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The
WILLIAM J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
VOL 20, NO. 1
Lincoln, Nebraska, January, 1920
Whole Number 729
v
"77i& are ceac f?a sought the young child's life.
The National Prohibition Constitutional Amendment Becomes Effective This Day, January 16, 1920.
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The Commoner's
20th Year
In its initial number The Commoner said:
"The Commoner will be satisfied if,' by fidelity
to the common people, it proves its right "to.
the name which has been chosen." This state
ment has been reproduced at the beginning of
each year, and in this, .the first issue of The
Commoner's twentieth year;, attention, is again
directed to it.
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kfw ... 'cTrr,12i.--?7--''"
nnai judgment as to wnetner xneiqnjmoncn' -
Jias been true to the ideals set forth 'must be v
left to its roaders, but it can not be denied the
satisfaction it feels over the splendid apprecia
tion and support it has received from its loyal
band of followers in every state during the nine
teen years of its publication, This is evidenced
from the thousands of friends who have been
subscribers from its first issiio. , Ao Commoner
trusts that it will in the future continue to merit
the same measureof devotion from its readers
by being of still greater service to the people.
For the year 1920, The Commoner rededicates
itself to the task of championing the common in
terests against the special interests. The com
mon people are the bulwark of the republic; they
bave no selfish interests to serve,, but they have
Interests in common that must be protected;
tbey want equality of opportunity, and tltey. want '
the blessings of good government for themselves
and their children; they want no encroachment
, Pon or abridgment of their rights by designing
"miisu interests; they have no friends at court
cept those who patriotically devote themselves '
"tho common interest, and their only hope is
an appeal to an untrammeled political party.
The Commoner will devote its constant efforts
"support of the dokrine that the people are the
ree of power, and that - the true function of -government
is to secure the "greatest good" .to -Ifie
greatest number.'' ''
World Temperance Hymn
Mrs. "Willinm Jennings Bryan
. Tune "Materna"
Our thanks wo raise, O Lord of Hosts,""
In gratitude to Thee,
Whoso mighty arm has given us strength
To win this victory
We need Thy aid, Thy presence still, .
T)o not witlistay Thy hand
Till subtle foes Thy will fulfllL .itfj&j
. ' Throughout our peaceful TandiVjvrawl
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..jsiinli morning: snn-woo irom tncctfayv
Shall, raindrop cease to bless?
Shall beacon send no cheering ray. .
O'er wat'ry wilderness?.
No more can wo refuse to share
The blessings Gat bestows,
To case the burdens othera bear,
And lessen human wccs.
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A voice from overseas we hear,
As in the days of Paul
The Macedonian cry rings clear, .
, A summons for us all.
Then when a world reclaimed at last
Is brought to Wisdom's ways,
Will hosts in heaven join hosts on earth
In worsliip, love and praise.
TO PREVENT STRIKES
ThelndustrialCommission in its report has
made Wfonnffttta&&fon presenting a plan to
prevo ues;Jmachinery is very complete
in its"5 &s anl wjiTglve the difficulites if ac
cepted. rit. pbvidesfrfor INVESTIGATION IN
ALL CASES and is binding only when the award
is unanimous, and then the obligation is civil
and carries no penalties with it. It is worth try
ing. ,
f- TREATY RATIFICATION URGED
jjr h following is a copy of.' a telegram sent by
Wa yan to soveral United States senators at
wMngton, Jan. i2 urging the early ratifica-,
UOn of the peace treaty: " .
"I V '
t0 B y earnestly hope that it may be possible
feUf? asreement on the reservations 'and
can t befre next Friday 80 that our nation
Hon t the Leaguo of Natjons at its first ses
5eopln Jftnuary 16. ,The Joy of the' American
aa whW0Uld' X am BUro. be as universal as it
WQen the armistice was" signed."
CONTENTS .
THE COMMONER'S TWENTIETH XEAR
- NO MANDATE NECESSARY
THE SILVER SITUATION- , .
A PLAN FOR PHYSICAL DEVELOP
MENT .- AN INDUSTRIAL PEACE PLAN
' A WORD TO THE RICH
THE MEXICAN PROBLEM
GORE'S REFERENDUM AMENDMENT
A STEP TOWARD DEMOCRACY
MR BRYAN DENIES PARTY SPLIT
JACKSON DAY BANQUET AT WASHING-
TON
EDITORIAL COMMENT
THE BURIALS OF BRYAN
No Mandate Neces
sary Ever and anon someono suggests that the
United States should become a mandatory for
some country on the theory that the country Ifi
not now capable of self-government and need
to bo governed while it loams to walk. It docs
iotequrreVauy' extended investigation to con--vihcean"A,merlcan
thatatiy marfdato- ybuTjfUS
vef.y db'jectforfable to. tho American people, '
In the first place, it is contrary to tho theory
upon which our government rests, and our coun
try will not be willing to stop down from its
high position and endorse tho doctrine upo
which land-grabbing empires have tried to Justi
fy tho exploitation of helpless countries. Tho
pretext is resorted to by one of two classes,
namely, those who use it to cover their greed
and those who use it to cloak their arstocratic
ideas. As our country has neither land liungor
nor the aristocratic germ, thero is no reason
why .we should enter upon any scheme of GOV
ERNMENT WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE
GOVERNED. In tho second place, it would In
volve us in the politics of the Old World and
the word "politics" over there has a very dif
ferent meaning from that given to it in this
country. In Europe and Asia they havo the
blood ties that unite royal families, ancient
race prejudices, religious antagonism and com
mercial ambition. Tliey havo not yet risen, to
the point of governing for the benefit of the
governed. There would bo no scramble for man
dates if service was the predominant idea. But
service is not the predominant Idea; it Is com
mercial advantage and we would at once be
come involved in the schemes of the commer
cial nations, each seeking an advantage over
the other. We would not do justice to any ONE
of the rivals without offending tho others, and
we could not' favor outsiders without doing In
justice to domestic interests. Having In view
none of tho profits that mako a mandate a thins
to be desired by European nations, we could
have only a disinterested purpose and a disin
terested purpose can be manifested much better
in another way.
The third objection to a mandate is that it
is not necessary. ' The American plan is much
better and therefore Is the plan that should he
adopted. Our ministers to these now countries
ought to chosen with special reference to the ser
vice that can be rendered. AMERICA'S REP
RESENTATIVE SHOULD BE A MAN THORO-
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