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The Commoner
JULY, 1914
j- r-rav-
directly through the use of tho government cash
or the government's credit. Tho American
farmer is sturdy, independent, and self-reliant
He is not in the condition of serfdom or semi
serfdom in which some of the European peoples
wore for whom government aid was extended in
some form or other, commencing, especially,
about the beginning of the last century. Ho is
not in tho condition that many of the Irish
farmers have been in for whom encouragement
and aid have been furnished through the land
purchase act. As a matter of fact, the American
farmers are more prosperous than any other
farming class in the world and they have be
come increasingly prosperous. As a class they
aTe certainly as prosperous as any other great
section of the people; as prosperous as the
American domestic servant class, the clerks, the
merchants, the teachers, and the mechanics, not
to mention others. It is requisite that the gov
ernment, so far as geographic and physical con
ditions permit, extend its machinery for tho
benefit of tho agricultural classes as effectually
as it does for any other class, and this the gov
ernment has attempted and is attempting to do.
It is the judgment of tho best students of
economic conditions here that there is needed to
supplement existing agencies a proper land
mortgage banking system operating only through
private funds, just as other banking-institutions
operate, and this judgment is shared by tho
leaders of economic thought abroad.
The students recognize the desirability of an
other piece of legislation which may properly be
had at the hands of the several states, namely,
legislation authorizing and encouraging local
personal cooperative credit associations. Some
states have already taken steps in this direction
and others are contemplating taking them: The
department of agriculture has made earnest in
vestigations in this field and should soon be in
position to offer valuable suggestions as to the
need and operations of such associations.
Aid to any class in the way of government
money or government credit would run counter
to, the fundamental principles of the democracy,
and subsidies of any kind are not in accord with
the best thinking and the best interests of demo
cratic government and do not seem to be called
for in this instance.
Locating the Blame for Delays
It will be recalled that when the republicans
were in control at Washingon they talked a great
deal of their friendship for the doctrine of con
servation of the water power of the nation. Yet
the democratic congress is the only one that
Beriously considered a bill 'which will make it
possible for private capital to develop these water
powers, while at the same time preserving to the
government the right at the end of fifty years
to take them over at a fair and just appraise
ment. Campaigning promises to' be expensive for the
republicans this fall. This is due to the fact that
they must employ two sets of speakers, one to
prove to the producers that they are getting less
for what they have to sell under the new tariff
law and the other to prove to the consumers
that the cost of living has not been reduced
thereunder.
At least no one will accuse Senator Thompson
of Kansas of lacking in bravery. He has intro
duced a bill intended to restrict the cigaret evil
in the District of Columbia where, under the in
fluence of free and easy continental ways, the
paper pipe is to be found in the mouths of boys
and women to an alarming extent.
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NEBRASKA DEMOCRATS
The Nebraska democratic state conven
tion will meet at Columbus, July 28. The
action of this convention will largely af
fect tho result of the election in Novem
ber. Nebraska is a progressive state and
undoubtedly a largo majority of the vot
ers of Nebraska are in complete accord
with tho splendid record of tho Wilson
administration. A vigorous endorsement
of the results and aims of the national
administration and the election of men as
members and officers of tho democratic
state committee who typify what the Wil
son administration stands for in tho pub
lic eye and who are known to be in full
accord with the national progressive
democracy will do much towards bring
ine about a great democratic victory in
Nebraska this fall.
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It is. evident from tho tono of tho republican
press that an attack is to bo mado on tho demo
cratic party for not having enacted legislation
on all tho subjects covered by tho platform. For
fear that some democrats may be misled by
these attacks, it is worth while to point out tho
real reason for delay. The president has been
diligent in season and out of season; ho has kept
tho members of congress together in continuous
sessions ever since ho entered upon tho duties of
tho office. Surely no blame can bo attached to
him for he has kept tho hopper full of remedial
legislation. The fault has been with the mill
stones the two houses of congress which must
concur in legislation. And the fault has not
been with the house of representatives either,
because that body has promptly passed the
measures recommended by tho president; thoro
has not been the slightest discord between tho
president and the-houso. Even where, as in tho
case of the tolls bill, a few democrats opposed
the measure action has been prompt.
It Is In the senate that tho delay has occurred
and here the fault does not rest upon the ma
jority it is to be found in tho rule which per
mits unlimited debate. This rule may have been
good enough in its time, when tho senate was
small and when the number of measures de
manding attention was few. But times have
changed. In the beginning there were thirteen
states with twenty-six senators; now there are
forty-eight states with ninety-six senators. In
the beginning congress had three millions of
people to legislate for; now there are ninety
millions thirty times as many aa in 1776. There
is no doubt that tho time Is near at hand whon
tho sonato rule will bo changed ao as to permit
tho majority to rule, and to rule within a rea
sonable time, but when tho attempt is made to
change tho rule, there will bo debate on tho new
rulo and it will bo conducted under tho rule al
lowing unlimited dobato. It has been Impos
sible to tako up tho chango in tho rule without
suspending, for an lndoflnlto time, all hope of
legislation.
This rule is not a democratic rule nor is it a
ropubllcan rulo; it is simply an ancient rule
that has outlived its usefulness. Upon it must
rest tho blame for tho fact that congross will
adjourn with some of tho platform pledgos yet
to bo carried out. This fact should bo known
and democrats should bo In position to answer
tho arguments which republicans aro making.
Tho rulo which now obstructs legislation under
a democratic administration existed undor a re
publican administration, but it worked no such
hardship then as it does now because tho republi
can party was not urging remedial legislation.
Tho rulo allowing unlimited debate Is harmless
when there are no reform bills pending; but
such a rulo is a real Injury to tho country whon
the people have voted for reforms and when tho
party In power is honestly attempting, as It now
is, to redeem tho pledges made. At this timo tho
rulo giving unlimited debate operates In tho in
terest of the minority because by means of tho
rulo tho minority can slow down tho processes
of reform and decrease the number of remedial
measures which it is posslblo to pass. It might
bo well for tho voters to let their senators know
what thoy think of a rulo that obstructs tho
carrying out of tho will of tho people deliberate
ly expressed at tho polls. W. J. BRYAN.
ALCOHOL IS DOOMED
A press dispatch from Russia brings tho inter
esting news that tho czar has issued an order
driving intoxicating liquor out of the Russian
army. The following is tho text of the dispatch:
"Emperor Nicholas has just promulgated a gen
eral order dealing with the drink evil in his
army. Its provisions are of the most drastic
character, and as such will doubtless commend
themselves to Secretary Josephus Daniels of tho
United States navy. Vodka is forbidden to tho
men at all times, and tho czar directs that tho
most stringent measures shall be taken to pre
vent them from buying it. No soldier, if he is
known to be inclined to drink, is to be allowed
to receive money from home, without special
permission from his commanding officer.
"Officers of every rank are forbidden to drink
spirits in 'camp, on maneuvers, or while on any
kind of duty, and those in high command are
ordered by the emperor to discourage as 'much
as possible the drinking of alcohol, and to set an
example in the matter of total abstinence to their
subordinates. All cases of drunkenness, either
among officers or men, are to be dealt with in
the most severe manner possible. Medical offi
cers of the army are to deliver periodical lec
tures to officers and men on the harmful effects
of alcohol.
"Commanders of regiments are instructed to do
their best to improve the mess life of the officers
under their orders, and to foster the introduc
tion of games, the addition of libraries to the
mess quarters, and to arrange for facilities for
the study of foreign languages. In the same
way, the company officers are required to en
deavor to improve the lot of the rank and file
by devising and organizing games and sports,
which wilL keep them out of doors, wholesomely
occupied during their free time. Soldiers known
to be addicted to drink are to be the subject of
special solicitude by tho regimental officers,
chaplains, and surgeons.
"This is the first occasion on which any such
general order has ever been issued to the Rus
sian troops. But the emperor has been led to
issue it by the necessity of adding to the effi
ciency of his huge army. Field MaTshal Lord
Kitchener demonstrated in his various Soudan
campaigns, culminating In the crushing of the
Dervish Mahdi at Omdurman in 1898, the mili
tary advantages of total abstinence from alcohol
when on active service, and since then there has
been a disposition on the part of the military
authorities in all countries to discourage the use
of alcohol among officers and men, modern meth-.
ods of warfare and arms of precision demanding
an extremely level head and steady hand, rather
than reckless gallantry, prompted by what Is
popularly known as 'Dutch courage "
What have tho defenders of boozo to say In
answer to this very conclusive evidence of the
evil of' alcoholic drinks?
If tho soldier must give up alcohol because it
interferes with" his efficiency, why should not
tho civilian promote his efficiency by giving it
up? And If It is demonstrated that alcohol is
an evil, and only an ovll; If it is proven that it
lessens the productive value of the citizen, who
will say that the nation should look upon this
great evil with Indifference merely because a
few people want to grow rich out of a' drink that
Is destructive? Why should wo condemn opium,
morphine and cocaine If we are to worship at
the shrine of whiskey and beer?
Secretary Daniels need not fear that his policy
of excluding intoxicants from the navy will be
condemned by the American people. In putting
a ban upon alcoholic drinks In the navy he is
showing tho same wisdom that characterizes
Emperor William and the czar in the efforts they
are making in behalf of total abstinence.
W. J. BRYAN.
When you hear tho republican and progres
sive orators attack the democratic tariff law on
the stump this year, just remember that the plat
forms of both these organizations also promised
tariff reform. No more effective way In which
to halt tho flow of eloquence on the part of any
of these gentlemen can be found that to ask
them to specify just what reductions they would
say should have been made. The democratic
law was a serious, well-balanced effort to ac
complish an end that nine out of ten voters have
favored for years. It really reduced the tariff,
and that is what is bothering the opposition
critics.
John Lind is apparently having a great -deal
of difficulty in satisfying his critics. At first they
were much aggrieved because he wouldn't talk
and now they are accusing him of having talked
too much. Nothing that partisan malice may
conjure up will conceal the fact that Mr. Lind
executed an important and delicate mission in an
ablo and statesmanlike manner.
Mr. Rockefeller has added some more millions
to his endowment of the institute for medical re
search, and it now possesses twelve and a half
millions for the work. Mr. Rockefeller has evi
dently made up his mind that no germ shall
escape him either.
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