difficult to convince his constituents that his ar
guments against the exercise of national author
ity on the subject expressed bis real reason for
voting "No." W. J. BRYAN.
THE GOSPEL OP HOPE
Tho president, in his groat speech at Indian?
apolis, to be found on another page, presents the
gospel of hope. While republican reactionaries
aro mourning and moaning over the successful
attacks on privilege and favoritism, the president
orders another charge. In his own felicitous
style he defends the laws already passed and an
nounces a progressive program for tho future.
Forward, march! is the command, and the party
is with him.
The president is a little hard on tho stand
patters, but he does not hit them a lick amiss.
They deserve it.
Who says the president does not understand
the Mexican situation? The Huertaitcs in tho
United States will not make any political capital
out of watchful waiting.
- If the republican party has any NEW
THp'UGHTSplet it'speak now, or forever hold" its
peace. N - .' - - -"V ' ' '.
".
,JThe .invitation Xok tiie'progress1y'o republicans
-the real1 ones is a" standing one; they can
como when they like; they will find a welcome.
The men who, influenced by mistaken zeal, are
trying to involve the United States in unneutral
acts, will get little comfort out of the president's
speech. He pleads for a neutrality which will
enable this nation, as the friend of all the belli
gerents, to act for all when the time of action
comes. W. J. BRYAN.
A BUSINESS MAN'S VIEWS
On another page will bo found a most inter
esting speech delivered by Mr. Theodoro F.
Thiem'o of Ft. Wayne, Indiana, before the Fed
erated Commercial clubs of that ntato, as
sembled at Terre Haute. It is instructive not
only because of what is said, but also because
it is said by a BUSINESS MAN. Mr. Thleme is
a prominent manufacturer. His attention was
called to some abuses that needed remedying,
and when he started out to secure them ho
found all the evil forces of society banded to
gether to fight any and every reform. His ex
perience has made a real reformer out of him.
Strength to his arm! May, his tribe increase wo
need more reformers among the business men.
CONTENTS
NATIONAL PROHIBITION IN ONGRESS
PLUTOCRACY IS BRAYING AGAIN
CREATING PUBLIC OPINION
STATES' RIGHTS NOT MENACED
THE PRIMARY LAW
PRESIDENT WILSON DEFENDS DEMO
CRATIC RECORD
MR. BRYAN'S ADDRESS BEFORE THE
AMERICAN PEACE SOC'lETY
INDICTMENT AGAINST CHRISTIANITY
BECORD VOTE ON THE HOBSON BILL
WHO OWNS OUR GOVERNMENT
THE NAZARENE'S PROGRAM
WORK OF THE PRESIDENT'S CABINET
CURRENT TOPICS
Plutocracy is Braying
Again
The papers of Docombor 22nd published a let
ter from President F. D. Underwood of tho Erie
railroad to the Marlon, Ohio, chamber of com
merce, declining an invitation to speak at a
gathering there. In tho course of his letter he
refers contemptuously to "the political hacks
now hammering business, who woro clothed
with power, and really holding back business
under tho breeching of reform." Ho continue!
as follows:
"I am sure that all men who think agree that
it is time to call a halt. Break down political
lines, if necossary, to put business men on guard;
put atmospheric philosophers, political charlat
ans, and reformers by self-acclamation, not by
record, in the stocks.
. "W can all bo suro that prosperity will not
again come to us except upon two conditions
first, prosperity following agriculture; second,
prosperity of American transportation, Regu
lated; it -has b'eenj regulated It must bo; perse
cuted It has been, and persecute1 it must not
bd; The price for that sort of political show ii
too high to bo safe.
- "In destroying the credit and thereby cutting
oil tho purchasing power of tho railroads, the
financial catastrophe so created has backed Into
the factories and the homes,
"Tho political doctors of our day but typify .
tho money changers of old. Duplicate the treat
ment they had. Put these wo have out of our
political temple; let them take their turn at
short hours, low wages, and hunger."
Attention is called to a few phrases which il
lustrate his attitude of mind. "I am sure that
all men who THINK agree that it is time to call
a halt." Do only those who profit by privilege or
who defend favoritism Indulge In tho luxury
of thinking! It is a common habit with those
who grow rich by controlling tho instrumental
ities of the government to look down on tho tax
payers as an "unthinking mob," but is Mr. Un
derwood not a little presumptuous when ho ex
cludes from the number of those who think, our
scholar-president? Another phrase: "Break
down political lines, if necessary, 10 put business
men on guard." No politics among those who
worship the dojlar, not for a moment; with then
patriotism is merely the art of standing together;
and dividing the spoils. But what an injustice
to class all business men with the purse-proud
members of tho privileged class. Again, "put
atmospheric philosophers, political charlatans,
and reformers by self-acclamation, not by record,
in the stocks." This suggests the tyranny which
such men would exercise if they had the power.
Any man who raised an objection to the iron
rule of the predatory rich would be put in the
stocks this is the answer which the financial
despot always makes to those who complain,
It is the old remedy compel them "to make
bricks without straw."
But why single out sentences for "attention?
Tho letter is all of a piece; every sentence in
steeped in the hatred that takes possession oi
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