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The Commonet
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YQL. N18, NO. 5
mobilized to givo our soldiers at tho front tho
necessary supplies and support. Tho govern
monts of foreign countries and tho state govern
ments abroad havo seen tho far-reaching Im
portance of protecting tho laboring men and
wago-oarnors by giving them life insurance at
ctfst, giving them old ago and dependent pen
sions to protect them against want and sickness
when they aro unablo longer to contribute their
strength to tholr nation's needs. As a war meas
ure, foreign governments aro rigidly enforcing
tho laws which regulato the number of hours a
day that labor Bhall bo employed so that tho
strongth of the man-power in tho factories and
In tho shops shall not bo overtaxed or the health
of thomsolvoB and families impaired.
"Theao aro all questions which should be con
sidered by tho loyal peoplo of Nebraska as war
measures to supplement tho work of the federal
government in its effort to protect the peoplo
and keop them in a mental, financial and patri
otic framo of mind, to keop them working to
gothor us ono unit to win tho war without un
dermining tho great democratic principles
upon which our government is founded, and
upon which our peoplo have established an en
viablo position among tho nations of tho world.
"It Is to bo rogrottod that at the special ses
sion of tho Nebraska legislature, which passed
aomo splendid legislation that will enable tho
Nebraska soldiers stationed in this country to
voto, and will enable our state courts to co
oporato with tho federal government in the en
forcement of law against treason, sedition and
disloyalty, that tho governor did not also sug
gest oconomlc legislation to enable tho state
to co-oporato with tho federal government in
preventing unreasonable profits by passing
legislation that would break up monopoly and
rostoro competition In our various lines of busi
ness that has been causing so much unrest
among our producers and consumers in Nebras
ka. Tho co-operation between the governor and
tho wot mombers of tho Nebraska state senate
to prevent tho ratification of tho national pro
hibition amendment was a slap in tho face of
overwhelming public sontimont in this state.
Tho action of tho governor and tho eighteen wet
sonators Is satisfactory only to the liquor inter
ests in this stato who havo already been out
lawed by a voto of twonty-nino thousand ma
jority and to tho National Brewers' Association
who aro expected to contribute a campaign fund
to tho liquor oloment in this state in tho hope
of olocting another governor and another stato
Bonato that will defy tho peoplo of the stato by
an effort to postpone ratification of tho national
prohibition amondment. The national congress
submittod tho constitutional amendment to tho
various stato legislatures as a war measure to
help conserve tho food grains of tho country to
protect tho man-power of the nation against
tho offocts of alcohol and disease and to prevent
tho profit from tho liquor business from beinjr
used by alien enemies to carry on a propaganda
agaliiBt our government and our soldiers
"Tho defeat of tho ratification of tho prohibi
tion amendment through tho audacity of tho
governor and tho eighteen wet senators will en
ablo tho broworios which are largely alien-
SYinlTUn CntInU to destry f worth
?140,000,000 a year that is needed by our sol
diers and thoso of tho countries allied with tho
h vl,StateS in, thls war unt11 othe" states
ratify tho amondment without the help of Ne
braska or until the people of Nebraska repudiate
the action of tho governor and the wet senate
anc olec men whose moral conscience and pat
r otic spirit will not longer thwart the will of
or0tPtn0nf NObra8Ja aml Bive ald a oin
fort to tho enemy. As a war measure and for
tho purpose of co-operating with tho federal
government one of the most important thS
for tho peoplo of Nebraska Ho do in the enmw
e lection will be to nominate and elect a goveno?
and a legislature composed of men who are t)er-
hT,n yn TWil t0 b in favor of national prohil
bit ion and who may bo depended unon to vi
and to uso their influonco immediate vUL
?iUmli5B, flC0 t0 bri,lB aboilt the rat Lation "hv
tho Nebraska legislature of tho nnHnini ,b 7
hltion constitutional aiondmont.
A STATE PROGRAM TO ASSTST tum-ott
WILSON AND TO PR&TO?Shb PEOmf
"Summarizing, I take tho liberty of nntni
below for the consideration of the people ?
braska brief legislative suggest ons wh nh il
servo as a nrocmni nf r.,,.:,""s Vllc. l miebt
i tho state cumpaiin by tiro8ovUoCyCUsBe8e1
the support of tho voters at the August pri
maries and tho November election:
"Unswerving support of President Wilsons
war plans without question or hesitancy until
the war is brought to a successful close.
"Prompt and adequate punishment for all dis
loyalty to the government of whatsoever char
acter, and amplo protection to all loyal citizens
against unnecessary and unjust criticism or at
tacks. Nebraska peoplo, with possibly very few
exceptions, aro one-hundred per cent loyal
Americans and aro supporting every branch of
President Wilson's program.
"Candidates for congress should be pledged
to su.port the commander-in-chief of the army,
Prcsiient Wilson, and to assist him by their
voto and influence in raising as much as pos
sible of the additional money needed for carry
ing on tho war by taxes on war profits, excess
profits, surplus incomes, and legislation for tho
conscription of wealth for war purposes in tho
same manner as men are conscripted, the ex
emption rules for wealth to be worked out
along the same lines and for the same reasons
that men are exempted or are placed in de
ferred classifications.
"National prohibition by congressional action
as a war measure to conserve food needed by
our soldiers and allies, to maintain the efficiency
of tho man-power of the nation and to prevent
the profits now being made by the breweries
from being used for alien-enemy propaganda
against the United States.
. "Equal suffrage, state and national, as an in
herent right and also a right women have
earned and as a help to the political life of the
nation.
"The nomination and election of a governor
and a legislature personally known to be in favor
of national prohibition and who may be depend
ed upon to voto and work for the ratification of
tho national prohibition amendment as a war
measure and to prevent the liquor interests and
other special interests from thwarting the will
of the people.
"Federal legislation or action that will main
tain the market price of liberty bonds at par.
"Producers and wage-earners should have
adequate representation upon all boards and
commissions appointed and created for fixing
prices of commodities, wages of labor and for
the management of publicly-owned utilities or
industries.
"Defer consideration of question of compul
sory universal military training until after the
close of the war. We are now fighting to make
democracy safe throughout the world and de
stroy militarism, and if we win we will not re
quire large standing armies and large navies
and we expect to win.
"Development of the water power of the stato
by governmental development or under adequate
governmental control so that cheap electric cur
rent may be had in the factories and on the
farms and to supply as heat and light in the
home, and to conserve coal and the transporta
tion of same.
"Government ownership of public
when the subject can be considered
hampering the financial plans of the
government in the conduct of the war.
btate fire Insurance. This could make a
saving to holders of insured property of at least
one-and-a-half million dollars a year.
"Opposition to the fire insurance combine's
so-called 'uniform rate bill.' 9
"Legislation to prevent life insurance com
panies from confiscating the money of soldier
boys that is now tied up In insurance, policies.
"Enforcement of state laws against monop
olies in restraint of trade and tho enactment of
new leg elation that will prevent profiteering
out of the sacrifices of the people as President
Wilson has so forcibly stated. Qent
"State ownership and strict control of a suffi
cient number of terminal elevators to protect
tho grain-growers of Nebraska in the shipping
marketing and grading of their product. '
hnmV? 8lat!n prvidine fr the appointment-of
bonded grain and produce inspectors to protect
the grain growers in the marketing and gCdhm
, " r SHiin and produce, the same af othe?
countries have made provision
coSsioAo ssssfsf. is! iit to
their livestock and in protecting h,q or
ket prices when they buy feeders S Z T'
on tho livestock markets the JJ B tocflPB
countries make Provision 'to proS them ther
"Legislation authorizing all cities
utilities
without
federal
to establish a public market to bring the pro,
ducer and consumer together to," prevent mon
opoly. "Authorize cities, towns and county commls
sioners to establish municipal slaughter-houses
for the convenience and advantage of the peo
ple who have livestock for sale in less than car
load lots. These municipal slaughter-houses
will save four men's profits, two railroad freight
rates, and could easily increase the price 10 per
cent to the producer of livestock and reduce the
price of meat 10 pop cent to the consumer.
Other countries are making this provision.
"Legislation authorizing cities and towns and
county commissioners to buy and sell food and
fuel to the public when necessary to protect tho
public against monopoly.
"State hail insurance that, will equitably and
fully protect livestock and crops against na
tural calamities.
"State life insurance at costfor all wage
earners and- insurance against sickness and in
jury and a plan of old age pensions for de
pendents. .
"The enforcement of the state laws regulat
ing the hours of labor of men and women and
of child employment.
"State legislation that will give the peoplo
of Omaha the right to construct; and operate a
municipal light plant the same as Lincoln, as
it would save the users of. electric light and
power in Omaha orfe hundred and fifty thou
sand dollars annually.
"Rural credit legislation that will enable tho
farmers to secure cheaper money to protect
their crops against a low market.
"State registration of the man-power of the
state and the establishment of labor assignment
and employment bureaus through the state,
county and governmental machinery.
"The arrest and prosecution of any state em
ploye or other person, or 'former sUto
employe, found guilty of t graft or mal
feasance in office in connectionwith the feeding
of state troops..
"The placing of the state government on a
business basis by the abolishing of unnecessary
boards or commissions and by the consolida
tion of departments to promote Efficiency and
economy.
"The co-operation of the state,., county and
municipal governments with the federal gov
ernment in cori'fining the building of permanent
roads in the country during the war to road
building suggested or approved by the federal
government as war measures.
"The establishment of a state executive budget
which would provide for a list of proposed ex
penditures to be submitted to the state legisla
ture for consideration.
"I believe that the policies and .legislation
outlined above are in thev interest of the great
, majority of the people of the state of Nebraska.
I believe that the policies and legislation out
lined, if put into effect, would mqan the saving
of millions of dollars each year to the producers
and consumers of the state and those who
carry the burden and have no way to offset
combines, monopolies and profiteers who have
taken advantage of the public beca'use stato
laws and state officials have' not restrained
them. I believe that the policies and legislation
outlined are in accord with the legislation that
President Wilson and his- associates have se
cured, and the additional, legislation and
authority that they have aslced for and recom
mended to equalize the burdens and sacrifices
that are necessary on account of the war. I
believe that the policies and. legislation out
lined above will go a long way towards meet
ing the demands and expectations of the people
of the state of Nebraska andnof allaying the
unrest and alarm among the people who feel
that they may be unablo to provide for them
selves and families if prices continue
to rise and the exigencies of the war
require further conserving of the food and an
increase in taxation. These are questions that
should immediately he considered by the stu
dents of economic and patriotic legislation and
or business men and property owners with a
vision as to the needs of the people.
"I expect to discuss more elaborately in the
rure ?ach the various policies and legisla-
v? oto0U , ?Tet aml I win be elad' to receive the
views of Nebraska people, by letter or through
iron18?' ho eithQr aPProve or disapprove any
nL, the Policies or legislative measures
offered for consideration. .
"CHARLES; W..v BRYAN."
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