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The Commoner
MARCH, 1915
15
.
where.. For example: With half the world at
war no American is greatly disturbed over the
prospect of the United States being involved in
the conflict. He leels certain that if the United
States were attacked, a single call in the morn
ing from the president would see 1,000,000 men
in arms by evening.
"A sense of self reliance Is one of the greatest
assets of the American people, which has grown
out of this frontier philosophy. It is this feel
ing a sense of security which makes us
laugh about danger of war. It is a fine feeling.
The real frontier is gradually disappearing, and
with it is going its philosophy.
"In a sense, however, we are still living on
the frontier and we ought to be glad of it. The
frontier reflects ability; its people are not afraid
.to try out new things."
WOULD ABOLISH LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR
Two states, New Jersey and Oregon, have no
lieutenant-governors, and the abolition of that
office in the state of California is proposed in a
movement detailed in a recent issue of the Short
Ballot Bulletin, as follows:
"An interesting variation from the typical
plan for applying the appointive principle in the
state government has been worked out by the
Commonwealth club of California and embodied
in a resolution for a constitutional amendment.
This draft calls for the abolition of the office of
lieutenant-governor and provides for the succes
sion by 'such state officer as the legislature may
determine.'
"Another amendment would remove from the
ballot the secretary of state, attorney-general,
treasurer and state superintendent of public in
struction and vest their appointment in the gov
ernor by and with the advice of the senate."
MAN'S MOST USEFUL AGE
Investigation by keen men has shown that
man's best work has been dope between, tho
ages of 60 and ,70 years of age, declared' Pres
ident 13. R. Bryan of Colgate university, in ah
addr.,esd Jbefpre the Oregon .teachers', association.
President Bryan said:.
"Six hundred of the most important scientists,
statesmen and old world famous men were se
lected, and it was found that only 5 per cent of
them accomplished their world's work before
the age of 40, 10 per cent between 40 and 50, 20
per cent 50 and 60; 35 per cent between 60 and
70; 21 per cent after they had reached the ago
of 80."
MR. BRYAN TO INDIANA EDITORS ,
(Continued from Pago 11)
this state is not a majority party at present. You
had a majority in only two congressional dis
tricts in "this state last fall. I remind you that
there are 100,000 men who did not identify
themselves with the republican party, but called
themselves progressives, and the democratic
party muBt appeal to more than just its present
membership. You had less votes in this state
last fall than you polled in 1896, when we lost
most of our prominent democrats and nearly all
of our great papers, less than you had in 1900,
1908, 1912, less even than in 1904.
"The great democratic party of Indiana can
not afford to take the chance of -being wrong on
any of these questions How are you going to
win? The first thing is to deserve to win. And
hpw can you deserve to win? A party can de
serve it as a man can deserve it. The only man
who is fit to live for a principle is the man who
is ready to die for it, and the way for the dem
ocratic party to show that it is flt to rule this
great state is to show that it stands for something
that is worth dying for, and nothing is worth
dying for except that which is good.
"I urge you, therefore, editors, to find out
which is the moral side of every question and then
help to put the democratic party on the moral
side, for the moral side is the side that will ul
timately win.
"I am very glad to have had an opportunity
to talk to the democratic editors of this state.
You have been very good to me when I have been
a candidate, and I have come and helped you as
best I could when not a candidate. The better
our party did, the better speech I could make.
"Now, I want you to make a record so good
in this state, and stand for things so high, .that
I can make a better speech in the future than l
have ever been able to make in the past.
Opening of Panama
Pacific Exposition
THE WEDDING OF THE ROSE AND THE
LOTUS
(A poem written on the completion of the Pan
ama canal, showing how the genius of tho west,
here typified by tho rose, and the genius of tho
east, hero typified by tho lotus, are to bo merged
and mingled in one.)
Flags of the Pacific
And the Atlantic meet.
Captain calls to captain
Fleet makes cheers with fleet.;
Above the drowned ages
A wind of wooing blows: '
The red rose woos tho lotus,
The lotus woos the rose. '' " .
The lotus conquered Egypt,
Tho rose was loved in Rome.'
Great India crowned the lotus:
(Britain, tho rose's home).
Old China crowned the lotus,
They crowned it in Japan,
But Christendom adored the rose
Ero Christendom began.
r-v
The lotus speaks of slumber:
Tho rose is as a dart.
The lotus is Nirvana:
The rose is Mary's heart.
The rose is deathless, restless.
The splendor of our pain:
The flush and fire of labor
That builds, not all in vain.
The genius of tho lotus
Shall heal earth's too-much fret.
Theroso, in blinding glory,
Shall waken Asia yet.
Hail to their lovos, ye peoples!
Behold, a world-wind blows' "
That aidB the ivory lotus '
To wed tho red red rose!
, Nicholas Vaschel Lindsay.
Tho Panama Pacific exposition at San Francis
co, to commemorate tho completion of the Pan
ama canal, was formally opened February 20.
The ceremonies at Washington, incident to tho
opening of tho great fair, are described in tho
Springfield Republican, as follows:
President Wilson, by pushing a button at 3
o'clock Saturday afternoon, February 20, gave
the electric signal which formally opened tho
Panama-Pacifif exposition at San Francisco. The
flash was conveyed from tho White house to
San Francisco by both telegraph and wireless.
President Moore of the exposition immediately
sent back word that the flash had come through
and that the exposition was formally opened.
The president used a telegraph key studded
with gold nuggets, which was used by President
Taft in opening the Alaskan-Yukon exposition.
Present at the ceremony were Secretaries Bryan,
' McAdoo, Houston, Wilson, Daniels and Attorney
General Gregory. Assistant Secretary Roosevelt
of the navy; Senators Works and Perkins and all
of the representatives from California, Gov., Ham
lin of the federal reserve board and Commissioner-General
of Immigration Caminetti.
Promptly at 3 o'clock the president pushed the
telegraph key down for several seconds amid a
burst of handclapping: "This appeals to the im
agination rather than to the eye," said the pres
ident. Members of the California congressional
delegation thanked him for opening the exposi
tion and he responded by saying he expected to
visit it later.
AT SAN FRANCISCO
Following Is a description of the scene at San
Francisco which followed the giving of the elec
tric signal by President Wilson, and the opening
exercises in that city:
President Wilson in the White House by tho
touch of a-button completed a telegraph 'eircuit
which automatically worked a relay key in the
wireless station at Tuckerton, N. J. Instantly
powerful electric waves leaped out across the
continent. A fraction of a second later they were
received on aerials strung from the tower of jew
els in the exposition grounds. Anotfcer relay in
strument transmitted them to apparatus which
swung open the doors of the palace of machinery,
unloosed the waters of the fountain of energy,
nrf riotnnated alenal bombs in token of receiDL
'Today is the triumpn," saiu uovernor ionn-
son," speaking for California, "of a San Francis
co that nine years ago lay in ruins."
Owing to the presence of Secretary Lane, rep
resehtlng President Wilson, there . was rio ex
change by telephone, ashad beon planned, of mes
sages between the White House and President
Moore qf tho exposition. Instead, Secretary Lane
transmitted tho grcotlngs of president Wilson
and announcomont was sent to him by tolegraph
that tho exposition was open.
Salvos of artillery, shrieking whistles and si
rens, pealing bolls, rolling drums and piercing
flfes had wakened tho city at dawn. The day
had boon doclarcd a legal holiday and nearly all
tho business houses and factories woro closed 'to
permit their employes to march In tho giganf'c
parado which early took possession of UY6
grounds.
In tlie parado were Secretary Lane of the de
partment of the Interior, representing President
Wilson; Govornor Johnson, the sonate and assem
bly of California, tho governor and entire legis
lature of Novada, Mayor Itolph of San Francisco,
Mayor Rose of Los Angeles and the mayors of
many other California cities.
Tho formal aspect of the dedication was made
as short and simple as possible. United States
soldiers and marines escorted Secretary Lano,
Governor Johnson and the other officials to a
stand facing tho main entrance to the exposition,
where they were wolcomed by President Charles
C. Moore and tho other cxocutlvo officers.
In opening his address, Secretary Lane said in
part: "To you, President Moore, and to your
colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, I bear tho con
gratulations of the nation on the opening of this
international exposition. This morning I have
from tho presidont tho following telegram:
" 'Pleaso convey my heartiest congratulations
to the authorities of the exposition and express
my hope that their highest expectations for Its
distinguished success will bo moro than realized
"Within a month I expect tho president him
self will bo with you to greet the representative
of tho nations who have joined in tho croation f
this new city by the Golden Gate. I come at X
token bearer to speak a ecblc foreword to Che
rich volume of his admiration of your courage,
your enterprise and your gonlus. '
"Tho sculptors who have ennobled these bull?!'
ings with their work have surely given full swlg
to their fancy In seeking to symbolize tho tale
which this exposition tolls. And among these
figures I have sought for one which would rep
resent to me tho significance of this great enter
prise. "Prophets, priests and kings are hero, conquer
ors and mystical figures of ancient legend, but
these do not speak the word I bear. My eye Is
drawn to the least conspicuous figure of all the
modest figure of a man, standing beside two ox
en, who looks down on the court of the nations,
whero east and west como faco to face.
Without him wo would not be hero. Without
him banners would not fly nor bands play. With
out him San Francisco would not bo today the
gayest cltyof the globe. Shall I tell you who he Is.
this key figure In the arch of our enterprise? That
slender, dauntless, plodding, modest figure Is the
American pioneer. To me ho is far more, lie Is
tho adventuresome spirit of our restless race.
"Tho long Journey of this slight, modest figure
that stands beside the oxen is at an end. Tho
waste places of the earth have been found. But
adventure Is not to end. Here will be taught the
gospel of an advancing democracy strong, val
iant, confident, conquering upborne and typ
ified by the independent spirit of the American
pioneer."
LANE PRAISES FAIR
IU
Secretary Lane, who represented President
Wilson at the formal opening of the Panama-Pacific
expostion at San Francisco, telegraphed the
president that the fair exceeded all previous ex
pectations. Congratulations on the opening of
the exposition were received by the president
from the governor-general of Australia, who
transmitted a message through Sir Cecil Spring
like, the British ambassador. The message fol
lows: "The government of thd commonwealth desires
to convey to the president and people of the
United States felicitations on the occasion of the
opening of the exhibition to commemorate the
completion of the world's greatest work, linking
two ocean through Panama. Beat wishe for
the succmmi of the exhibition and of the great
enterpriser May the cordial and happy relation
that have existed between the citizens of the
United States and the commonwealth be pro
moted by the opening of this new waterway."
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