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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 1, 1916)
? , The Commoner SEPTEMBER, 1916 20 Two Social Justice Platforms From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The. so-called "social and industrial justice" plank of the bull moose, na tional platform of 1912 was as fol lows: "We pledge ourselves to work un ceasingly to state and nation for: "The fixing of modern safety and health standards for the various oc cupations. "The prohibition of child labor; minimum wage standards for work ing women to provide a living wage in all industrial occupations. "The general prohibition of night work for .women and the establish ment of an eight-hour day for wo men and young persons. "One day's rest in seven for all wage workers. "The eight-hour day in continuous 24-hour industries. "The abolition of the convict con tract system. "Publicity as to wages, hours and conditions of labor, etc. "We pledge our party to establish a department of labor with a seat in the cabinet." This plank, dictated by Mr. Roose velt to 'get back into office again, contains few specifications to which he had committed himself When he held the presidency and possessed the presidency's power of accomplish ment. How "unceasingly" ho and some other Bull Moosers were pre pared to "work for" them is seen by the promptness with which the whole platform was abandoned when he judged his political interests would be better served by a return to the republican fold. But the Wilson platform, not of social justice promises, but' of ac complished social justice actualities, includes the important declaration of the Clayton law that "the labor pow er of a human being is not a corn commodity or ari. article of com merce." It includes the appointment, un der a law initiated by a democratic house, of the first secretary of labor who sat in the federal cabinet. It includes a drastic law prohibit ing child labor by forbidding passage to the products of such labor across state lines. It includes a federal compensation act now in the advanced stages of legislation. It includes the passage of a law greatly ameliorating the condition of American seamen, a law whose bene ficial influence has already extended to the merchant marines of other na tions. Contrast the abandoned Roosevelt declaration for an eight-hour, day for women and children and plans oper ating continuously for 24 hours with Mr. Wilson's declaration for eight hours for all workers: "I have, recommended concession of the eight-hour day that is, the substitution of an eight-hour day for the present 10-liour day in all the existing practices and agreements. I made this recommendation because I belieye the concession right. The eight-hour day now undoubtedly has the sanction of the judgment of so ciety in its favor and should be adopted as a basis for wages, even where the actual work to be done can not be completed within eight hours." il Through the platform 'of prom ises runs a theory of benefliient pater nalism, of guardianship?1 frWs'r the weaker and more unfortuif0x mem bers of the industrial ,artifybt pol icies framed to meet thete$feptional casas quly. . . . '" ' ri y The platform of accomplishment, while making even greater provision in this direction, has as its theory the doing of true social justice by add ing to the dignity and" rewards of la bor, by giving it increased strength to Btand alone, by lessening its de pendence through making it more independent. We all of us have long appreciated how immeasurably the eight-hour day would enlarge the opportunities and widen the horizon of the ambi tious toiler. If we have exaggerated the difficulties in the way of its gen eral adoption, those difficulties are admittedly very great. It took courage in a President of the United States to declare for it so unequivocally. A president knows even better than the aVeragcitizen the power of wealth, tlwf archaic prejudices of many large employers, the tenacity and resourcefulness of big business. But in his declaration Mr. Wilson struck a heavy blow at socialistic propaganda in the current year. Mr. Benson will hardly poll that 1,600, 000 votes. He may be satisfied if he commands the usual Debs support. STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES Chas. W. Masterson, democratic candidate for congress, presents the following statement of principles for the consideration of the voters of the 4th district, state of Washing ton: I believe in the principles of free government, and as the democratic party, in my opinion, affords the best present medium through which these principles may find expression, I pledge fealty to that party and support of its platform. I believe that Wobdrow Wilson is "the man Of the hour." That the present administration has lived uf to its pre-election pledges, satisfied every reasonable demand and justi fies renewed confidence and support. I will, if elected, without subserv iency, sustain tho President. The recent mobilization of our national guard has demonstrated the inadequacy and inefficiency of our military establishment. Experience, no doubt, will point out its defects and suggest the remedy. Congress should, by general appropriation, and by statute, stand back of the Execu tive in an earnest endeavor to afford just that degree of military pre paredness that would afford, a "first line of defense" in time of stress, and yet not be-a menace in time of peace. ,. s I believe in the conservation of natural resources. Will, if elected, earnestly endeavohr to secure a more just, therefore larger, share of fed eral aid in the reclamation of our arid domain and reforestation of our denuded umoer lanus. The experience of the state of Washington has exemplified the wis dom of universal suffrage. I will, therefore, favor the submission of an amendment to the federal consti tution, extending tho franchise to women. I served in the 13th and 14th general legislative assembly, and am willing to stand on the record made therein "the man who never missed a roll call or dodged an issue." SURPLICE AND SURPLUS A minister came to the Episcopal" Church,- at: Williarasport, ra., 10 "Do you wish to wear a surplice?" asked the rector. "Surplice!" cried the visitor. Sur plice! I-am a Methodist. What do I know about-surplices?. All I know about is a-deficit!": .New Tork Evening Post. . Does Prohibition Prohibit? GOVERNOR CAPPER OF KANSAS SAYS IT DOES in m Ho Also Says tlie So-Called "Nebraska ProHperJty League Is a Com- mon Liar Hero is one more positivo answer to tho Ilea which tho "Ne--braska Prosperity League" has been publishing about conditions in Kansas. Governor Capper ought to know something about Kansas. Hear him: STATE OP KANSAS ARTHUR CAPPER, GOVERNOR TOPEKA August 19, 1910 Mr. W. T. Thompson, Nebraska Dry Federation, "" Ganter Building, Lincoln, Nebraska. Dear Sir: "I have your letter of August 12th enclosing an article pub lished by the Nebraska Prosperity League in tho Omaha Bee and Omaha World-Herald, in which I am quoted as making certain com ment on the bootlegging liquor business in Kansas. This purported interview with mo is absoluto fiction. I have made no such state ments to tho St. Louis Post-Dispatch or anyone else. "Since this state closed its doors to the liquor business a never ending campaign of falsehood has been conducted by the liquor in terests of eastern states. With scarcely an excoption not one truth ful assertion has been published by the whisky dealers about the situation in Kansas. Tho wonder in my mind has always been what strange sort of mentality is responsible for this particlular kind of mendacity. I have marveled at the assurance which has led the liquor interests to suppose that their vicious misrepresentations would not bo discovered untrue. So palpably false have been their charges as to the operation of the prohibitory law in Kansas that liquor deal ers' publicity has proved a boomerang in almost overy state where they have conducted that kind of a campaign. "I am writing a letter to tho Omaha papers informing them that the advertisement of the Nebraska Prosperity League has no foundation so far as I am concerned. "Very respectfully, (Signed) "ARTHUR CAPPER, Governor." The day of brewery deception in Nebraska is ncaring the even ing hours. The day of brewery debauchery of the politics of Ne braska is dying, and the dawn of the new day of Nebraska's freedom from brewery control is very near. Perhaps the policy of lying on ; T)art of the "Nebraska Prosperity League" is helping the day tp" come sooner than expected. THE PLATTE COUNTY (NEBR.) PROSPERITY LEAGUE .Organized to plead the cause of good government, and to brighten ' " tho faces of the children whoso lives have been blighted by the curse of booze. 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