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DECEMBER, 1915
The Commoner
15
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recting officers of the army and navy men of
recognized leadership and ability from among
our citizens who are thoroughly familiar, for
example, with the transportation facilities of tho
country and therefore competent to advise how
they may be co-ordinated when the need arises,
those who can suggest tho best way in which to
bring about prompt co-operation among the
manufacturers of the country, should it be neces
sary, and those who could assist to bring tho
technical skill of the country to the aid of tho
government in the solution of particular prob
lems of defense. I only hope that if I should
find it feasible to constitute such an advisory
body the Congress would be willing to vote the
small sum of money that would be needed to de
fray tho expenses that would probably be neces
sary to give it the clerical and administrative
machinery with which to do serviceable work.
What is more important is, that the industries
and resources of the country should be available
and ready for mobilization. It is the more im
peratively necessary, therefore, that we should
promptly devise means for doing what we have
not yet done: that we should give intelligent
federal aid and stimulation to industrial and
vocational education, as we have long done in
the large field of our agricultural industry; that,
at the same time that we safeguard and conserve
the natural resources of the country we should
put them at the disposal of those who will use
them promptly and intelligently, as was sought
to be done in the admirable bills submitted to
the last Congress from its committees on the
public lands, bills which I earnestly recommond
in principle to your consideration; that we
should put into early operation some provision
for rural credits which will add to the extensive
borrowing facilities already afforded the farmer
by the Reserve Bank Act adequate instrumental
ities by which long credits may be obtained on
land mortgages.; and that we should study more
carefully than they have hitherto been studied
the right adaptation of our economic arrange
ments to changing conditions.
Many conditions about which we have re
peatedly legislated are being altered froin decade
to decade, it is evident, under our very eyes, and
are likely to change even more rapidly and more
radically in the 'dayfc immediately ahead of us,
when peace has returned to the world and the
nations of Europe dnce more take up their tasks
of commerce and 'industry with the energy of
those who niiist bestir themselves to build anew.
Just what "these" changes will be no ono
can certainly ' foresee or confidently pre
dict. There are1 'riot calculable because no
stable element1' :in ' the problem. The most
we can do is to make certain that we have the
necessary instr.ume'n'talities of information con
stantly at -our Service so that we may be sure
that we Triiow exactly what we are dealing with
when we 'borne ''to act, if it should be necessary
to act at all "We must first certainly know what
it is that we are seeking to, adapt ourselves to.
I may ask the privilege of' addressing you more
at length on ttiis important matter a little later
in your session.
COittMISStON TO CANVASS THE QUESTION
OF TRANSPORTATION AND RAILROAD
REGULATION
In the meantime may I make this suggestion?
The transportation problem is an exceedingly
serious and pressing one in this country. There
has from time to time of late been reason to fear
that our railroads would not much longer be
able to cope with It successfully, as at present
equipped and co-ordinated. I suggest that it
would be wise to provide for a commission of
inquiry to ascertain by a thorough canvass of
the whole question whether our laws as at pres
ent framed and administered are as serviceable
as they might be in the solution of the problem.
It is obviously a problem that lies at the very
foundation of our efficiency as a people. Such
an inquiry ought to draw out every circumstance
and opinion worth considering and we need to
know all sides of the matter if we, mean to do
anything in the field of federal legislation.
No one, I am sure, would wish to take any
backward step. The regulation of the railways
of the country by federal commission has had
admirable results and has fully justified the
hopes and expectations of those by whom the
policy of regulation was originally proposed. The
question is not what should we undo? It is,
whether there is anything else we can do that
would supply us with effective means, in the
very process of regulation, for bettering the con
ditions under which the railroads are operated
and for making them more useful servants of
JiH?" a ?holc seems to mo that it
hirtw ? JF? P.art .0f wIsdom' therefore before
Snk J Relation in this field is attempted, to
Pfflripn J ie ho1? Sroblom of co-ordination and
S?Jteln th0 fuIJ llBht of a fr08h assessment
"stance and opinion, as a guide to deal
ing with tho several parts of it.
,i!'SriWlliat e arG 8CekInB now, what in my
SL5 i "! ?,ngle thought of this message, is
national efficiency and socurity. Wo serve a
great nation. We should servo it in the spirit
of its peculiar genius. It is the genius of com
mon men for self-government, industry, justice,
Iberty and peace. Wo should see to it that it
lacks no instrument, no facility or vigor of law,
to make it sufficient to play its part with energy,
safety, and assured success. In this wo are no
partisans but heralds and prophets of a new age.
THE SERVANT OF HIS PEOPLE
The press of the country, especially in the
south, was generous in its recognition of Booker
T. Washington's services to his country and his
race. Commenting on his death, which occurred
November 14, the Atlanta, Ga Journal says:
"It was characteristic of Booker Washington
and of the land where he was born and reared
that finding himself In a northern city under
death's cold shadow, he turned to tho south as to
a fireside and asked that he bo brought homo to
die. A love of the sun on which his eyes first
opened in slavery, a love of the soil in which he
had labored, of the people to whoso botternicnt
his life was dedicated and those in whose friend
ly understanding he had found generous aid
these were the thoughts that filled his last hours
as they had guided all his days.
"The success of Booker Washington's mission
lay largely in the fact that it was a mission in be
half of the south as well as in behalf of his own
race. He understood the white people as well
as the negro people, and ho strove with rare In
sight and honesty of purpose to accord their In
terests and well-being. He worked with the
forces about him, where others in pitiable ignor
ance or sullen disregard of human naturo had
worked against them. He saw clearly and
stressed candidly the practical side of a great
human problem. He saw that tho path of his
people's progress lay not through fine spun or
high flown theories but through industrial and
moral usefulness.
"His efforts, therefore, were directed especially
to training his people to do good work, to the
betterment of their health, their household life,
to earnest instruction in moral responsibilities.
In this task he found liberal support in the north
and east, but no more there than in the south
among thoughtful citizens. Ho won success for
his cause because he deserved success. He has
left a rich memory because he thought honestly
and felt broadly and walked the way of unsel
fish service."
JAPANESE PREPAREDNESS
Certain Americans pretend to bo very much
afraid of an attack upon us by Japan, and to
that end are urging the building of a great navy
to resist the dreaded assault. But let us look at
the matter from the Japanese point of view.
America is1 larger, wealthier, and a more power
ful nation in every way than Japan. It belongs
to the Occident, and the Occidental peoples have
ever shown small respect for the rights of Ori
ental peoples. Europe has never hesitated to
encroach upon Asia; and America is the child of
Europe. She already has possession of the Ha
waiian Islands, she is in Samoa and she has the
Philippines. What reason is there for supposing
that the great nation that has grown out of thir
teen colonies on the Atlantic seaboard by ab
sorbing territory from Spain, from Mexico, and
from Russia will stop with the present status?
By all the logic of history she will not tolerate
Japan's position in the Pacific, and will at the
first opportunity destroy her power.
With such a thought in mind and there is
no reason to doubt that some Japanese may har
bor such thoughts-what -Till bo the effect upon
them when they see us doubling our navy? Will
they not be confirmed in their conviction that
we intend mischief? Will not those who are now
suspicious be quickly convinced, and set about
nersuading those who have hitherto thought well
persuaaing rally, to the defense
o "heir own country by doubling their own
navy' Is not this the teaching of modern
ofnemanfihin Is it not the very essence of
SeSSdS2T' And If the Japanese double their
nav what will be the effect upon our timorous
U? Will not those who now seek to have our
navy doubleS want it redoubled? And then
what? It Is possible that Japan and China may
como to terms, and by combining their power
bo able to command a wealth equal to our own.
Is such woalth to bo squandered In mnd arma
ment rivalry? Yet la not this tho logic of the
argument for a large navy? Every additional
ship that wo place In the Pacific lo a threat to
Japan; and every answering ship that Japan
launches Is a challenge to America. Is thin
statesmanship? la It Christianity? Is It civili
zation? Is It plain common sense? Tho Public.
THE REAL BRYAN WHETHER YOU ACREB
WITH HIM OR NOT
From tho Augusta, Ga., Chronicle, Nov. 16.'
"Are you going out to hear Mr. Bryan tomor
row night?" we asked a frlond, merely by way of
making conversation, yestorday.
"I am not," ho replied with somo emphasis. "J
don't ngreo with Mr. Bryan about anything, and
I don't propose to listen to him talk."
"If you did, you would agree with him more,"
wo replied. "Not that we caro a rap olther way,
but wo Just happen to know that tho beat thing
to do If you don't want to agree with Mr. Bryan
is to do just what you aro doli z rofuso to listen
to him."
A great many of us do not agroo with Mr.
Bryan on many matters of public policy, party
platforms, International questions and all that;
but oven somo of us who do not are bound to con
cedo ono or two things, and they aro these:
First, that William Jennings Bryan is the
greatest platform orator in America today. lit
can not only keep an audience better entertained,
but ho can como nearer bringing oven a hostile
audlcnco to his way of thinking than any man
living.
Second, that William Jennings Bryan, what
ever his enemies may say about him, is an abso
lutely honest, earnest, sincere man. If he wasn't,
ho might have been president of the United
States long ago; for he needed only to "trim" on
certain issues, or to keep silent on others, to en
list tho support of an clement whose disaffection
cost him tho presidency moro than once.
But only those who have been In touch with
tho several Bryan campaigns know to what an
extent he Insisted on "hewing to the line," and
only those who have seen him In action in some
great national convention and wo have seon
him In every one since 189G can fully appreci
ate his force and fighting qualities. As, for in
stance, In 1904 at St. Louis, when single-handed
and alone in tho most hostile convention he ever
faced, he dictated terms to tho Parker forces
after a continuous fight of three days and nights;
and, again at Baltimore, in 1912, when ho forced
the nomination of Woodrow Wilson upon a con
vention that was already for Champ Clark, thus,
to all Intents and purpose, making Mr. Wilson
president.
Wo don't have to agree with Mr. Bryan unless
wo want to and Tho Chronicle, generally, does
not but we must give him credit for very un
usual ability and very unsual integrity. He has
been In public life for moro than a quarter of a
century, duripg which time he has met and mas
tered the best as well as the worst of American
statesmen; while no man has ever yet dared to
point tho finger of suspicion at him.
This much may be said of Mr. Bryan without
committing us to any future political program
if, Indeed, Mr. Bryan has ono, so far as he, him
self, is concerned and this much more may be
said: Don't ever risk hearing the man speak if
you want to continue to disagree with him about
everything; for ho Is not only wonderfully mag
netic, but he has a terribly convincing way with
him. Ho delivers a lecture In Augusta tonight,
under tho auspices of the Y. M. C. A., but It is
not for us to say whether yon shall miss the treat
of hearing this distinguished American, or
whether you shall take a chance on falling a vic
tim to his logic and oratory.
Two out of every five men in the states of
Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania
voted in favor of woman suffrage the first time
the question was formally submitted to the elec
torate. Surely there Is nothing in such a show
ing to cause dismay or discouragement in the
ranks of the women who are seeking the ballot
The biblical story that the sun stood still when
Joshua commanded it to do so Is considered by
some men to bo mere folk lore, but the fact thftt
so many republicans have stood still ever since
the last republican national convention com
manded them to do so Is very strong evidence to
tho contrary.
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