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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (May 9, 1913)
c vaikfr Tr The Commoner. WILLIAM J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR VOL. 13, NO. 18 Lincoln, Nebraska, May 9, 1913 Whole Number 642 Dollar Mark Patriotism On another page will be found a very interest ing dispatch from Berlin, a dispatch which will bo read with interest by those who are ignorant of the organized efforts made by interested firms to coin into money the war scares that ever and anon alarm the public. It seems that the great gun manufacturers of Germany have been detected in arousing the fears of the people in order to secure larger contracts for guns and armaments. The Mor genpost declares that "Behind all this fabri cated war talk stands either a class of reaction, or, more sickening still, a sheer lust of gold." It is charged that army and navy societies have been organized to preach war with unconcealed financial assistance of armor plate firms, and that "pensioned officials have perambulated throughout the country preaching war." Ger man newspapers, it is claimed, have boon sub sidized to conduct campaigns of hatred against France and England, and that the firms which have thus employed agents to. stir up enmity against other countries have sold weapons to the other countries at a lower price than they were sold for to the German government. This sounds very much as if it might be an American discovery but it only shows to what lengths people will go when lured on by the desire to make money. The exposures ought to have a salutary in fluence in promoting peace. Surely the great nations of the world ought not to bo forced into a burdensome outlay in preparation for war merely to gratify the avarice of those who grow rich by furnishing war material and who stu diously promote a war sentiment in order to furnish a market for their wares. STRIKING AT FAVORITISM The treasury department presents an illus tration of the favoritism which characterized republican policies in administration as well as in legislation. Secretary McAdoo heard soon after he went into office rumors of favoritism shown to various financial concerns. He im mediately set inquiries on foot and has just announced a discovery which will interest the general public. He found that the National City Bank of New York was in the habit of sending a' representative to Washington to secure ad vance information in regard to the reports which were made from time to time in regard to the standing of banks. The following state ment has just been issued by Secretary McAdoo: "A few weeks ago suggestions made to the sec retary that certain banks had long maintained prl vato employes In the treasury department for tho purpose of reporting to them on the transactions nnd business of tho treasury. "As a result of an investigation, which was promptly begun, it develops that tho National City Bank of New York, acting through Mr. Alles, vico president of the Riggs National I3ank, of Washing ton, has employed a clerk outside of tho depart ment, who has been given a desk in tho office of tho comptroller of the currency, and who has, for CONTENTS DOLLAR MARK PATRIOTISM PRINCIPLES OR POLICY WHICH 7 STRIKING AT FAVORITISM GOOD FOR SULZBR PRESIDENT WILSON SAYS DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS ON TRIAL "GRAPE JUICE DIPLOMACY" UNITED STATES LEADS IN PEACE A HEART-TO-HEART TALK WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE THE CHINESE REPUBLIC RECOGNIZED CURRENT TOPICS MR. BRYAN IN CALIFORNIA HOME DEPARTMENT NEWS OF THE WEEK WASHINGTON NEWS, tho past eight or ten years, mado regular reports to tho National City Bank on tho condition of each national bank in tho country promptly following every call of tho comptroller of tho curroncy. "This is, of courso, Irregular and Improper, and, immediately upon its discovery, It was stopped. It is only fair to say that the banks' claim that tho Information so obtained Is only such as in duo courso is made public by tho individual banks or the department, but tho method employed of in stalling a private employe, with a desk in tho treasury department, gives tho bank bo favored an undue advantago in' tho way of information over all other banks in tho country. "At the same tlmo it tends to establish lntimato relationships with tho employes of tho govern ment and tho acquirement of information of a confidential naturo that ought not to bo given to private individuals or corporations, and which, if given at all should bo published to tho entire coun try. It is needless to point out that if any larger number of banks should claim the same privilege tho treasury department would be overrun with private employes, to the serious detriment of tho service. "Many of tho transactions with tho department are necessarily of a confidential naturo, and no government employe should, upon any inducement or consideration, supply Information to any private interest beyond what is given out officially to all. "It was with these rumors In mind, and for tho purpose of developing tho facts, that tho secrotary Issued tho order, a few weeks ago, about giving out information by tho heads of departments except through the secretary's office. To have fully ex plained at that time tho purposo of this order might have defeated tho end in view. Some of tho newspapers, unhappily denounced this as "gag" rule, and have thereby greatly impaired tho use fulness of an order which was designed solely for tho public good and to prevent tho treasury depart ment from being used for tho benefit of any special interest. "Tho policy of this administration is 'pitiless publicity.' Tho secretary is in full sympathy with that policy, but In executing It ho is animated sole ly by a desire to prevent the Improper giving out of Information concerning tho business of the depart ment and to secure the publication only of such legitimato and authentic news as will conservo and protect tho public Interest." Thus is reform making progress. Tho doc trine of equal rights to all and special privileges to none is being applied in tho various depart ments and the more the people see of the now freedom inaugurated by President Wilson tho more popular his administration becomes. SUGAR The sugar men are amply supplied with figures to show that they can not stand tho re duction made by tho tariff bill now before con gress. But these are the same compilers of statistics who have been just as well prepared to show a republican congress that they could not stand any reduction at all. If the protected interests had been willing to concede as much when the republicans were in power as they are willing to concede now, they would not have aroused so much hostility among the consumers. INVESTIGATE FIRST If any democratic congressman feels tempted to vote against the reduction embodied in tho Underwood bill, let him, before yielding to the temptation, find out how many of his constitu ents get the benefit of the tariff and how many bear its burdens. Then let him ask himself why a few constituents who ask for favors should bo given more consideration than tho mass of his constituents who believe in "equal rights to all and special privileges to none." PLATFORM PLEDGES Whatever may be said for or against the rate on any particular article, it must be conceded that the tariff bill now before congress goes as far, on tho whole, toward carrying out tho pledges of the platform as any democrat could reasonably expect. All praise to the president for the stand he has taken, and to Speaker Clark and Chairman Underwood for tho hearty co operation they have given Urn. WOOL The wool men are complaining that their in terests are not being sufficiently considered by the president, but, do tho wool mejCffigU that they have for twenty-fiye years been'Tnr combi nation with the tariff barons to prevent any re duction on anything at any time? Principles or Policy Which? As was to bo expected, tho estranged fuctlons in tho republican party nro trying to get to gether. In tho campaign of 1912 Mr. RooBovolt led away more than half of tho republican party on tho chargo that tho regular organization was under Wall street's control and ho proved it. Ho rallied about him four millions of voters who wore willing to bo called bolters rather than glvo their support to tho Taft tlckot. Tho languago used by tho democrats In condemning tho ad ministration of President Taft, while clear and unambiguous, was mild compared with that employed by thoso near to Mr. Roosevelt. Nor wore tho regular republicans lacking in ruggedness and emphasis when they character ized the reform pretentions of the new party and Its leaders. In each camp of tho divided re publicans there was great rejoicing when tho returns showed that tho other camp had been overwhelmed by a democratic victory. But the din of battle had scarcely ceased' be fore peace propositions began to pass back and forth botwoen tho legions of tho .divided army. Mr. Munsoy, one of the loaders of the Roosevelt forces, ono who stood near to tho commanding olllcor If proximity can bo moaoured by cash contributed, suggested tho formation of a hold ing company which would act as a sort of trusteo for tho regulars and progressives. This offer, however, was a little premature so many of; tho combatants were still In tho hospital that the proposition could not receive tho attention that its importanco deserved. Now comes Senator Townsend, of Michigan, and extends "the ungloved hand of genulno party friendship" to those who strayed from the fold last fall. Ho regards reunion as "In evitable" and says: "Wo can well afford to overlook tho personal differences which originated in tho choice of a national leader last year," etc. But is this not adding Insult to injury? Was tho fight last fall merely a PERSONAL ono? Was the republican party, after a triumphant career of half a century, rent In twain by "per sonal differences which originated In tho cholco of a national leader?" What will tho progres sives think of this accusation? How will thoy explain the vehement speeches which thoy made, and the sweeping charges which they uttered? He recommends a new national committee organized from those members of congress who have the confidence of tho great mass of re publicans throughout the country? Ho appeals to tho republicans to divest themselves "of all the pettylsms and animosities which have re cently divided us, and with new leaders if .need be meet the responsibilities which aro now upon us." Aye, there's the rub! "Now leaders?" What about the old ones? What about the sago of Oyster Bay, whoso indignation was so great that, in spite of the fact that he received all of his honors at tho hands of tho republican party, he felt It his duty to organize a revolt against his republican successor the man whom he selected and elected to the presidency? Is Mr. Roosevelt to step aside now and let tho party get together on any old platform, simply for tho sake of winning? And what of Mr. Taft? Read the platform adopted at Chicago and see how magnificently (according to that platform) ho upheld tho honor of tho nation and fought back tho enemies of his country! Is he to go to tho junk heap in order to make way for harmony. Call tho roll of leaders Roosevelt leaders and Taft leaders and seo what you havo left worth organizing for when they aro cast aside. No use, Senator Townsend. You either do not mean what you say on you do not know what you aro talking about. If tho progressives were fighting for principles last fall they can not make up with the regular republicans unless the regular republicans are just joking and if th