. .-tWt
LI .
Tfrd' Commoner
HAT, 1918..
m
Red Cross Drive
Waslilngtoii dispatch, dated May 7, says:
tident Wilson today issued a proclamation
lignating the week beginning May 20 as "Red
jss week," and calling upon the American
)ple to contribute generously to the second
00,000,000 war fund of the American Red
ss for the alleviation of suffering among the
ijerican troops in Franco and their dependents
home, and among the fighting forces and ci-
lian populations of the allied countries.
hThQ proclamation follows:
"PROCLAMATION.
"Inasmuch as the war fund of 1917, so gen-
usly contributed by the American people to
American Red Cross for the administration
I Mi&llnf ni IAtvii nfiil nUinod lino TiAfirt niQnf fn.
BrlCIlCl. ut uuiuo uuu. umuuu, uuo ucu. ibm-
ly exhausted by appropriations for the welfare
I the men in our military and naval forces, and
those dependent upon them, and for the yet
re urgent necessities of our allies, military
id civilian, who have long borne the brunt of
6 war;
?"And, inasmuch as the American Red Cross
been recognized by law and international
ivention as the public intrumentality for war
lief;
&ED CROSS OFFICIAL RELIEF WORKER.
'And, Inasmuch as the year of our own par-
lpation In the war has brougnt unprecedented
imands unon the patriotism and liberality of
!V -nconle. and made evident the necessity of
hicentrating the work in one main organization
giich can respond effectively and universally to
lo needs of humanity under the stress of war;
s"And, inasmuch as the duration or, tne war
id tha closer co-oneration of the American Red
posh with- duri own army and navy, with the
pyernments of our allies, and with foreign re
ef organizations, have resulted in the discov
ry of new opportunities of helpfulness and con-
Itions which translate opportunity into duty;
FAITHFUL-TO. PEOPLE'S TRUST.
I'And, inasmuch1 as the American Red Cross
it council and Its commissioners in .Europe
re faithfully and economically administered
i people's trust;
K'Now, therefore, by virtue of my authority as
Resident of the United States and president of
re American Red Cross. I. Woodrow Wilson.
hereby proclaim the week beginning May
9t 1918, as 'iced uross weeic,' during wnicn
ie people of the United States will be called
ion aeain to cive generously to the contimia-
on of the important work of relieving distress,
Bstoring the waste or war, and assisting in
laintaining the morale of our own troops and
tie troops of the peoples of our allies by this
ismifGritation of effort and sacrifice on the part
if those who, though .qot privileged to b'ear
trms, are of one spirit, purpose and determina-
ion with our warriors.
I "In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my
iand and caused the seal or tne united states
be affixed.
"Done in the District ofvColumbia, this 4th
inv nf TVTav. in the year of our Lord one thou1-
in-nA Tilno "hunrlrprl and Aierht.GfiTi Jind of tho in-
felependence of the United'States the one liundred
md forty-Becond.
"By the president:
(Signed) : "WOODROW WILSON.
"ROBERT LANSING,
"Secretary of State." "
AN EMBARRASSING QUESTION "
fwruava tjtiit: vnn 1aat Denemher -when wa
fneeded you?" asked the old colored man of the
Faun as it poured its heat down upon him Jn
I July.
t tti itaii nrmntrv NOW. Rn von "will nof. Tin
lombarrassed by a similar question when peace
CODieS and you WUUi lu uavc u. l'io iu. vu.s iuu-
sportant work that will confront the patriot
I then.
n.ninnoi Roosevelt isn't writing as many leb-
om tn t.hfi man era as ne was earner in tne war.
"This should not be taken offhand as indicating
Uhat the administration has done something to
I- iii entire satisfaction. He may have run out
I of adjectives or ink or his fingers may be sore
from too much hammering or tue typewriter.
PRESIDENT DECLARES OPPOSITION TO
COURT MARTIAL BILL
A Washington dispatch, dated April 22, says:
What promised to bo a sensational fight in con
gress over the proposal to turn disloyalty and
espionage cases over to military court-martial
was nipped in the bud today by President Wil
son. Champions of the plan abandoned it for
the present at least, when Senator Overman, of
North Carolina, chairman of the Judiciary com
mittee, made public a letter from the President
declaring unalterable opposition to the. Chamber
lain court-martial bill asjboth unnecessary and
unconstitutional. "
Senator Chamberlain, of Oregon, author of
the measure, announced later that in view of
.the President's attitude ho would not press the
bill and that further hearings on it by the mil
itary committee would bo postponed indefinitely.
Witnesses before the senate military commit
tee, including representatives of the various
branches of the government, have urged trans
fer of trials of spies and disloyalists from tho
civil to tho military courts as the only effective
means of dealing with the menace and prevent
ing a wave of mob violence.
President Wilson's letter was written in re
sponse to one from Senator Overman asking his
opinion of the Chamberlain bill.
The President's letter follows:
"My dear Senator: Thank you for your letter
of yesterday. I am heartily obliged to you for
consulting me about the court-martial bill, as
perhaps I may call it for shori. I am wholly
and unalterably opposed to such legislation and
very much value the opportunity you give mo
to say so. I think it is not only unconstitutional,
but that in character it would put us nearly up
on the level of tho very people wo are fighting
and affecting to despise. It would be altogether
inconsistent with the spirit of America and in
view of the recent legislation, the espionage bill,
the sabotage bill, 'and the woman spy bill,, I
think, it is unnecessary and uncalled for.
"I take the liberty, my dear senator, of ex
pressing myself in this emphatic way because
my feeling is very deep about the matter, as I
gather your own is.
"It is admirable the way you have been hand
ling these important bills, and I thank you with
all my heart for standing by the bill which bears
your name without any compromise of any kind.
"It gives me the greatest satisfaction to tell
how much I have appreciated what you have
been doing.
"Cordially and sincerely yours,
"WOODROW WILSON."
STATEMENT FROM SUPERINTENDENT
BAKER
- Benton, Ala., April 9, 1918.
Editor American Issue,
Westerville, Ohio.
Dear Sir:
I have just today read the attack of Super
intendent William H. Anderson, of- New York,
upon the newly organized Dry Federation and
William Jennings Bryan, its president.
-I can not express how deeply I regret so un
just and uncalled for attack was made by one
of our league men upon Mr. Bryan, and I feel'
. that the public should know that this was done
without the knowledge or approval of the Anti
Saloon League of America, and Is contrary to
'the policies and principles practiced by the Anti
Saloon League during its entire history.
Mr. Bryan's devotion to the cause of prohibi
tion can not be questioned. Tho effectiveness
of his great influence in bringing about the rati
fication in the different states can not bo meas
ured. Mr. Bryan has a perfect right to accept any
official position in any organization through
which ho may choose to work. His spirit and
conduct in this reform indicates that he is big
ger than any organization, and that he is seek
ing only the welfare of mankind.
P. A. BAKER,
General Supt., Anti-Saloon League of America.
9
Nebraska farmers, in convention assembled,
declared their belief that the town pool halls
should be closed, at least during the harvest
season. It is getting so now that a fellow
doesn't have the personal liberty to do what
ever he pleases when that interferes with the
big job the country has on hand.
A Year of Prohibition
On another page will bo found a review of Ne
braska's first yoar under prohibition. It Is a
recital of a year of romarkablo achievements In
a state that has horctoforo been a stronghold of
the liquor Interests. Nebraska's record will
furnish a splendid argument for tho adoption of
prohibition In other states that have not yet fall
en in lino. Tho Nebraska Stato Journal (Lin
coln), in commenting on the success of tho first
year of prohibition, said:
"Thero would bo no profit in ropeating horo
what observers overywhoro know and have said
and written concerning tho effects of prohibi
tion in Nebraska. 'Bono dry' prohibition went
into effect a year ago today. A majority of
30,000 voters favored tho measure, but more
than that many refrained from voting on tho
question. Only about half of tho voters, accord
ingly, were positively In favor of prohibition.
Now wo encountor tho astonishing fact that
after a year of tho now policy hardly a voice
can bo heard in opposition to prohibition. In
other times, tho adoption of prohibition in a
stato has been merely tho beginning of a mighty
struggle to repeal prohibition. Tho fight for a
return to saloons has been hot and persistent.
In Nebraska there is no fight. Tho obvious
benefits have been so great that repeal is not
openly advocated at all. To Judge from surface
indications, the liquor question is settled so far
as Nebraska hi concerned.
"Therein lies a danger which it is tho great
est need of Nebraska to recognize on this first
anniversary of a saloonless stato. Thero is dan
ger of over-confidence. Whilo opponents of pro
hibition have soomed to acquiesce in prohibition,
a sincere acquiscence in most cases, there still
remains in tho breasts of the liquor interests
and their political attorneys a hope and a plan
for regaining tho lost ground. Nebraska is too
rich a source of liquor profits to bo abandoned
without further struggle. There is no hope of
carrying tho state by direct attack but surprise
attacks have been planned and will be made.
Nebraska will have to fight to hold the ground
gained.
"The late legislative special session furnished
proof of this. The question of national prohi
bition discovered tho existence of a powerful
and tenacious liquor organization, led by the
governor and controlling tho. state senate. As
long as the 'Hindenburg line' remains in exist
ence, prohibition In Nebraska will no more be
safe than democracy can bo safe with Prussian
militarism in tho saddle. The plan of campaign
is obvious. If tho liquor men can beat national
prohibition, they believe they can in time break
down prohibition in Nebraska. By holding the
Hindenburg lino in the senate, they can defeat
ratification of tho national amendment, relax
stato law enforcement, and perhaps finally re
peal the prohibition amendment.
"The first anniversary of prohibition is more
than an occasion, therefore, for easy rejoicing
over a good gained. It finds us faced with a
hard political task. The gains remain to bo
'consolidated' as the generals in France would
say. Tho Hindenburg lino must bo destroyed
lest in time it carry out a surprise attack and
destroy the good work of the past year. It muse
be wiped out at the coming primaries, in what
ever party it shows itself; and such of its crea
tures as survive tho primaries must be beaten
at the election. A legislature and a governor
favorable to prohibition sincerely favorable,
not camouflaging for prohibition votes while
plotting against prohibition as the Hindenburg
Jine, from governor down, did in 1916 and ever
since, must bo elected this year if the prohibi
tion policy which tho people have found so ben
oflcient is to be safely maintained."
A LITTLE GIRL'S TRIBUTE TO HER MOTHER
Thero is Just one,
And only one,
Whose love shall fall me never,
Just one who lives from sun to sun. .
N With constant fond endeavor.
Thero is just one,
And only one,
On earth there is no- other. '
- u In heaven a noble work was done
When God gave me my mother.
i Lucia 'Mora.
,1
' t,