I
The Commoner
JUNE, 1914
3
Manufactured Business Depression
The efforts of those who-have been receiving
an undue advantage at the hands of the govern
ment to "manufacture' a business depression
has been exposed by President Wilson. Mon
opoly, through its various channels of communi
cation, is endeavoring to have congress adjourn
without passing the anti-trust bills that will pro
tect the public from .the many forms of oppres
sion that they have suffered from for years past.
The plan of the "interests" is to have big busi
ness houses write letters to their customers and
request them to write the president, their con
gressmen, and senators, atid demand. that all
trust legislation be abandoned for the present
and tliat congress adjourn and go home, etc., on
the pretext that the effort of the president to
protect the people from monopoly is hurting
business. Chambers of commerce, commercial
clubs, and other business organizations are
being requested by various interested groups to
pass resolutions requesting that the railroads be
given permission to raise their freight rates five
per cent and that no anti-trust legislation be
passed at the present session of congress. The
president is to be commended for his prompt
action in giving publicity to the "manufactured"
business depression schome, and for his insist
ence that the anti-trust bills shall be passed be
fore congress adjourns. Now is the time for
every citizen who believes in "equal rights to all
and special privileges to none" to take an interest
in what is going on at Washington. President
Wilson is fighting for legislation to protect the
people against monopoly. The reactionary sen
ators and representatives in congress, supported
by "big business," are' endeavoring to block
action by the senate and to force adjournment.
If you believe In the democratic platform adopt
ed at Baltimore; if you beliovo the people are
entitled to an "even break" with monopoly be
fore the law; if you believe in the ahti-triiBt bills
now before the senate; if you believe In the
honesty of purpose of Woodrow Wilson; If you
believe that It will bo better for business and all
concerned to settle the trust question NOW
rather than keep the matter in doubt until next
fall or winter, wire or write your senators and
congressmen at once and give them your opinion
as to whoiher they should stand by the president
or stand with those who are opposing the presi
dent. Now Is the time to secure the reform legis
lation the democrats have been promising for
twenty years. Your senators and congressmen
are entitled to hear from you on these Important
matters. DON'T DELAY, BUT WIRE Oil WRITE
THEM AT ONCE.
1 THE COMMENCEMENT SEASON'
The commencement searon is again upon us.
From the high schools, academies, colleges and
universities a -stream of graduates pours forth.
Each one represents an infinite amount of care,
toil and sacrifice; for years the eyes of theso
students have been turned toward commence
ment day. It has been the end and aim of the
plans they have thus far made. Now they have
received their diploma's; they have reached tho
end of their educational program. What of their
plans now? Parents and teachers have assisted
them in the plans upon which they have fol
lowed through the schools, but now they must
plan for themselves. The responsibilities of life
bear down upon them and they must depend
largely upon their own initiative for such suc
cess, as they may achieve.
Do they begin life's work with confidence, or
are they troubled by doubt? Can they see tho
future clearly,. or do they seek a prophet to tell
them of what is to be? The path to fortune, to
honor, and to success is an easy one, if they will
but follow it, and all the good influences of society
hedge them about and will, if permitted, aid
them. It is strange that any one should fall
when the stumbling-blocks and pitfalls are so
well known and so plainly marked! Those who
desire, will, of course, avoid bad habits. No
physical strength can withstand the sapping and
mining of bad habits. We can assume that every
intelligent student understands the necessity for
that self-restraint that conserves and preserves
the physical powers for wise and legitimate use.
Are the students equally aware of the dangers
of mental dissipation? Do they realize that one
has only so much time, and that if it isjwasted
or given to the reading of bad or worthless
books, or If employed in profitless imaginings
do they realize that it is time lost not to be re
gained? And have they, with all their getting,
come Into that full understanding which teaches
the paramount importance of "moral purpose?
Have they possessed themselves of that wisdom
whose beginning is the fear of God? They have
studied many books it takes a library to equip
tho mind, but ono book only, is needed to pre
pare the heart namely, the Bible. Have they
allowed themselves to look upon religion as com
monplace or old-fashioned? Or do they know
from tho depth of their hearts that morality is
but the outwafd expression of that Inward rela
tion which Is established between man and God
established clearlyin the mind of the intelli
gent man, and vaguely, at least, in the mind of
tho least intelligent?
Does tho student regard himself as a debtor to
society, bound in duty to mako repayment? Or
does he consider society legitimate prey and him
self a fortunate freebooter? There is only ono
economic prlnciplo that can be safely employed
in measuring an individual's deserts, viz., that ho
shall be able to draw from society a reward com
mensurate with his contribution to society. If
ho draws less he is a victim- of injustice; if ho
jlraws more he is reaping where he has not sown.
Ha's he learned that the measure of greatness,
and the measure of happ'ness as well, is service?
Has he gone far enough into life's philosophy to
know that real satisfaction comes from con
tributing to society rather than In sponging
upon it?
No life can be barren or unfruitful if one goes
forth strong in body, trained in mind an'd filled
with a determination to add as largely as cir
cumstances will permit to the welfare of society.
W. J. BRYAN.
BREAD UPON THE WATERS
On another page will bo found a press dis
patch describing the dedication of the five new
buildings recently constructed at the Constanti
nople college on the shores of Bosporus. A num
ber of American women have contributed tho
sum necessary for the erection of these build
ings, the total cost of which was $750,000. The
donations are as "Bread Cast Upon the 'Waters,"
and 'the benefits will come later in the impetus
which will bo given to the education of tho girl
in that part of tho world. Tho education of
women is comparatively new in the Orient, whero
tho men, though far bohlnd tho rest of tho world,
aro much In advanco of women.
Tho peoplo of tho United States are wonder
fully blessed blessings have come down to them
from tho struggles and sacrifices of generations.
Much of this good has come to us from other
countries and without necessity for action on
our own part. We have rocolved it as an in
heritance and enjoy it because we are born into
it. Tho obligation Cannot bo repaid to those to
whom we aro indebted; It must be repaid to
those about us and to those who come after tin.
Wo would be selfish, indeed, if wo confined our
benovolonco and philanthropy to thoso of our
own country. Wo must give to those beyond our
shores If we would moasuro up to our responsi
bility, and among tho many Instrumentalities
which may bo employed none promise better re
sults than the money which Americans send to
colleges in foreign lands. Tho institutions estab
lished aro not only intellectual centers but moral
editors as well, for evory college established in
foreign lands has a spiritual impulse behind It
nothing but a spiritual Impulse can arouse the
enthusiasm or call forth tho sacrifices require.
It Is to be hoped that tho example set by Mrs.
Shcpard, Mrs. Sage, Mrs. Woods and Mrs.
Stokes In endowing the Constantinople school
will be followed by other men and women with
means at their disposal. It Is money lent unto
the Lord with tho best security and at a high
rate of interest, estimated in real satisfaction.
W. J. BRYAN.
Whenever some man starts In to express an
adverse opinion on tho accomplishments of tho
democratic administration at Washington, put
these questions to him: What has Mr. Wilson
done that either Mr. Roosevelt or Mr. Taft, had
either of them been chosen at the 1912 olection,
would have done bettor? What has Mr. Wilson
dono that either political party in opposition to
him would undo if they were placed in power?
What has ho not dono that either of theso would
bo likely, to do if either was given tho power?
Don't accept generalities and sweeping condem
nation for an answer; pin him down to specific
statements. You will find how little of fact and
how much of guff thoro is about this criticism
heard.
The good prices quoted on tho markets for
the things that the farmer produces threaten to
wreck tho hopes of a good many agplrlng re
publicans who have been expecting to ride into
office by showing the farmer how hard he has
been hit by tho removal or reduction of the
tariff on farm products. .It will require some
Mh and lofty juggling to got the statistics to
fit the republican congressional candidates' case.
The bank clearings in the city of Lincoln for
the week ending May 29 were 25 per cent
greater than for tho corresponding period of the
year preceding. In Oklahoma City they were
50 per cent greater,. This shows how business
is in those sections where the shadow of Wall
street does not reach.
If tho railroads were not spending so much
money advertising for the purpose of convincing
the public that times were hard, would they
need the five per cent raise in freight rates to
continue to pay dividends on their watered
stock?
The thread trust has been ordered dissolved
by the supreme court. Which suggests the re
mark that it Is easier for a camel to pass
through the eye of a needle than for the thread
trust to get past tho supremo court.
The "favored few" are bringing pressure on your senators to adjourn
congress without passing the anti-trust bills. Wire your senator to
stand by President Wilson, who is insisting that the anti-trust bills be
passed before the present session of congress adjourns.
AoMU.