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The Commoner
MARCH, 1916
13
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den is assumed by the country, the United States1
within ten years will bo in turmoil, its indus
tries paralyzed, and its men, instead of being at
work in peaceful Industry, will be dying in
trenches. And I feel, too, that these men will
not bo dying to defend their country, as we are
now being told, but will perish in the conquest of
other men who have a right to live in happiness
and peace.
A PEACE CALENDAR
Department of Public Instruction, Harrlsburg,
Pa. The Peace Calendar and Diary, compiled
by Dr. John J. Mullowney, of the Pennsylvania
state department of health, has been cordially
received by educators as one of the best of its
kind that has yet been published, there is a quo
tation from representative men and women, the
world over, against navalism and militarism.
The selections represent many of the best things
that have been said in favor of the reign of law,
order, and security. It contains a quotation
against war or in favor of peace for each day
of the year. It is a message knocking at the
door of reason every morning. I am convinced
that if a copy of the Peace Calendar could be
placed in each school and the quotation for each
day written on the blackboard or placed on the
bulletin board, where the pupils could learn its
message, brought to them from the best minds
of the world, it would be of immense educational
value and would hasten the clay when "Law,
not war, should settle international disputes." I
would sincerely like to see a copy of the Peace
Calendar placed in each school of the land.
I am not writing this testimony to be used Jn
the sale of the Calendar but to encourage. the
good work of those who are placing it in the
schools, and to indicate how it can be made use
ful as an a'd in promoting the cause of peace
among the nations.
(Signed) NATHAN C. SCHAEFFER,
Superintendent of Public Instruction for Penna.
(Contributions for the purpose of placing
these "Educationally wise" Peace Calendars in
the public schools may be sent to Miss A. Carter,
Secretary of the Friends Philanthropic Work,
1305 Arch St., Philadelphia. The calendars
cost 50c each in San Francisco.) :
Vt'i .'I.
A WISE CHOICE
From The Miami (Fla.) Herald.
In selecting W. J. Bryan as chancellor emer
itus of the Pan-American university, the board of
directors has taken a wise step.
Essentially the university will be a very large
factor in cementing the ties which should bind
together the republics of North and South
America. It will be a permanent institution for
the perpetuation of peace between the two con
tinents and the people thereof.
At a recent banquet where Mr. Bryan spoke
he told of meeting former students of colleges
of the United States, during his travels in South
America, and he said that in every instance
where he met a young South American who had
been educated in the United States, he found a
true and enthusiastic friend of this country.
This illustrates one of the things the new uni
versity can and will do for all American coun
tries. Mr. Bryan has long been associated with the
movement to bring the countries of the two
Americas together and has a following in South
America, much as he has here. He is also in
close touch with all the men who have made a
study of plans for drawing tnj countries togeth
er and who have been advocating measures
looking to a closer trade and social union.
He is thoroughly bound up in the idea of per
petuating peace among the countries of this
hemisphere; he is intensely interested in the ed
ucation of the young; he has the wide vision of
the educator; he is closely allied with the men
who can make the university great, and his sym
pathies are enlisted in this great project of es
tablishing at Miami a university where the young
people of both continents can obtain a broad and
thorough education. His name will be a tower
of strength to the institution.
The magazine press is now buttressing the
fight of a few large eastern newspapers upon
Secretary Daniels, all for the purpose of forcing
him out of the cabinet. Secretary Daniels is one
of the most conspicuous friends of peace in offi
cial Washington, and the reason why he is being
singled out for the same sort of attack that is
employed whenever a public official stands across
the pathway of any interest Is to be found in
tiiot Rtatement of fact.
The Children's Poet
Address delivered by William Jennings Bryan
at Miami, Florida, February 26, 191G,at the
James Whitcomb Itiley Day exorcises.
Mr. Chairman, Dr. Riley, Children, Friends:
It seems an intrusion for grown-up peoplo to
take part in these exercises, and I shall not vio
late tho proprieties by trespassing long upon
your time. This Is Riley Day and tho children
are his hosts; all the children belong to Riley,
and Riley belongs to them. You havo just
heard him described as chief among the song
birds; perhaps that explains his migration to
Florida. Like tho other song birds, ho dividos
his time between tho north and the south in
order that ho may sing tho year round.
I ask your attention while I speak two words,
one personal and ono as your representative. My
children were brought up on Riley food, and I
hereby acknowledge tho family's indebtedness
to him. My wife has whiled away many an even
ing hour reading his homely and wholesome
rhymes to those who aro to carry our blood down
through tho years to come. Our son who
knows how many pitfalls ho might havo Btumbled
into had ho not been warned away by "Tho gob
lins will get you if you don't watch out"? was
especially fond of Dr. Riley's writings, so much
so that, when a few years ago, the eminent au
thor honored us with a set of his works, wo in
scribed on tho fly leaf of tho first volume, "with
remainder over to Wm. Jennings Bryan, Jr.,"
and tho books will go from our library to his in
recognition of this early attachment.
And now, Dr. Riley, a word from tho audi
ence to you. I do not know whom you had in
mind when you immortalized tho words "Good
byo Jim, take care of yourself." If It was your
father's parting advice, you havo obeyed it to
tho letter; you have taken care of yourself by
devoting yourself to others tho only really ef
fective way. YoUr life has proven anew the
truth of tho proverb: "There is a scattering that
increaseth." You havo mado a success of' life
such a success as few of your generation have
achieved.
Your- name is not found In the list of our
multi-millionaires, but you havo secured what
all their money can not buy that "loving favor"
which is rather to bo chosen "than silver and
gold."
Tho bluo books do not record your name
among tho great legislators of the nation, but
this need not disturb you, for you aro entitled
to the distinction embodied in tho words "Let
mo write the songs of a nation and I caro not
who makes it laws."
You do not claim a place among tho great
warriors of the world, and yet you, the "Hero
of the Nursery," are the commander-in-chief of
a larger army than any general ever led, and
those who follow you know not the cruel clamor
of war or the mingled miseries of the battle
field, but rather the joy of innocence and the
laughter of youth.
You are not of the royal company of kings,
and yet you reign with undisputed sway over the
twilight hours.
You have never aspired to the presidency of
the United States, and yet without arousing the
animosities of a campaign you havo won a vic
tory nation-wide. I constituto myself the mes
senger of the masses to Inform you that, at an
election where all could vote, you have been
unanimously chosen to preside In the hearts of
the children of America chosen for life, and to
live in memory forever after.
A casual reading of the republican newspapers
would lead to the belief that time has not
brought added wisdom to their editors. The
principal reason they assign for their demand
that the country be placed again in republican
hands is that the republican party is the only
organization that has the confidence of the peo
ple. The fact that the republican party carried
but two states at the last national election would
ordinarily indicate that the people have a poor
way of showing their confidence, but why permit
facts to interfere with theories?
The eastern political experts say that if the
-five or six reactionary republicans who unhorsed
Roosevelt at tho Chicago convention desire to
do so they can keep him this year from getting
the republican nomination. If this Is true, the
colonel may as well close the door of hope. The
old guard is as hard of heart as it is good of
memory.
SAYS NAVY NEEDS OVER TWO MILLION
. A Washington dispatch, dated March. 8, says:
Approximately $1,500,000,000 for new ships and
and an annual upkeep chargo of $700,000,000 Is
what Admiral Flotchor, commanding tho At
lantic flcot, estimates It would cost to carry out
tho navv general board's recommendation that
tho American navy should equal tho moat pow
erful fleet afloat by not later tnan 1925.
Tho admiral's cstimato was given today in tes
timony boforo tho houso naval committee. Rop
resontatlvo Callaway, who brought out tho
statement, called attontion to published reports
that Great Britain had added nearly 1,000,000
tons to her fighting ships since the war began.
He asked if tho situation was not "hopeless."
Admiral Fletcher thought not, adding that
Judging by Its great wealth, tho United States
could well afford to give its Interests the same
protection other nations thought necessary.
Representative Hcnsley asked if a raco in
building warships or In any other military prep
aration had not invariably led to war. Admiral
Fletcher said no, and expressed tho opinion that
failuro to prepnro was merely making certain
that a nation must surrender its rights.
Representative Callaway asked If It was not
reasonable to assumo the European war would
end within a year or a year and a half at most.
Admiral Flctchor thought it would, and added
that ho bcllovod the close of tho war would ace
tho greatest opportunity in h:story for tho suc
cess of international disarmament or limitation
of armament agreements.
Ho insisted, however, that tho United States
could not nfford to put off Its navy building on
that account.
"Why not put all our energies Into completing:
ships alrcadv authorized," Rcprcsontat'vo Calla
way asked, "and so far as new building Is con
cerned, await tho conclusion of tho war?"
Admiral Flotchor repoatod his statement that
the hope of a disarmament agreement was too
vaguo to build upon.
Tho averago man finds it very difficult to un
derstand tho lntrlcacfnn of international law, as
Interpreted by our official translators. Thus it
was in accord with this law to warn Americans
to come out of and stay out of Mexico, but that
it is in violation of it to warn Americans to stay
off of vessels traversing thoso waters where
Gorman submarines aro active. It is also, wo
learn from a perusal of tho documents, a point
of honor that wo should not waive tho technical
right to go whero wo please on lawful business
intent where the dispute is with Germany; with
tho obvious moral that it is no dishonor to waivo
it in tho case of Mexico.
One of tho big magazines, pompously discuss
ing the methods of raising tho money to pay for
tho proposed expenditure for a bigger navy and
armv. declares that thcr income exemption
should bo lowered In tho interest of patriotic
fervor. Its editor says that by thus participat
ing in tho cost of preparedness each taxpayer
would bo spurred to a livelier Interest In tho
future of his country and that his patriotism
would thus bo stirred to great depths. Wo hope
he submits the question to a vote of tho small
Incomo folks. They ought to know what Is best
for themselves.
LIFE WITH A PURPOSE
I live for thoso who love me,
For those I know are true,
For tho Heav'n that smiles above me,
And awaits my spirit too;
For all human ties that bind me,
For the task God has assigned me,
For the bright hopes left behind me,
And the good that I can do.
I live to hail tho season,
By bards and seers foretold;
When men shall live by reason, .
And not alone for gold;
When man to man united,
And ev'ry wrong thing righted, .
The whole world shall be lighted, - .
As Eden was of old. A
I live for those who love me,
For those who know me true,
For the Heaven that smiles above me,
And awaits my spirit too;
For the wrong that needs resistance,
For the cause that lacks assistance,
For the future in the distance,
For' the good that I can do. '
Bradford.
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