T-rxpi9n "; m(fffflp'mf'inr
i.- u
The Commoner
VOL. 13, NO. :io
I
4
Lfi
tj
fc.
Ultimate Independence for Filipinos
In his opening speech at Manila, Governor
Gonoral Harrison delivered tho following mes
sage from the president:
"Wo regard ourselves as trustees acting not
for tho advantage of tho United States, but for
tho benefit of the people of tho Philippine
Islands. Every step wo take will be taken with
a view to tho ultimate independence of the
islands and aB a preparation for that indepen
dence, and we hope to move toward that end as
rapidly as tho safety and the permanent in
terests of tho islands will permit. After each
stop takon experience will guide us to the next.
Tho administration will take one step at once.
It will givo to the native citizens of the islands
a majority in tho appointive commission and
thus in tho upper as well as in tho lower house
of tho legislature.
"It will do this in tho confident hope and ex
pectation that immediate proof will thereby bo
given in tho action of the commission under the
now arrangement of the political capacity of
those nativo citizens who have already come
forward to represent and lead their people in
nffairs."
This message, it will be noticed, gives to tho
FilinipoB the promise of ultimate independence,
thus fulfilling the following platform pledge on
that subject:
"We reaffirm the position thrice announced by
the democracy in national convention assembled
against a policy of imperialism and colonial ex
ploitation in the Philippines or elsewhere. We
condemn the experiment in imperialism as an
Inexcusable blunder, which has involved us in
enormous expense, brought us weakness instead
of strength, and laid our nation open to the
charge of abandonment of the fundamental doc
trine of self-government. We favor an immedi
ate declaration of the nation's purpose to recog
nize the independence of the Philippine Islands
as soon as a stable government can be estab
lished, such independence to be guaranteed by
us until tho neutralization of the islands can be
secured by treaty with other powers."
The news report says that every reference to
independence was cheered by the people, and
Governor General Harrison wires that the un
paralleled gathering of the people received with
groat enthusiasm the announcement of the
president's policy.
The first step toward the carrying out of the
promise of ultimate independence was the de
termination to give to the Filipinos a majority
of the commission which acts with the local
legislature in the making of laws.
Governor General Harrison declared himself
in complete accord with the policy of the
president, and appealed to the Filipinos who
assist in tho work upon which the government
has entered.
The country will rejoice that the government
has turned away from the imperialism which has
been impairing our influence as a world teacher
of the doctrines of self-government. In this,
as in other policies, President Wilson is bring
ing the country back to its ancient foundations.
He is calling forth the spirit of free institutions
and summoning for the control of government
the principles of the forefathers. Again the
democracy of the nation is made glad.
W. J. BRYAN.
A Successful Experiment
The republican party had been in power so
long and had so confidently reiterated its claim
that no other party had either the intelligence
or patriotism necessary to conduct a govern
ment properly, that many well meaning men
were sincere in their fear that a change of
administration would bring ruin to the country.
While this delusion was honestly entertained by
some, others found a profit in propagating the
idea that democratic success would menace the
country's welfare. Still others were coerced
by fear into tho belief that the financial interests
were in such absolute control of the industrial
situation that they could and would bring a
panic if their domination of affairs waB dis
puted by the people. Not since 1896 has the
republican party had a majority among the in
dependent voters who were in a position to think
for themselves and to follow their convictions;
but such an enormous power have the predatory
interests been able to exert, that they could add
to what might bo called the legitimate republi
can vote a large illegitimate vote made up of
those who were prevailed upon by various
threats to tolerato republican rulo.
In 1912, through a division In tho republican
party, so unexpected, so inexplicable and so
wide-spread aB to seem providential the demo
cratic party came into power and set about the
task of reforming tho abuses which republican
administrations had either introduced or per
mitted. Six months have now elapsed and every
republican prediction has failed. No calamity
camo; business has gone on without tho least
disturbance. The only panic noticeable has
been among the republican officeholders but
their retirement to private life has caused no
resentment among the people. The departments
of the government have dealt successfully with
the problems that came over from the former
administration and with the new problems which
havo arisen. From the president down, demo
cratic officials are measuring up to the require
ments of their positions. The work is not only
being done as well aB it was done, but improve
ments are being made. Not a break in the line;
nothing that needs either explanation or apology.
The president has dispensed with the formali
ties that prevented sympathetic co-operation be
tween, the executive and congress, and, going
among the legislators, has asked for their aid
in the fulfillment o"f the pledges of the platform.
Congress responded immediately to his appeal,
and there never has been a more genuine spirit
of fellowship between the departments than now
exists. The party is united and its measures
are so obviously in the interests of the people
that they have commanded support from the
opposition. The president marches from one
victory to another. Fresh from a signal triumph
in the matter of tariff reduction he is forming
his lines for a final charge against tho money
truBt. The currency bill which he helped to pre
pare went through the house by so large a ma
jority as to assure its passage by the senate.
With tariff reform secured and currency re-'
form but a few weeks -off, the country will soon
be ready to take up the trust question and other
economic problems which presB for solution.
It is a glad day for democrats. They have for a
generation been subjected to taunts and sneers;
their intelligence has been questioned and their
patriotism challenged. Their day has come and
their hearts are full of joy. They are proud n
the success which they have achieved ana hanni
in the vindication that has come to their luX
ment. They built upon principle and ni"
their policies square with justice; they had to
wait for tho seed to germinate, and for the cron
to grow, but harvest time has come at last
W. J. BRYAN.
IMPORTANT FEATURES OF XFW
TARIFF LAW
The most important features of the Under
wood tariff law, as outlined by its sponsors
are: A reduction of nearly one-half in the
average tariff on foodstuffs and farm products
the placing of raw wool on the free list and a
reduction of nearly two-thirds in the tariff on
woolen clothing, especially of the cheaper
grades; a reduction of one-third (average) on
cotton clothing; reduction of the sugar tariff
and its ultimate abolishment in 191G; an aver
age reduction of one-third in the tariff on
earthenware and glassware; abolition of all
tariffs on meats, fish, dairy products, flour,
potatoes, coal, iron ore, lumber and many
classes of farm and office machinery; a general
reduction on all important articles in general
use. The average rate carried by the new law
is 27 per cent, which Is 40 per cent less than
the average rate of the Dlngley tariff, and over
a third less than the Payne-Aldrlch law. It is
an earnest and honest effort to correct the gross
injustices that have existed In preceding repub
lican tariffs by reason of the fact that the neces
saries of life were discriminated against in favor
of the luxuries. It substitutes for the reign of
special Interests writing their own tariff
schedules a bill prepared by the peoples' rep
resentatives. It was written without the aid or
assistance of a lobby. It represents a success
ful effort on the part of the democratic adminis
tration to keep its pledge to the people that it
would reduce the cost of living by cutting down
the cost of getting goods into the hands of the
consumer.
LEARNING BY EXPERIENCE
Hon. Thomas M. Osborne of New York, has
been testing prison treatment by actual ex
perience. He Is a reformer and wanted to know
the facts, so he went into the penitentiary just
as a convict does, was accorded the same treat
ment. One week thus spent has given him more
information than he could have gained in any
other way. He can now put himself in tho
convict's place and understand his point of view.
There seems to be universal demand for legis
lation to prevent the private use of cocaine.
Why is it that we do not hear anything about
the violation of personal liberty? Has not a
man as much right to destroy himself with co
caino as with intoxicating liquor? Or is it be
cause there are no great associations coining
enormous sums out of the manufacture and sale
of cocaine?
If measurements were taken, it would prob
ably be found that the democrats average about
six inches taller than they did last year. It w
not a matter of growth, however. They have
simply straightened up because of the success
of the Wilson administration. By the end or
the year they will be walking on tho tips oi
their toes.
It is both interesting and instructive to read
the notices which manufacturers are Publ1,151""?
to the effect that the tariff eductions will not
hurt their business. How different these an
nouncements from the scare-head tbreat v
close down if they had to forego the tribute iwj
have been collecting from the American peopi
WIRE OR WRITE YOUR SENATOR
The administration currency bill puts the control of treasury note issues in the hands of the government, where it
should be. If the Owen-Glass currency bill passes the senate in the form that it was approved by the house of repre
sentatives, it will make made-to-order panics impossible. Pressure is now being brought to bear upon the United States
senate, by the "money interest," in an effort to defeat or emasculate the currency bill. The currency bill is drawn in
the interest of the public, and should be passed without delay. If you favor the president's currency bill, WIRE or
WRITE your senator AT ONCE and urge him not to permit the currency bill to be DELAYED or EMASCULATED.
x.
i,
,!
1 1
uu?fti&&iar
a&kflfc.to.M.:
