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The Commoner.
ISSUED WEEKLY
Entered at the PoHtofllco at Lincoln, Nebraska,
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THE COMMONER, Lincoln, Neb.
fc
WINONA'S CLAIMS
Winona appeals to the spirit of generosity for
which the inomborship o tho Presbyterian
church is noted especially should it appeal to
Uiobo Presbyterians who live between tho Alle
ghanies and the Rockies. Tho Mississippi valley,
now tho controlling section of the country
and to become more so as tho population of this
fertile area increases must ho the scone of a
religious activity as great and as constant as
tho industrial activity that more and moro
characterizes this land of promise. Winona .is
near tho center of tho population of the nation
and not far distant from the center of popula
tion of tho Mississippi valley. Tho location,
therefore, is ideal. It is within a few hours'
rido of such great contors as Chicago, St. Louis,
Louisville, Cincinnati, Columbus, Indianapolis,
Cleveland, Toledo and Detroit, and still nearer
to a largor number of smaller cities.
Its physioal advantages are as exceptional
as its geographical location. Its lake is largo
enough to furnish boating and bathing without
limit and yet not largo enough to invite the
dangors of a broader expanse of water. Its
delightful shade, its running streams, its pure
springs and its flowing wells add to its charms
as a resort for those seeking rest and recrea
tion. These attractions alone, coupled with its
accessability it is on tho main line of the
Pennsylvania, on tho Michigan division of the
Big Four, and its trolley system connects it with
sevon trunk linos would bo sufficient to mako
it a most favored spot, but these aro the least
of its advantages. It not only furnishes these
natural delights but surrounds them with a
wholesome social environment. To. amuse
ments that are innocent and recreations that are
harmless, it adds the intellectual inspiration of
a Chautauqua and tho moral stimulus of a Bible
school. As a Chautauqua Winona is second
only to tho parent association at Chautauqua
Lake, N. Y., and it is no mean achievement for
the management to have won second place
among moro than a thousand chautauquas.
Tho Bible school is tho largest in the world
'a still more remarkable achievement. In
addition to tho chautauqua and tho Bible school,
it maintains three institutions of learning two
colleges and an academy whore tho develop
ment of tho heart is looked after as well as tho
training of the mind.
This, in brief, is Winona as it now is after
seventeen years of effort. Who is able to loot
into tho future and measure tho influence that
Winona can oxert for good if freed from the in
cubus of debt and put in a position to improve
tho opportunities opening before it?
Giving to Winona ought to bo looked upon aa
a privilege no less than as an obligation. With
the Christian, giving is a pleasure as-well as
a duty. With him tho question is not so much
the amount to bo given as the cause which most
desorves assistance. Tho ordinary investor
must take into consideration the security as
well as the rate of interest, but when one gives
to a worthy cause tho security is absolute and
ho can turn his entire attention to tho gizo of
The Commoner.
iho income to bo derived in satisfaction and
o pomenco of the good which his invest
ment enables the recipient institution to' do.
The Winona assembly enters into competi
tion with the other large causes that are bid
ding for support and it enters into this cprnpeti
tion with confidence. Whero can a Christian s
money be invested with assurance that it will
yield a large return in benefits? The chautau
qua is a permanent educational institution,
growing in power and scope. Is it not worth
while to help Winona to set a high standard
for the chautauqua platform? The study of
the Bible is essential to the development of
moral character and Christian citizenship. " Is it
not worth while to aid Winona to still further
enlarge the already extraordinary influence of
the Bible school? And is it not worth while to
enable Winona to make her institutions of
learning models in the art of entwining a
spiritual enthusiasm with mental preparation
for life's work?
As we advance in years and see the day ap
proaching when the strength of the body will
wane and when lethargy will restrain the ener
gies of the mind, and we long to attach our
selves to causes that death can not destroy, nor
nature's decay impair, we seek to project our
influence beyond the grave and find consolation
in the thought that tho good which we do will
live after us. It is a laudable ambition to in
fuse immortality into our work, and we do this
when wo give momentum to any permanent in
stitution that deals with the heart and works
for tho betterment of the life. Winona is such
an institution, its appeal ought to meet with im
mediate and sufficient response.
(Editor's Note: The purpose of this appeal "
is to bring the claim of Winona before - those
willing to give; the debt will soon be raised if
every ono who recognizes the merits of the
cause will give in proportion as he has pros
pered. The Winona assembly will bo Presbyterian
in the sense that two-thirds of tho directors must
bo in good standing in the Presbyterian church.
There will, however, be no sectarianism in its
management, and it is connected with a de
nomination merely to give assurance that it will
permanently maintain its religious character,
but other denominations are and will be repre
sented on its board of directors and its various
programs will continue to be inter-denominational.
Contributions should he sent to S. C.
Dickey, general manager, Winona Lake, Ind.)
METHODISM AND THE REPUBLICAN
ADMINISTRATION
Following is a United Press dispatch: Minne
apolis, May 3. A resolution which in effect
places Methodists on record as opposed to Presi
dent Taft shared tho interest with the wind-up
of the episcopal address and its declaration for
a more liberal amusement policy in the Metho
dist general conference today. The Taft matter
came up in a resolution introduced by Rev J
W. Anderson of Cahoka, Mo.
The resolution recited that Secretary James
Wilson had been made honorary chairman of
the brewers' congress in Chicago last October
and says:
"Whereas, Tho president of the United States
the secretary of agriculture and the secretary
of state, his authorized representatives, were
petitioned by millions of Christian people of th
nation individually and through thofr respec
tive representatives to desist from all national
indorsement of said brewers' congress and that
the secretary of agriculture decline said posi
tion of honorary chairman, because of the in
dorsement such position would give to the busi
ness represented and the evident purpose in
view by said meeting, viz., to increase and ex
tend the sales of beer and thus encourage and
increase drunkenness, and,
"Whereas, Tho said United States authori
ties utterly disregarded the expressed wish and
prayer of the Christian manhSod and 4oman.
hood of the nation, with tho exception thaTtho
secretary of agriculture sent out in reply a most
frlXSus' fallacls and stereotyped excuse ana
"Whoreas, The reply is an insult "to "the to'
tel gence of Christian people, inasmuch as ffc
writer must have known that the s?lo and oS?
purpose of said congress had in voVl S
"Therefore Bo it resolved by tho general
conference of the Methodist Episcopal church In
conference assembled, that whilo wo 52iS
ourselves to romatn loyal citizens of tho United
VOLUME 12, NUMBER l8
States and. to support those in authority in every
laudable, lawful and legal way, we do hereby
announce as our conviction that in so aiding
the beverage liquor traffic by their persistent in
dorsement of tho said brewers' congress in tho
face of our most earnest protest, those in
authority8 have 'forfeited' all claim and future
franchise of the Christian and sober manhood
of the nation."
The reading of this resolution was immedi
ately followed by scenes of disorder and an
attempt was made to postpone action. The
resolution was then adopted, amid cheers, with
a rising vote.
In the second section of the episcopal address,
stock gambling was referred to as on a par with
betting on the races and the bishops flayed tho
policy of accepting Contributions from tainted
sources. Bishop Cranston, after discussing tho
futility of trying to restrict the people by church
'rule on the amusement question, declared that
the rules along these lines should be abolished
-and the matter, made one for individual con
science. He added:
"We stand unitedly against gambling and we
recognize clearly that it is the same sin in Wall
street that it is in the lowest resort, but wo
have never ventured legislatively to fix tho point
where the race track gambler, passing from tho
turf to the stock exchange, becomes a respec
table business man, eligible to church member
ship and the chairmanship of the board of trus
tees. In our absolute helplessness before the
question, we must continue to allow the world
to suspect that the larger the. stake and the more
reckless of public wealth the gain, the less
vicious the crime provided the winner pays
tithes to religion or benevolence.'
DON'T DO IT
Ohio State Register: Governor Harmon's
nomination could bring- naught but disaster to
the party. It could result only in the surrender
of the party organization to the money power
and the splendid fighting machine which has
been so productive of good to the people's
cause, would be dismantled and rendered use
less in the war against plutocracy.
If Governor Harmon was sincere and loyal
to the party which in 1893 elevated him to the
cabinet of the president, and in 1908 and 1910
forgave his desertion and nominated and elected
him governor of Ohio he, realizing, as he must,
that there is not a vestige of chance for him
to attain the presidency, would withdraw from
the race.
Judson Harmon is not deceived as to condi
tions. He knows the end, but true to thoso
interests with which, and for which ho has
always worked, he is trying to snap asunder
the democratic anchor chains and turn tho
party over to plutocracy.
Even should Harmon be nominated he would
meet defeat at the polls and the interests now
in extremis would have gained a signal victory
in having control of that magnificent party
organization which has, in the face of appalling
odds continued the fight for the people until
victory is now assured a victory of principles,
not men.
That party organization withstood the awful
blow administered in 1904, rallied from tho
shock, gathered up the disorganized remnants
and began the fight all over again until now,
representing great principles, and standing for
the people, having passed through the fire of
adversity, it is the most formidable bidder for.
victory's favor.
That the men who have fought through all
for prinicple, and now that success is within
easy grasp, should even hesitate in casting theiiq
ballot against tho candidacy of Harmon, seeing
unbelievable.
Democratic voters should cast their ballots'
in the May presidential preference primary, ii
one is held, guided solely by principle for tho
candidate who believes in those principles and
against the man who has been their able and
implacable foo and opposed them at every step
J?10 lone flgb-t now so nGar a successful end.
To nominate Harmon means to give up all
the democrats have battled for and go back to
Parker and 1904. It means that scattered and
disorganized remnants of the great democratic
host must be gathered In and reformed with the
odds against them greater than ever before.
Another victory for plutocracy and another
rout for democracy will encourage the former
and dishearten the sturdy old line fighters who
havo stayed through it all.
Don't do t.
Don't even hesitate.
Don't be fooled again.
