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The Commoner.
WILLIAM J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
VOL. 13, NO. 15
Lincoln, Nebraska, April 18, 1913
Whole Number 639
A Real American President
"I am very glad, indeed, to have this opportunity to address the two houses directly and to verify for myself the impression that the presi
dent of the United States is a person, not a mere department of government hailing congress from some isolated island of jealous power and
sending a message, not speaking naturally and with his own voice; that he is a human being trying to co-operate with otrtier human beings
in a common service. After this pleasant experience I shall feel quite normal in all our dealings with one another. "President Wilson's
introductory remarks before the joint session.
Wei
come,
China!
The people of the United States will, without
exception, rejoice at China's entrance upon her
new career. It is a momentous hour when the
citizens of a great nation, becoming conscious
of both their rights and their capacities, secure
their participation in the government under
which they live. China, whose people, through
so many centuries have endured the restraints
and constraints of monarchical government, has
thrown off the yoke of an emperor and estab
lished a republic. The methods employed were
almost as unusual as the event was unexpected.
Peculiar in many ways, they were never more
peculiar than when, almost without bloodshed,
they overthrew a dynasty and inaugurated a
government popular in character. It was an
epoch-making act and the world has hardly yet
recovered from its surprise.
On the eighth of April the new assembly met.
THe lower branch of the legislature has a
membership of between six and seven hundred;"
it opened with five hundred of Its elected mem
bers present. The upper body has a member
ship of two hundred and seventy-three, one hun
dred and seventy-live of whom answered to the
roll call at the opening. This is a very satis
factory attendance when it is remembered that
the elections were only recently held and that
many of the members had to travel very long
distances by antiquated modes of travel, The
sessions were opened with dignity and decorum
and the following address was issued to the
world:
"On this eighth day of the fourth month in
the second year of the Republic of China, the
date fixed for the first opening of our permanent
national assembly, the members of the senate
and the house of representatives, having met in
these halls to celebrate the event, now make
this declaration of their sentiments.
"The will of Heaven is manifested through
the will of the people. That the hundreds of
millions of the people possess the authority of
the state is not proclaimed now for the first
time. The monarchy so long corrupt proved
unworthy of the grave responsibilities entrusted
to it by the will of the people, but with the
introduction of popular government the repre
sentatives of the people must share the likes
and dislikes of the people. They are to give
expression to the desires and voice the will of
the people; they hold the reins in behalf of the
CONTENTS
WELCOME, CHINA!
THE PRESIDENT BEFORE CONGRESS
MR. WILSON'S PROGRESS
INCOME TAXES THE- WORLD OVER
SHATTERING PRECEDENTS
HOW THE TARIFF BILL WILL LOWER
THE COST OF LIVING
MR. UNDERWOOD'S EXPLANATION OF A
DEMOCRATIC MEASURE
ANOTHER VICTORY FOR POPULAR
GOVERNMENT
THE NEW CABINET HOSTESSES
HOME DEPARTMENT
NEWS OF THE WEEK
WASHINGTON NEWS
nation to govern with severity or leniency, with
parsimony or extravagance; they become the
pivot upon which the prosperity of the state is
made to turn. For the success or failure, safety
or danger, adversity or. good fortune, theirs is
the merit or the blame.
"Can we bo otherwise than anxious? Yet
through great tribulation the spring comes to
prosperity, and our very bad management and
anxieties are a means to happiness. Now, there
fore, wo unite to form this assembly and pre
sume to publish our aspirations: May ours bo
a just government! May our five races lay
aside their prejudices! May rain and sunshine
bring bounteous harvest and causo the husband
man to rejoice! May the scholar bo happy in
his home and the merchant conduct his trado In
peace. May no duty of government be unful
filled and no hidden wound go unredressed.
Thus may the glory bo spread abroad and these
our words be echoed far and wide, that those
in distant lands who hear may rejoice, our
neighbors on every side give us praise and may
the new life of the old nation be lasting and
unending. Who of us can dare to bo neglect
ful of his duties?"
Splendid beginning! Welcome, China, to the
sisterhood of republics! The government of
the United States was the first nation to Inti
mate its desire to extend recognition, and in
no other nation will China find a larger or more
sincere sympathy with her hopes and aspirations.
RELIEF AT LAST
The democratic members of the ways and
means committee have presented a tariff bill
prepared in consultation with the president. It
goes a long way toward bringing the relief
which the democratic party has promised the
people. If it Is not exactly what each one de
sires it will bo remembered that a taTitf bill is
a composite opinion of many persons, not the
opinion of one alone. The bill, however, in the
total reduction made as well as In detail will
commend itself to a large majority of those who
desiro tariff reform.
It seems probable that the senate will pass
the bill substantially in the form in which it
passes the house; thus a united party will speak
immediately and emphatically for the relief of
an overburdened people. Surely the day of
jubilee is near at hand.
IIARD TO PLEASE
Mr. Henry Watterson of the Louisville
Courier-Journal, criticises Mr. Bryan because
of the reproduction in The Commoner of a St.
Louis Republic editorial complimentary to
Champ Clark. Marse Henry is hard to please.
He seems determined to be displeased with
Mr. Bryan in any event. Can it be possible that
Marse HenTy does not really enjoy life as much
as he says he does? Can It be possible that the
beloved editor of the Louisville Courier-Journal
has come to bo a "grouch?"
DIGNITY
Mr. Henry Watterson, editor of the Louis
ville Courier Journal, Is very much afraid that
in adopting the plan of delivering the presiden
tial message In person, the president "Is likely
to lose in dignity." But in spite of all the loss
In "dignity" the people seem to like it. Any
way, Marse Henry has enough dignity for the
entire party. The people will be satisfied if
Woodrow Wilson stands for efficiency.
President Before Congress
Tho president has sot a new precedent and
It is likely to bocomo an Important one. While
in appearing boforo congress ho rovivod an old
custom rather than originated a new one, still
it is so long since tho president dolivered a
messago to congress In person that it is as
startling as an innovation.
Tho president lias shown himself ready to
risk criticism in doing that which Beems to him
right, and ho did not misjudge tho human heart
when ho decided that tho people would approve
of his act if ho brought himself Into closer
communication with those public servants who
aro entrusted with matters of legislation.
When our constitution separated tho threo de
partments of government and so balanced ono
against tho other as to compel co-operation
among tho peoplo's representatives, it did not
contemplate tho creation of such a barrior as
has gradually been established between tho
White Houso and congress. Our institutions
are not endangered by tho introduction of more
frank and cordial relations between tho execu
tive and tho legislative departments, and It is
a little amusing that any ono should havo re
garded the visit made by tho president to tho
halls of congress in tho light of a menace.
Senators and members of tho houso are In daily
conference with tho president at tho Wblto
House; they call to see him about appoint
ments and to present matters within tho domain
of legislation. Why should tho calling bo one
sided? Why should It bo regarded as propor
for legislators to go to tho president but
objectionable for tho president to go to the
capitol? It is not objectionable, it was simply
unusual.
Now that the new plan has been inaugurated.
It is found to bo popular. Thoso who wanted
to find fault, stayed to praise, and the country
already enjoys the benefit of this better under
standing. Tho president, with that modesty
which has characterized his every act and yet
with that self-reliance which is equally charac
teristic, had a heart to heart talk with tho na
tional legislators. His introduction touched
tho hearts of all; It was a protest against the
lonesomeness that custom has enforced upon
tho executive a plea for fellowship and com
radeship. The response was Immediate and
unanimous. Tho president told his auditors
why he had called congress together, and in
strong but simple language outlined the policy
which in his opinion would carry out tho pledges
made and realize the hopes excited during the
last campaign. By making friends of his co
laborers, he has made easy tho work to which
they were all called. Ho has added another
laurel leaf to his crown.
mr. wilson's progress
No other president has, within so short a
period of time, won such general favorable com
ment as has been given to Woodrow WllsDn oy
the people and tho press during tho past few
weeks.
Plainly the people havo grown weary of
shams and pretense. Plainly they are search
ing longingly for the genuine in public life.
That is the reason that a prolonged cheer goes
up from tho people every time our democratic
president punctures an official pretense or
sweeps aside a long honored tradition.
Tho reason that so many of the words of
Jefferson and of Lincoln livo is that there was
