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The Commoner.
WILLIAM J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
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OL. 13f NO. 5
Lincoln, Nebraska, February 7, 1913
Whole Number 629
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BY .'.IViHii
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'Advice to Students
Yir. i.' FTBn m t n mt4 I U I ' .
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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
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,t'u3u tuus justuy a, large iuiuiu iium suumty.
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;ry truly yours,
W. J. BRYAN.
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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.
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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.
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