TfT'
The Commoner
DECBMBBB, 1915
Three Coming Issues
The Toters of the country are turning with
earnestness to threo great issues which promise
to he ready for decision within the next few'
years peace, Prohibition and Woman's Suf-
First. The peace movement is growing in the
United States; it was strong before this war be
gan, and its importance has been emphasized by
the 'bloody combat across the Atlantic. It is
true that some of our people have been infected
with the virus of militarism; it is true that the
worship of the war god has in some sections be
come more demonstrative, if not more wide
spread, but among the plain people the love of
peace has deepened and an increasing number
have resolved to dedicate themselves to the
movement.
There are threo lines of activity open to those
who work for peace: First, the keeping of this
country out of the present war; second, the ten
dering of tho nation's good offices to the bellig
erent nations, with a view to restoring peace be
tween those now at war; and, third, the saving
of this country from a policy of preparedness
which would lower the nation's ideals, carry it
down to the brute level of the pending conflict in
Europe, convert this nation into an armed camp,
stimulate a military spirit throughout our land
and give to our nation the swagger of the na
tions that put their faith in the sword.
This cause will enlist tho sympathy and co
operation of a vast majority of our people in all
sections and presents 'an immediate issue of
great importance.
Second: Prohibition is on the way 19 states
have already adopted it, ten of them within the
last eighteen months. The next few years will
see enough states added to the list to give pro
hibition a considerable majority of the 48 states.
This issue is not likely to play a prominent part
in the presidential campaign of 1916. The
country is not yet ready for it, and it would
jeopardize our economic reforms and the work
of peace to inject it into national politics at this
time.
But it is coming, and as soon as the campaign
of 1916 is over both sides will begin to line up
their forces for the prospective battle at the
polls. It might be more accurate to say that
the prohibition forces will, within a year, begin
their preparations for the fight; the liquor forces
have had their preparations made for many
years. In fact, they have been in the fight for
nearly a decade, and they have sacrificed party,
principles of government, national policies, and
everything else for the protection of the traffic
in liquor. It has been a one-sided contest so
far because the temperance forces have been
giving a large part of their attention to econ
omic questions, but the time is coming when
this great issue, which is moral as well as econ
omic and social, must occupy the center of the
stage there to remain until decisive action is
taken.
The south is leading the fight for prohibition.
Of the states which have already adopted pro
hibition, eight Virginia, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Missis
sippi and Arkansas are southern states and
Arizona and Oklahoma are semi-southern.
Florida, Texas and Kentucky are likely to be
added to the number soon, with Maryland and
Louisiana and New Mexico later.
The west is co-operating with the south and
Is furnishing an increasing number of prohibi
tion states. The movement is traveling north
ward and eastward as is shown by the agitation
in Iowa, Michigan, Ohio and Vermont.
There is but one solution of the liquor ques
tion and that is the nation-wide extermination
of the traffic in alcohol. It has already been
condemned as an enemy to health and to the
home, and it is now Indicted for high treason
because it paralyzes the patriotism of citizens
in the time of war.
The third Issue of the near future is woman s
suffrage in some of the states it preceded pro
hibition. It came out of the west and is travel
ing toward the east and south. Industrial con
ditions have accelerated its growth in the north,
but it is not necessarily sectional for it rests
upon principles which know neither latitude nor
longitude. While prohibition is making more
rapid progress than woman's suffrage in the
democratic states, woman's suffrage is showing
more rapid gains than prohibition in the repub
lican states, but they ought to be companions.
The two reforms are largely supported by the
same voters. Taking the country over, a ma-
i? LuJ?nS0 wh0 favor soman's suffrage fa
vor prohibition also, and an increasing number
or those who favor prohibition also favor wo
man s suffrage. And, it may be added, nearly
all the supporters of both prohibition and wo
man s suffrage are to bo found among tho ad
vocates of peace.
Hero are threo great reforms which rest
largely upon the same foundation and which are
similar in aim, they all look to moral progress,
iho peace movoment contemplates the substitu
tion of tho plowshare for tho sword; it seeks
to substitute the work of production for the
work of destruction. Prohibition seeks to rid
society of tho poison of alcohol which impairs
physical strength, weakens mental effort and
menaces tho morals. Woman's suffrage will
bring woman's conscience into tho political arona
and aid all movements which havo for their ob
ject the elevation of man and the improvement
of tho world.
Tho future is big with opportunity; hero is
work which will yield substantial advantago to
society, and, to the individual, an abundant re
ward in tho consciousness of helpful serv'co ren
dered, w. J. BRYAN.
GRAPE JUICE AN ANCIENT DRINK
On another page will be found an extract from
an articlo in tho Literary Digest. In tho articlo
tho following sentence appears: "Naturally there
has been grape juice as long as there has been
grapes, but not tho sort that temperance orators
recommend." If tho reader will turn to the
eleventh verse of the 40th chapter of Genesis, ho
will see that the drinking of the unfermented
juice of tho grape was not uncommon in those
days. Tho butler in telling his dream to Joseph)
said: "And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand; and
I took the grapes, and pressed them Into Phar
aoh's cup, and I gavo the cup into Pharaoh's
hand."
It will be seen that It was unfermented .grape
juice that was served to Pharaoh. Grape juice,
therefore, has the prestige of ago as a drink,
aside from the superiority due to the absence of
alcohol. They may not in that day havo known
of the processes by which it can be preserved in
its unfermented state, but they evidently appre
ciated tho value of a drink that nourished with
out intoxicating.
DIPLOMACY OR WAR?
The Tribune agrees with Tho World that the
republican leaders in congress can not attack
tho foreign policy of President Wilson unless
they aro willing to take the responsibility for
war.
It therefore calls upon them to introduce and
support a congressional resolution directing the
President "to suspend diplomatic relations until
such time as Germany shall disavow the Lusi
tania crime, apologize for tho insult to American
honor and agree to submit to Tho Hague Tri
bunal tho question of reparation in money for
the murders." Admitting that this course may
lead to war, the Tribune insists that it must be
followed "without regard to consequences."
We compliment the Tribune on the courage of
its convictions. Unlike so many critics of the
President, it does not rest content with attack
ing the policy of tho President. It offers a sub
stitute policy, and it offers it to congress, which
is the only branch of the government which has
constitutional power to declare war. No Amer
ican has a right to attack the President's policies
unless he is prepared to go as far as the Tribune
has gone In demanding war in place of the slow
processes of diplomacy. New York World.
Two Laws Needed
Thoro nro two laws which congress should pas
immediately laws demanded for tho peace of
the country and for the security of its citlzons.
First, a law is needed forbidding Iho clear
ance or on try of belligerent ships carrying Amer
ican passengers. If any American citizen Is o
careless as to his own safoty and so indifferent
to his nation's welfare as to attompt to ride upon
a bolllgeront ship nt such a time as this ho ought
to be restrained.
This government can exorcise no authority
over tho captain of a bolllgeront ship, except
when he Is In an American port. Upon tho hlgk
soas, a captain of a belligerent ship acts upon
tho authority and by the direction of his own
government. Ho may at any time forfeit the
lives of passcngors by attempting to resist cap- ,
turo by an onomy's ship, or even by trying to es
cape from capture. This nation can not afford
to permit its citizens to bo subjected to tho dan
ger attendant upon traveling upon belligerent
ships at such a timo au this. It owes It to Its
citizens to protect them, if they are not wle
enough to avoid danger, and tho nation owes it
to itself to prevent tragedies which might arouse
tho anger of our people and jeopardize our neu
trality, If not our peaco. Thero is no reason why
any American should be permitted to ride upon
a belligerent ship.
Tho second law needed is ono which will pre
vent American passengor ships and neutral pas
sangor ships from clearing or entering our Amer
ican ports if thoy carry contraband with the
passengers. Tho wolfaro of tho passenger
should be tho first concorn of tho captain of a
passenger ship. If his ship carries contraband
Nhe is naturally anxious to avoid search and seiz
ure, and he must, therefore divide his attontlon
between the passenger and the cargo. At such
a timo as this when tho risks of tho ocean are
much greater than usual, tho attontlon of the
ship's officers should not be diverted from tho
care of the passengers to the protection of a con
traband cargo.
Tho two laws above outlined will go far to
wards safeguarding the lives of Americans and
towards the maintenance of our neutrality and
the preservation of peace. Thero ought to-be
no delay In tho enactment of such legislation, .,
W. J. BRYAN.
LET THE TEST HE MADE
The New York Tribune calls upon congress to
direct the President to suspend diplomatic rela
tionship with Germany. Tho Tribune has been
mad enough to bito itself for several weeks, and
now it is ready to call him a liar and make a
fight!"
Let the test bo made. If tho republicans
think wo ought to enter Into this war, then let
them ask for a vote. They will find that the
people are against going into this war on either
side or against any belligerent. A vote will show
that the New York Tribune's proper place is on
the other side of the Atlantic, not in tho United
States.
THE NEW SUNDAY SCHOOL SONG
When the Navy league, tho Security Icagur
and the Defense league get out their new book
of censored Sunday school songs, a familiar
stanza will be found to read:
"I want to be a soldier,
And with the soldiers stand.
Ammunition in my pocket,
And a musket in my hand.
Those opposed to an increase in the army and
navy, an increase in the price of sugar, gasoline,
automobiles, stamp taxes and an increased cost
of living should immediately write their con
gressman and senators, and to the President,
and register an emphatic protest.
:
riSi i