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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
