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The Commoner
VOL. 15, NO.
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Taxpayers vs. Tax-eaters
If you want to embarrass a jingo, ask him
"Where the money for frenzied preparedness is to
come from. It is easy enough to swagger around
and talk about getting ready for war, but who
in to bear the burden? The tax-payers have to
foot the bills, and they are not scared. They are
aot only not frightened themselves, but they
can be relied upon to put a quietus upon this
war bogey when an attempt is made to raise
Mnnecessary taxes.
What democrat will be rash enough to pro
pose an increase in import duties? The party
has been trying for a generation to reduce the
tariff, and has at last succeeded. It required
an almost superhuman effort shall we now
turn around and undo the work? The repub
licans would laugh us out of the next campaign.
They would say that preparedness was only a
pretext that the increase "was a confession
that tariff reform was a failure.
It is not necessary to consider the possibility
of an increase In the tax on whiskey and beer
the distillers and brewers would oppose it be
cause it would burden their business, and the
temperance element would object to increasing
the government's dependence on 'these sources of
revenue.
And who will say that the Income tax should
be increased? A reduction in the exemption
would be resented by the large number wlio
would be affected, and an increase in the rate
on big incomes would arouse objection among
the jingoes themselves.
There remains one course to be considered-1-bonds.
Yes, any amount could be raised by an
Issue of bonds if congress were foolish enough
to authorize them, but congressmen have to
utand for election next year, and who would be
willing to defend a bond issue for wars that no
body wants and that only a few expect?
The democratic party is the champion of the
producing masses, and it can not afford to invite
defeat by taking sides with the tax-eaters against
the tax-payers. A nation like ours which intends
no injustice need not fear attack it need not
xhaust itself In unnecessary preparation for im
probable wars.
W. J. BRYAN.
A DANIEL COME TO JUDGMENT
On another page will be found the address re
cently delivered at Frp.nkfort, Kentucky, by
Comptroller Williams. It is well worth reading.
The country will be astounded to learn of such
xtortion being practiced by so large a number
of the national banks. It is fortunate for the
people that wo have such a man as John Skelton
Williams In so important a position.. He is a
.Daniel come to judgment." According to his
tatement some of the men against? whom ho
Inveighlea could give Shylock points on usury.
Some of the august members of congress are
cautiously announcing that they are in favor of a
program of reasonable preparedness for war. Tlia
fact that "reasonable" is a descriptive that As
capable of almost any meaning or may mean al
most any figure will not, however, save these
gentlemen from the scorn of those who are de
manding that we spend everything in sight and
mortgage the next generation for the purpose of
preparing for an enemy vrho will be. as invisible
for years as he is now.
4
)- , !!! m in i aiMMinani i m
PEACE MEETING
In response to an invitation extended to Mr.
Bryan to attend a peace meeting under the a.u
apices of the Peace committee of the Panama
Pacific exposition, Mr. Bryan sent the following
telegram:
"Washington, D. C, Oct. 11, 1915. Peace
Committee, Panama Pacific Exposition, San
Francisco: I regret exceedingly that it is im
possible for me to participate in your meeting.
My heart is with you in your efforts to promote
universal peace. We should do all in our power
to bring the European war to an end; btft if we
can not yet stay the hand of blood over there
we should at least cultivate here the spirit of
peace and oppose any policy which would stim
ulate hatred toward other nations or transplant
pon American voJl the theory that peace can
Ire either insured or promoted by force and fear
"W.f J. BRYAN." "
WORSHIPPING THE WAR GOD
An enemy of a great European once said of
him that he was the old statesman who "could
improvise the convictions of a lifetime." Bor
rowing the idea, it may be said that the advocate
of preparedness manufactures history to suit
his purpose. One of the exponents of prepared
ness thus expresses himself:
"There are those, of course, gluttons of ease
and peaceful prosperity, who think they have
inherited the ages and that no chance may dis
possess them, who cluster greedily about the
Barmecide feast of the Pacifists.
"The thought of danger, of sejf-sacriflce, of
payment in blood and treasure and tears and
sweat for the privilege of continuing the enjoy
ment of their good fortone is hideous."
"Gluttons of ease." Which furnishes us the
highest type of activity the camp, or the-farm
and the factory? And "self-sacrifice," where is
it best exemplified, in war or in peace?
The glorifying of war is becoming a fine art.
The hideous features of the war god are being
masked; he is being represented as the very
embodiment of strength, virtue and honor. If
he is thus idolized before we adopt the plan of
frenzied preparedness, what may we expect if
we deliberately adopt the policy that has led
Europe into this carnival of blood? r
It is both startling and alarming that while
the cruelties and inhumanities of the European
war have aroused in most Americans a greater
desire for peace, they have stirred others to the
praise of all that is brutal and barbarous.
, TARIFF COMMISSION UNNECESSARY
The following letter from the president, In
answer to an inquiry of former Governor Cox .of
Ohio, will be generally approved by the party:
"My Dear Governor: I sincerely appreciate
your letter of August 24.
"The matter of which it speaks has. been very
much in my mind, and my thought is this: The
full powers of a tariff commission are already
lodged in existing organs of the government;
most of them, and really more than the former
commission had, in the bureau of foreign arid
domestic commerce of the department of com
merce, and others (powers of investigation
chiefly) in the hands of the new federal trade
commission.
"Perhaps it would be better if these various
powers wore assembled in the heads of one bu
reau or department, but aside from that I think
the machinery exists for a thoroughly scientific
treatment of 'tariff questions. If anything is
lacking to give these powers efficiency I am, of
course, heartily in favor of doing it.
"Please accept my warmest regards and my
sincere appreciation of your interesting letter.
"Cordially and sincerely yours,
X "WOODROW WILSON."
HOPE IN HAITI
American intervention in Haiti became a ne
cessity. Rival clans were terrorizing the coun
try and practicing piracy on land. The United
States, under the Monroe doctrine, must guard
Haiti from European interference, and it could
no SVPi"1' suPPressing the lawlessness
which invited foreign interference. The Hai
tians will learn that the government of the
United States is a better friend to them than the
native chiefs, who have been little better than
bandits in-uniform. Under American guardian
ship all foreigners as -well as all Haitians will
have an equal chance, and prosperity as well aa
peace will come to the black republic.
- W. J. BRYAN.
THE BASIS OF RESPECT
Those who preach theMoctrihe of prepared
ness adopt the theory that our country win not
be respected unless it has a big army and vL.
Strange that the lessons of everyday sEou?d?o
little impress those who deal with internnH?
affairs. In private life respect does not deZi
upon physical preparedness. depend
Why is the unarmed Individual safe' FirRf
because ho tries to so act that no one wfo want
to harm him; and second, because n i nt
ment will punish any one wo injures wJTaX
so with the nation. It will dn ;5,i lm' And
nations want to injure U . Sf.n toSr'S.Su!
The jingoes will meet tiiA?r tct-o ,
they lay their plans before th6 n Wen
of the tax-payers. Whero l IT esentatives
frenzied preparedness to come from, mney for
Let Demccf ats Decide
party and join the republicans in a poHcv 5
frenzied preparedness. The scheme is too trW
parent to succeed. These same papers 2
have assured the president the same sunnort r
fce had been willing to adopt the republican nVi
icy on the tariff question, the currency question
or the trust question, but the president preferred
to rely on the democrats and, as a result, he has
gone forward making .an unprecedented record
for important reforms. m
Of course, the republicans want preparedness
or any thing else that will give them an excuse
for increasing the tariff. If they could persuade
or force the democratic party to become respon
sible for an increase in the tariff they would de
claro tariff reform a failure, and point to the
increased import duties a3 proof.
The democrats have to bear the responsibility
and they ought to shape the policy of the gov
ernment. ' The democrats -who go with the re
publicans on preparedness if there are any
will aBsnme n grave" responsibility. The demo
cratic party can be trusted to respond to every
real need, but it call not afford to allow repub
licans to lead it into h, scheme to tax the people
for the benefit of the manufacturers of battle
ships and munitions of war. There has not been
a time sineff our government was organized when
the American people had less reason to fear an
attack from any nation. There is no excuse for
the attempt to scare "money out of the pockets of
the people. W. J. BRYAN.
A WORD TO FRIENDS
Commoner readers who approve of Mr. Bry
an's efforts through the columns of his paper
in the interest of peace and good government,
are earnestly requested to make the best pos
sible use of each issue of the paper. After hav
ing read your copy of The Commoner, why not
mark some of the articles that you feel are the
most helpful and invite one or more of your
friends or acquaintances to read such articles?
To any of your acquaintances who are likely to
be interested, explain the work The Commoner
is doing and invite them to allow you to send in
their subscriptions to Mr. Bryan's paper. By
this method let the influence of the paper grow
from the inside out through the co-operation
of the earnest men and women who are so deep
ly interested in this work. We make a clubbing
rate of five yearly subscriptions for $3, or sixty
cents each; if it is not convenient to send the five
subscriptions at once, just send those you do se
cure with remittance at the rate of sixty cents
each, and say that you will try to send more
later. Mr. Bryan will appreciate your co-operation
in-extending the sphere of usefulness of The
Commoner. May we depend upon your help?
If you can not act just now, write the editor of
The Commoner a card saying that he may count
npon you, and that you will report the result of
your efforts later. Associate Editor.
A Boston paper accuses Congressman Gardener
of spending his vacation in the Canadian for
ests! Why did he not spend It drilling at some
preparation camp? If such a distinguished rep
resentative of the Knighte of Fear takes to the
woods at a critical time like this, when imagin
ary invasion threatens us on every hand, how
can we expect mere common clay to keep in
readiness to repel the foe? Shame on you.
Gussio. Your example is demoralizing.
IilGHT IN MEXICO M
It seems that Carranza ia tobe recognized. It
is worth trying. He risked everything when lie
took up the fight against Huerta he was tne
choice of those who organized to resist the new
despotism and to secure agricultural reforms.
He has shown courage and perseverance it tooj
both to main his position. His dispute witn
Villa looked foolhardy, but he has been ale
overcome the forces of that intrepid leader. He
has succeeded, and "Nothing succeeds like- suc
cess." The policy of "watchful waiting" has won--our
nation has kept out of war with Mexico.
good many have been killed -but not as many
as would have been killed if the United States
had intervened. Time will tell whether earrou
za will wisely improve his opportunity, and i db
come a national hero. Those who have tlio goo
of Mexico atTieart will wish him well.
W. J. BRYAN.
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