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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (June 13, 1913)
vfm wnfipm yiynipn,i.v The Commoner. WILLIAM J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR VOL. 13, NO. 23 Lincoln, Nebraska, June 13, 1913 Whole Number 647 A Simple Plan for Peace Some of the paragraphers who have had so much to say about "grape juice diplomacy," will be interested in an editorial printed in the Washington (D. C.) Times of June 2nd. That editorial follows: "Grape-juice diplomacy has its good points, entirely aside from its publicity value. Nino nations have sent word to Secretary Bryan that they are interested in his world-peace plan by which differing nations are to agree to stop, look, listen, and have their troubles impartially investigated before either party will start war. That is about as far as practical men hope to get at present toward permanent peace guaran tees. It is a good deal more than the Taft ad ministration accomplished with its treaties look ing to a like general result. Mr. Bryan is get ting on. He looks like a man destined to achieve the greatest diplomatic triumph of his time." These same paragraphers may be interested in the following Associated Press dispatch: "Washington, D. C, June 5. Secretary Bryan today announced that Germany, Bolivia and Argentina had so far approved his proposal for universal peace as to ask for tentative drafts of the treaties. With these additions the list of nations have undertaken to consider the pro posal favorably reaches thirteen." Later- The new republic of China later joined the general chorus. The Chicago Record-Herald in its issue of June. 4th, prints this editorial: "A word is in order as to the evolution of the simple yet great Bryan 'peace plan,' with its provision for investigation and reasonable de lay. It was a prominent feature of the Taft 'unlimited arbitration treaties.' Credit for that feature was publicly rendered to Mr. Bryan by President Taft, the latter having taken it, with pleasure and appreciation, from a speech made by the former in London. The Taft treaties having been emasculated by the senate and shelved by Secretary Knox, Mr. Bryan, on suc ceeding that gentleman, conceived the idea of separating the investigation feature from the arbitration scheme and dealing with it in a dis tinct treaty. It was a happy idea, and its suc cess, now apparently assured, will mean much to peace and civilization. That it will indirectly help the cause of arbitration is tolerably clear." The New York World, in its issue of June 2nd, prints this: "It was the privilege of our new secretary of state, Mr. Bryan, and of the newly arrived British ambassador, Sir Cecil Spring Rice, to sign on Saturday a convention renewing for five years the general treaty of arbitration between Great Britain and the United States. Similar renewals have recently been made with France, Italy and Spain. Men change, condi tions change, but the principle and the policy CONTENTS A SIMPLE PLAN FOR PEACE A REPORT FROM CHINA THIRTEEN STATES HAVE LAW FOR PENSIONING MOTHERS HOW STONEWALL JACKSON DIED ATTITUDE OF THE PUBLIC MIND TO- ' WARD BUSINESS. BY SECRETARY OF COMMERCE REDFIELD CHINDA'S MESSAGE TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THE NEW INDIAN COMMISSIONER CURRENT TOPICS HOME DEPARTMENT WASHINGTON NEWS NEWS OF THE WEEK of submitting our international disputes to im partial arbitrament have existed from the foun dation of the republic, and every formal under taking guarding and reaffirming thom will havo the heartiest approval of the people. "Holding fast what has been gained in the high cause of peace, it is well always to press closer to the ultimate ideal of universal peaceful arbitration. It is causo for gratification that Mr. Bryan's proposals, issuod on tho president's direction a month ago, for international investi gation and conferences looking to world-wido peace havo been answered already by Italy, Great Britain, France, Brazil, Sweden, Norway, Peru and Russia. "In, this great campaign for the extirpation of tho curse of war there will bo disappoint ments, obstacles, misunderstandings, jealousies. But it will go forward. It is no dream. It in the most practical of all human endeavors fol the widest benefit." The St. Louis Republic, in its issue of Juno 4th, prints this editorial: "It Ib only about three months since the president and his cabi net began their duties in Washington, but in that time this movement for the restraint of war has developed sufficiently to warrant tho belief that it will succeed. Tho principle under lying Secretary Bryan's -proposal as that prin ciple applies to personal conduct has long boon familiar. Ho asks the nations to follow the practice of quick-tempered men, who, when they find their anger rising, stop and count ten. To secure a similar pause before angry nations act he proposes to make agreements with all tho powers to Bubmit every disagreement between this and any other nation to an international commission which shall bo given a definite period in which to consider the case and report. During tho period of Investigation the dis agreeing nations are not to declare war and not to make any warlike preparations. "Such agreements will tend to prevent war in two ways. Tho period between the outbreak of an international quarrel and the report of the commission will bo one in which cool heads and second thoughts will have their day. Tho longer men think tho less likely they are to fight. The second restraining influence will bo the report of tho commission. Such reports are not to be of binding effect, but they will con tain findings as to tho facts, conclusions as to what is just or suggestions as to how irrecon cilable differences may be compromised. Any nation which insists upon fighting when an in ternational commission has reported adversely upon its claims will forfeit tho respect of the world. It will be but a short step from that situation to one in which an offending nation will be made to feel the world's displeasure." CONGRATULATIONS TO MR. NELSON William R. Nelson, owner of the Kansas City Star, has been released by the Missouri supremo court from the charge of contempt preferred by a lower court. Tho judgo who sentenced him for contempt admitted that he prepared a writ ten decision adverse to the editor on the day before the hearing was held. On this ground the supreme court released Mr. Nelson, holding that due process of law was not observed, when the decision was prepared in advance of the hearing. It was plain at the time that Mr. Nelson's newspaper was trying to servo tho public wel fare and in refusing to go to jail without a struggle Mr. Nelson stood for tho freedom of the press. Even though he obtains his release on a technicality, he is entitled to general con gratulations and he is receiving them. LOUIS P. POST Commoner readers everywhere will rejoice over the appointment of Louis F. Post, editor of The Public, to be assistant secretary of the department of labor. Mr. Post has been a faithful worker for the public interests and the government of the United States is, admittedly, fortunate in securing his good services. A Report from China Tho following report has boon rccoivcd from American Charge d'Affaircs Williams at Pokin, relative to tho oxercises connected with tho recognition of tho Chlnetjo Republic by this government. Mr. Williams reports that tho house com pleted its organization by tho election of a vico speaker on May 1st, at which tlmo ho was pre pared to deliver tho message but tho president of tho foreign offlco desired to mark tho recogni tion of the republic by tho United States with signal honors and took timo to prepare a very elaborato program. At ten o'clock on the socond of May a stato carriage was sent to tho legation with a guard of honor. Accompanied by tho staff of tho lega tion, tho charge d'affaires was driven to tho president's palace, police and soldiers being stationed at short intervals along tho route and tho houses decorated with flags. After enter ing the park tho party was taken across tho lako in tho old imperial barges and met at tho entrance to tho president's palace by tho master of ceremonies, Dr. Sun Pao-Ch'l, Ad miral Ts'al T'ing-kan, Admiral Ch-eng, and General Yin Ch'ang, chief of tho general staff. They were received In the outei'TrtfffTrwTnrjmii tary honors and tho president's bodyguard of landers showed similar honors in tho Inner court. In tho principal hall of tho palace wero waiting the minister of foreign affairs and other officers. The American charge was conductod to an inner recoptlon room and read tho mes sage of President Wilson and handed it to Presi dent Yuan Shl-k'al, who gave it to tho minis ter for foreign affairs. Tho charge d'affaires then mado the following brief address: "Mr. President: Having communicated to your excellency the message from tho president of the United States giving formal recognition of tho republic, I desire for myself and in bo half of my fellow-countrymen resident in China to express tho satisfaction which wo all feel in the action taken by tho American government. "As citizens of a sister republic, we can not bo indifferent to anything which affects tho suc cess of republican government in China. Wo shall watch your progress with sympathetic in terest, trusting that the hopes which animated the martyrs of the revolution may find their full fruition in the free institutions now being estab lished. We believe in 'a government of tho people, by tho people, and for tho people.' ."Out of the mists of high antiquity echo tho words of tho great declaration: 'Heaven sees as the people see; heaven hears as the people hear.' "Wo rejoice with you today In tho confident belief that these ancient words havo found ful fillment anew: That this new government, 'broad-based upon the people's will,' by tho establishment of lasting peace and equal jus tice, will minister to the highest happiness of tho people of China and merit tho blessing ot heaven." President Yuan Shl-k'al responded In behalf of tho new republic In a cordial manner, saying: "Mr. Charge d'Affaires: I have listened with the most profound satisfaction to tho welcome message of tho president of the United States which you have just read and tho assurances of sympathy which you have so eloquently ex tended to me. On behalf of the government and people of China I thank you and also beg you to transmit my thanks to the president.. "Though young in years, the republic of China is founded on principles of liberty and freedom which are already deep graven on tho hearts of the Chinese people. We believe that through the permanent establishment of this form of 1 Tjirttri mmuMr- Ulj4a!aift-. . Wjv )0iti&kjii,ii..jL.$iiit4iA. wrMUati&id' itu i 'ajJHJUli itijJ6i&L,J.i. M.t:-ikiUi.-i afci ii-.aUAJ