'"jjuc;"'' "" v The Commoner. WILLIAM J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR IWfl ssT ' .:- " 7,'""5I OL. 13f NO. 5 Lincoln, Nebraska, February 7, 1913 Whole Number 629 iwar-ll! f VwISHBL Zkifimi; JdHM Hul ?vv ? a 3U2 HP- JS T-V Vm BY .'.IViHii .ir. ' ' IfiJMQr 'Advice to Students Yir. i.' FTBn m t n mt4 I U I ' . fvS'ialffl""" "' Mr. Earl Cranston, Jr., Side Hich School. Denver Colorado. My Mr. Cranston: You may quote me as say- tKg: A request for advfco from a student to ; who has passed middle lire can oesi oa nated by a response which will be useful, and i obligation to make such answer is tne loiter, when, eb in this caBo, it is to reach a large numoer 01 siuaems. viffneed not dwell upon the necessity for educa tion; it may bo assumed that those to whom thMd words aro addressed already appreciate .tliitvital importance of mental training. They ntftd rather to be warned against tho tempta tion! that come with education, and there are twtfj&which most deserve consideration: The first temptation is to forgot God; the sin lthe first pair in the Garden of Eden grew , ot;of a determination to trust the head instead Sjijjtbe heart. They could not see why limlta iJa$ were planed upon them, and therefore they reived upon disobedience. The mind must not ttiaik of itself too highly; it is not the com- ignder-in-chief of man's destiny. Faith is frfcftter than reason. Pascal truly says that "the tttmrj; has reasons that tho reason can not under stand, because tho heart is of an infinitely higher ItJTdtr." Learning is good, but remember always that' "the fear of God is tho beginning of wis- igm." Religion is tho most practical thing with in man nas to ueai, uecause it aiuuo bivcu a conception of life, and furnishes a founda- upon which a moral code can be built. e second temptation is to put selfish In- ts above the common good the temptation regard education as a means of getting ahead others rather than as a means or larger ir,vice. Let hot the training of the mind wean irmrfrom sympathy with your fellows. Educa- .tWif. will mate you stronger; put that larger stfingth at tho service of those who are weaker anilV learn a lesson of paramount importance, fiuuQaely, that life Is measured, not by what wo .?lRbut of the world, but by what we put into , . ; tSt world. v : jfo: venture to offer these two suggestions for i' :S)yur annual, in tho hope that they may, In -sitfariie small degree, strengthen your readers for vuiWi fjarge contribution to the welfare of society ., r"Tr. . . A-1M- 1MMA A.U J7..KaM -. .. I .. J. .. ,t'u3u tuus justuy a, large iuiuiu iium suumty. ,-7'1 f J . t. sUs MmBSBti m7$'Ml kl WlHB "t! ;ry truly yours, W. J. BRYAN. , . i; i ' .VI' K m NO TURNING BACK ?ho opponents of the initiative and reforen- are, according to information that reaches ia Commoner office, threatening to attack the stem in Missouri. It is hardly conceivable iat any set of men can be found foolish enough prbegin a fight upon the .initiative and referen dum. Tt is to be expected that those who profit iy abuses that ought to bo corrected will attempt fto prevent the adoption of the Initiative and referendum, and they are sometimes aided by tthe ultra conservatives who view any change, However good,, with alarm. But when the people Haave once secured power to control legislation through the initiative and referendum, the 'M CONTENTS ADVICE TO STUDENTS THAT SENIORITY RULE CONCENTRATION OP MONEY SOMETHING ABOUT FIGHTING DEMOCRATS AN APPEAL TO REASON "THE FOLKS AT HOME" ARE WITH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT CURRENT TOPICS . i HOME DEPARTMENT ' WHETHER COMMON OR NOT jj NEWS OF THE WEEK WASHINGTON NEWS 0 GOOD WORK Q : 0 Edward D. Mack, Texas. I encloso an- 0 other postofllqe money order to pay for a six months' subscription as per name 0 and address heroto attachod. I am 0 0 pleased to know that The Commoner 0 0 accepts my proposition of nation-wide 0 and permanent circulation plan. I feel 0 0 tho problem of tho democratic party is 0 0 the application of democratic offectivo- ness and simplicity to tho twentieth con- 0 tury progress so that all useful occupa- 0 tions and industries may prosper in a material way and people thus engaged may go forward in spiritual and mental 0 attainments. 0 0 0 battle is ovot, and can not be renewed. Re forms do not turn backward, and the initiative and referendum, taken together, constituto ono of tho groat governmental reforms of tho present day. It Is well that tho friends of this reform should be on tho alert and ready to resist any turning backward. IIOME RULE VICTORIOUS Hom.e rule for Ireland now seems sure. It has passed the house of commons by over one hundred majority; "The house of lords will, it is reported, reject It, but according to now rules this only means two years delay. Then If tho measure passes the house of commons again it becomes a law notwithstanding the protest of the lords. As the issue has been submitted to the people It would seem quite certain that this great reform, to which Gladstone gave so many of tho best years of his life, is nearlhg realiza tion. It is a long delayed act of justice to tho Irish people and will bo generally approved throughout tho world. COLONEL CHARLES H. JONES Colonel ChaTles H. Jones, for many years managing editor of tho Now York World and later editor of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, died recently in Italy. Ho was born In Georgia, and at the ago of 15 enliBted in the confederate army. Several years ago he retired from daily journalism. He never lost his Interest in pub lic affairs. He rendered faithful service to tho democratic party and Mr. Bryan counted him among his personal friends. Colonel Jones did not live in vain, and tr- young men of America will find in his life work great inspiration for good. GOOD FOR TEXAS The Texas legislature did well in electing Morris Sheppard for tho short as well as the long term. Mr. Sheppard 's majority was largo In both houses, and his election to the short term wa3 made in the face of special pleas offered by the friends of former Senator Bailey. Texas has, however, no disposition for trifling with tho public service. Mr. Sheppard under stands what the people pf Texas want and he Id in sympathy with their democratic principles. WASHINGTON'S NEW GOVERNOR Washington's new democratic governor, Ernest Lister, has entered upon his official duties. His inaugural address was a very credit able document progressive from beginning to end. Democracy is fortunate in the character of tho men elevated to high positions this year tho party can afford to bo judged by them. THE PRESEDENT'S PRIVATE SECRETARY Governor Wilson has announced that Joseph P. Tumulty, who has long been his private sec retary, will be the new secretary to the president. That Seniority Rule How tho reactionary democrats do attack Tho Commoner for its editorial on tho "Blight of Seniority!" BUT THEY DO NOT ANSWER IT. They can not answer it. Whoro merit goes with seniority tho seniority rulo does not NEED to bo resorted to; whoro morit does NOT go with soniority, why should it bo rcsortod to? In tho army tho seniority rulo prevails, but tho army Ib not a democratic institution. In tho army authority comeB DOWN from above, not UP from tho people Is tho senate to bo run on tho army plan? No deserving senator will bo hurt by making committco assignments accord ing to merit and merit includes reflection of tho popular will as woll as ability and experi ence; and it is not worth while to considor tho feelings of men who put their ambitions abovo tho public welfare Likewise in tho house. No meritorious man Will suffer. It Is not democratic to build up a PERMANENT APPOINTING POWER. It is a travesty on popular government to authorizo the ways and means committee to appoint tho committees and then say that old memhors must bo reappointed merely because they are now on tho committee. That turns tho appointment of tho ways and means committee over to tho LAST congress, instead of allowing the present congress to select its committees. What member of the committee will admit that ho is not will ing to invito judgment upon his morits? Either the rule of seniority should bo abandonod or a SPECIAL COMMITTEE should bo ap pointed to recommend persons for the various committees. Why should not tho caucus select tho chairman of the important committees? And why should tho speaker bo excluded from tho committee to select committees? If tho people aro to rule, two things aro necessary: First, tho committees appointed to select com mittees should reflect tho sentiment of the present NOT A FORMER congress; and, second, tho recommendations should bo acted upon by the caucus so that any Injustice dono can ho corrected. IS LIQUOR AN EXCEPTION? Tho states aro, ontrusted with tho making of laws regulating marriage and divorce, tho care of children, tho disposition of estates and tho protection of life, liberty and tho pursuit of happiness. Tho stato can oven take lifo in the enforcement of its own laws is it not to bo trusted in the matter of liquor legislation? la the right to violate the liquor laws of a state tho only sacred right? INCOME TAX VICTORIOUS With the ratification by West Virginia, Dela ware, Wyoming and New Mexico of tho proposed constitutional amendment providing for tho federal lncomo tax the United States has adopted that great reform. A law will now bo neces sary to provide tho details for this tax. Wash ington dispatches say that the new law will exempt all incomes below $4,000 or $5,000. 00 0 RENEWALS NOW DUE 0 The close of tho subscription year for the great bulk of Commoner subscribers 0 ended with the last issue in January. Subscriptions ending at this time should 0 be renewed with as little delay as pos- sible in order to facilitate tho work of 0 changing and re-entering the addresses 0 on our subscription books and obviate expense of sending out statements an- 0 nouncing that renewals are due. Sub- scribers aro asked to assist by sending their renewals promptly. 0 4 vl A t&li'ijMiwlm i 3m -WWH