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The Commoner
JUNE, 1917
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Progressive Party En
dorses Prohibition
The progressive party in convention at St.
Louis iu April adopted the platform summar
ized helow. A statement outlining jjiatis for
joint action of the progressive and prohibition
parties is also given. Ed.
The platform declares for:
1 Woman suffrage.
2 Prohibition.
3 Initiative and referendum.
4 Depriving the supreme court of right to
annul acts of congress.
5 Easier amendment of the constitution.
G Election of President by direct vote.
7 Legislation to eliminate frauds from
elections.
8 Elimination of secrecy and "caucus sys
tem" In legislation,
9 Enfranchising absent voters, such as
members of army, navy, traveling men, etc.
10 Nine different protections to labor.
11 Scientific, effective, and Immediate solu
tion of the "high cost of living" problem.
12 Prison reform.
13 Abolition of capital punishment.
14 Efficiency and economy, national budget,
etc.
15 Non-partisan river and harbor commis
sion to handle that problem and thus largely
eliminate the "pork barrel."
1G Giving the President power to veto
vicious "jokers" In bills without killing entire
bills. v '
17 Scientific tariff commission. ' ' "
18 Strengthening ' and extending the civil
servico and merit system.
19 Protection of currency and financial'stt
uation from domination by private interests.
20 A merchant marine.
21 Seven important phases In conservation
of our national resources. . ,...
.22 A strong national defense programs .
23 Uniform national laws as to "marriage,
divorce, property, corporations, and human
welfare"; also "nationalization of our public
school curriculum."
THE EPOCH-MAKING PLANK
"Alcoholism is a deadly disease, destructive
alike to health, happiness, the social order, in
dustrial prosperity, and patriotism. It requires
eradication from, all of the territory of the
United States as a worso than useless waste.
"We, therefore, request of the President such
executive action and demand of the congress
such federal laws as emergency measures as
shall forbid at once the manufacture, sale,
transportation and importation of intoxicating
liquora aa a beverage.
"In order that the destruction of the traffic
ia alcoholic beverages may become complete
and permanent, we call for the concurrent
prompt submission of a constitutional amende
ment to that end, urging upon the several state
legislatures that they approve this amendment
as soon as it can be submitted.
"This plank is a cornerstone of the progres
sive platform. Thunderous applause greeted
its adoption. As the cataract long repressed by
the dam lunges forth in irrepressible fury, so
it seemed, the progressive 'party, long forced
against its will to keep silent upon this mighty
question, finally and with unbridled enthusiasm,
burst Its fetters and uttered this high noto of
Patriotism and statesmanship.
United in aim and purpose, bound firmly to
gether by like ideals and aspirations, with plat
forms alike in essential points, the progressive
and prohibition parties, a unit in their purpose
to restore government to the people with all
the resulting blessings that will accrue to hu
manity therefrom, goes forth to challenge and
to unite into one great political party all lib
eral, high-minded, forward-looking citizens of
whatsoever previous political affiliation, to the
end that 'government of the people, by the
People and for tho people shall not perish from
le eart-h' but shall rise to new heights and
greater achievements.
nf ' moat encuraging direct manifestation
01 the spirit of the delegates and their zeal in
tho cause of prohibition was tho enthusiastic
K?fa?H lrUB ,PfSaS0 ot a solution provi.
8n APPtocnt of progressive do cgates
Ind 1,WU1! delatea f the prohibition party
and delegates of other liberal sentiment to at
once proceed to Washington to urge upon con
gress the immediate enactment of national po
iiiDition as an emergency measure.
"The present plan unanimously and enthu
siastically endorsed by the progressive conven
tion and the prohibition conferees ia, ns soon as
practicable, subject to approval of national com
mittees of both parties, to call a Joint prohibi
tion and progressive convention for tho pur
pose of welding the two parties, and tho lib
eral element of all parties, into one organic
union, name to be selected and platform writ
ten at that time.
"One plan for immediate corporation is tho
election of progressive and prohibition con
gressmen in 1918.
"Tho two committees prdpose joint national
headquarters In New York, Chicago, tho Pacific
and Gulf coasts, where they shall work' through
their separate treasurers but in complete union
for the election of at least forty congressmen In
1918 who shall stand together in legislative
halls as one political organization."
Matthew Hale, chairman progressivo national
committee. ,
Frederick H. Chase, secretary progressivo na
tional committee.
Virgil G. Hinshaw, chairman prohibition na
tional committee.
Frances E. Beauchamp, secretary prohibition
national committee.
RATS AND CROWS MUST BE DRIVEN OFF
From Dallas (Texas) News.
BRYAN'S MORAL FORCE
f
From The National Jeffersotfian, Los An
geles, Cal.
The campaign in behalf of tho government
for the conservation of food is being conducted
in a most eloquent and thorough manner in
Southern California by W. J. Bryan, tho great
orator and former secretary of state. Mr. Bryan
is never so happy as when addressing large
crowds, and thousands in this section have at
tended his meetings. His cry is, "Plant what
you can and can all you can," for food is the
ammunition behind the army. Mr. Bryan is in
fine fettle and giving all tho aid in his power
to the government in prosecuting the war.
It may not be known, but Mr. Bryan Is also
speaking for the Red Cross and the Y. M. C. A.,
in his successful tour through California. He is
exerting a great moral influence, is fighting for
prohibition, for woman's suffrage and for all
that tends to upbuild character and promote
the good of humanity. Mr. Bryan can be
likened to a great moral force, working behind
the firing line, not hurling short-range mortar
StiiR that explode In spectacular splendor and
have no effect! but casUng forth forty centimeter
S which demolish the ramparta of vice and
cause tho most hardened to capitulate.
OAIINKGIK'8 PEACE DREAM:
A Now York dispatch, dated June 2, says:
Andrew Carnegie, known internationally as tho
upostle of peace, in a war casualty, bcroft of
reason and money, it becarno known today when
it was learned that Dr. Henry Smith Prltchett,
rosldent of the Carnegie Foundation, and ono
of Carnegie's closest friends, has bueh appoint
ed conservator of the vast Carnoglo funds.
Carnegie's roason has been dwindling since
the war began, but tho condition of tho old
ironmaster luiu been Jealously guarded.
Quickly, but cautiously, tho power to give
away money was taken from him. Tho appoint
ment of Dr. Prltchett was without publicity.
Aged, penniless and hoartbrokon, the onco
powerful Industrial monarch and apostle of
poaco sits iu his castle homo waiting tho groat
armistice
Closest friends are no longer recognlzod by
Carnegie. Only now and thun does ho know
Dr. Prltchett. Emperors, masters of finance,
stool kings these are but shadows uow to tho
man who once mingled with them as a power.
New York pulsing around his palace is unob
served. Tho onco loved beautiou of hla High
land castle aro forgotton.
"Wife," walls tho weary old voice, over and
over again, as Mrs. Carnegie tries to sootho
him, "has the war ended yet? When when,
will peace come?"
No man tried to do more for International
peaco than Carnegie. After tho commission
which ho financed had reported on tho Balkan
war atrocities ho pledged himself to a world
campaign against war.
When, In tho last days of July, 1914, Europe
faced Armageddon, Carneglo tolled like a Titan.
As ultimatums flashed back and forth Carnoglo
worked, tense with anxiety. Ho was Bending
cables to ministers of state when Britain's mid
night declaration of war against Germany
reached him. Stricken to tho heart, the veter
an's pen dropped from his hand.
An hour later Mrs. Carnegie knelt by hla
side striving to comfort him. "My great dream
has gone. My great dream gone," he moaned
endlessly. "It I could weop."
Weeks passed, with their invasion, rapine,
atrocities, each falling upon him as a physical
blow.
"The dream of my life Is ended," sobbed Car
negie, "General paralysis," said the scientists, or
dering no word' of war spoken to the old Iron
master. They ordered quiet and change of
scene. Tenderly they brought Carnegie back
home, bowed down with years and sorrow.
But almost from day to day his condition
changed for the worse. Seldom did he show
any Interest In money getting or gift giving.
War was the great burden of his brain.
"How long will the war continue?" he plead
ed constantly and pitifully. "I would give all
I iiaVe my Hist dollar to shorten hostilities
by a week."
But the great fortune of the master of Beth
lehem has slipped from his grasp, He is tho
man who was Andrew Carnegie, wailing now
and then out of shadowland, "Wife, when will
the war end."
SPEECH MADE OCCASION FOR PATRIOTIC
DEMONSTRATION
A press dispatch from Amarlllo, Texas, dated
May 29, says: One ot the greatest patriotic
demonstrations ever held occurred Sunday even
ing when William Jennings Bryan spoke. The
immense audience rose and for three-quarters
ot an hour united their voices in singing tho
patriotic songs.
In addition to tho 3,000 citizens here, a spe
cial train brought hundreds from Hereford arm
other points, whilo numbers came overland
from Canyon, Claude, Panhandle, Clarendon
and other points.
DOING HIS BIT
Colonel Bryan is doing his bit, whilo waiting
for President Wilson to pot him at military
service. He is making speeches and urging
tht production of more foodstuffs. In addition,
Colonel Bryan Is conributlng ?50 a month to
the Red Cross work and another $50 each
month to the Y. M. C. A. work among the sol
dier. Asheville (N. C.) Times.
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