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WILLIAM J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR -
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VOL. 21, NO. 2
Lincoln, Nebraska, February, 1921
Whole Number 742
Reorganization-
(
A National Legislative Program
Chairman White has appointed a special com-,
mlttee and called" a meeting for February 17 th.
Another group has asked for a meeting of the'
full committee-to bo held about March 1st at
come central point such atr St. Louis. These
meetings may mean something or nothing ac
cording to the action taken. If the members
have no higher purpose than to give some presi
dential candidate the inside track it would bo
bettor not to got together. If they meet to plan
a constructive program the value of the meet
ing will depend on the wisdom of the plan formu
lated. The nation needs a Democratic party,-
but the party cannbt be Tun with the water that
Has passed over the dam. Neither can-it be
made a tail to anybody's candidacy. The dit
ferences of the past can be forgotten, and should
be, forgotten, by those who agree .upon the thingr
to bo done now. The party must DESERVE
success before it can hope for success, It musf
take the people's side of every queation 'and
courageously defend the beoplo's interests. . It -&
must purge- tne organization orr.ne represema- -yyg
A .forward-looking Democratic legislative pro
gram prepared with ttye advice and approval of
students of' governmental needs, and represents the
consensus of opinion of progressive Democrats
throughout the Country. The program Is not com
plete, and will be added to as means for deal
ing with other questions are worked out. The leg
islative remedies-are only briefly outlined, and will
bo more elaborately- set forth and discussed here
after. The program as thus far developed is as
follows:
PEACE PROGRAM
-A league of nations or an association of na
tions providing for arbitration of all disputes
that can be arbitrated and an investigation of all
others' as provided for in the plan of the thirty
peace treaties, each nation reserving the right
to accept or reject the findings. '
DISARMAMENT
- The United States should immediately en
deavor to assemble the representatives of the
leading nations of the world in a sincere effort to
firing about disarmament.
EFJENDUMJDN 'WAR,
m -t-g kZfm l!mM
favor trn
RECOGNIZE THE SOLDIERS AND SAILORS
We favor a liberal policy in providing for-soldiers
and sailors who made sacrifices in the
world war.
A NATIONAL BULLETIN
Wo favor a national bulletin, notta newspaper,
but a bulletinr issued by the fddoral government,
under the fair and equitable control of the two
leading parties, such bulletin to furnish infor
mation as to the political issues of the campaign.
ARBITRATE DISPUTES
In the settlement of disputes between capital
and labor wo favor a board of conciliation pat
terned after the tribunal created by the thirty
peace treaties, the board to have power to investi
gate all disputes but no power to bind the parties.
PROHIBIT GAMBLING ;
Gambling in food stuffs should be prohibited
by national enactment.
BANK DEPOSITS
-,;wiM ""t &"-
tives of the special interests so that the people
will believe in the party's sincerity and trust it
with the government. ' The Republican organiza
tion might be autocratic, but the Democratic
organization must solicit the opinion of the rank
and file and be responsive to the will of the
voters. The Democratic pyramid must restfup
on its b'ase ifcan'not be balanced on Its apex.
- J W.J. BRYANV"
raBfflWSSg?'" V Rfdvor nalSnal and state logfsfati on guar-
aTToxialrefendumnvwar before faiuB tho pebple's deposits in national and
DEFEAT MBLITARISM
Two hundred and seventy-one to 16, or a lit
tie more than 16 to 1, wjis the vote by which
the House passed the army reduction resolution
over the President's veto. Ninety-two Democrats
voted with the Republicans to reduce the army.
The Senate passed the same resolution over tho
President's veto of 67 to 1.
Once more congress even aJRepublican con
gress hag stood with the people against the
President.J(.t is unfortunate for the country that
the chief executive should so inexcusably ignore
the growing antagonism to militarism but it is
fortunate for the Democratic party that the
Democrats in congress repudiated the President's
leadership on this question as they did on prohi
bition and compulsory military training. During
the next two years the Democrats in the Senate
and House must make the record on which to
ilght the campaign of 19 22. W. J. BRYAN.
BEGIN NOW
On this page we predent the national legis
lative program. This program is intended to
bring about world peace, curb the profiteer,, pre
vent the extravagance and waste In the admin
istration of governmental affaire, and to restore
"people's rule," We desire to hear, immediately
from everyone who approves this legislative pro
gram and will assist In crystallizing public opin
ion to write It into the law of the land.
i
a declaration or war can oe maae oy congress,
unless the country Is invaded liy a foreign foe.
LIMIT TERM OF PRESDDENT
The president of the United States should be
limited to one term of not more than six years
by making him ineligible for re-election, and the
inauguration of the president and the assembling
of the new congress should be set for January
.following the November, election.
0 A MAJORITY SHOULD RATD7Y
We favor an amendment to the federal const!-,
tution permitting a majority of the United
States senate to ratify a treaty.
PROHIBITION
The national prohibition amendment should
, be enforced by the national, state and municipal
officers without fear or favor.
MLLITARY TRAINING
We are opposed to universal compulsory mili
tary training in time of peace.
PROFITEERING
" The Democratic party pledges tbe nation" to
rid it of the profiteer and to close the door
against his return. It will endeavor to eliminate
all unncessary middlemen by the encouragement
of organizations among producers that will bring
those who produce and those who Use nearer to
gether. It will enact and enforce laws that will
effectively prevent excessive charges by such mid
dlemen as- are necessary. To this end it wjll
demand legislation subjecting to the penalties of
the criminal law all corporate officers and em
ployees who give or carry out Instructions that
result in extortion; it will make it unlawful for
anyone engaged in interstate commerce to make
the sale of one article dependent upon the pur
chase of another article, and it will require such
corporation to disclose to customers the differ-,
ence between cost price and, selling price or limit
the profit that can bo legally charged as the
- rate of interest to now limited
state banks against loss through bank failures.
' LD3ERTY BONDS
We favor federal action that will maintain
the price of liberty bonds at par.
. FEDERAL RESERVE BANK SYSTEM '
We favor the federal reserve banking "law but"
.insist' that it must not be used to squeeze, the
debtor by deflation processes. --
FARM LOAN BANK
The farm loan bank law should be maintained
"and' strengthened to extend credit to the farmers
and to protect them from high interest rates
MONOPOLIES
A private monopoly is indefensible and intol
erable, All necessary monopolies should be taken
over, by the government, national, state and mu
nicipal. ECONOMY AND EFFICIENCY
We favor the reorganization of the administra
tive and executive departments of the federal
government tn an economy and efficiency basis,
including the establishing of a budget system and
a reduction in the number of departmental em
ployes to the minimum needs of the government.
EXCESS PROFITS
We are opposed to the Tepeal of tho excess
profits tax law, and-are-opposed to the enactment
of a sales tax law.
REDUCE TAXES
For the purpote of lightening the people's
burdens we favor an immediate return to a peace
footing baa's to bring" about a reduction in taxe3,
and that in reducing taxes consideration
should be shown to those least able to pay.
VOTING BX MAIL
We favor a legislative provision for voting
by mail for voters away from home and for col
lecting ballots in order to accommodate women
and" men who are disabled or "distant from, the
'polls.
NATIONAL PRIMARY LAW
We favor a national primary election law.
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