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The Commoner
;,, WILLIAM J. BJRYAN, EDITOR, AND PROPRIETOR
MM M.
VOL. 14, NO. 12
Lincoln, Nebraska, December, 1914
Whole Number 668
Prohibition and
Woman's Suffrage
Some of the democratic editors profeBS to mis
understand the import of the two editorials in
the last issue of The Commoner, one entitled
"The Alcoholic Millstone" and the other an ed
itorial in support of woman's suffrage.
These editors seem to consider the above
mentioned editorials as an endorsement of na
tional amendments favorable to prohibition and
woman's suffrage, but a careful reading of them
will reveal the fact that while the former plain
ly protests against the domination of the demo
cratic party by the liquor interests, and the
latter as plainly supports woman's suffrage,
they relate to these issues as they present them
selves in the various states.
A two-thirds vote of the two houses of con
gress is required for' the submission of an
ameftjmsnt to .the national constitution, ,and
then the amendment must be ratified by three?
fourths,. ,gtthe.- states. There is no reason
to believe that a prohibition amendment' Vr a,
suffrage amendment? would, at this time, be rat
ified by three-fourths of the states, even if it
-secured a vote of two-thirds of the two houses.
Believing in both woman's suffrage and the abol
ition of the liquor traffic I would vote for either
amendment if submitted, but the time does not
seem opportune for the submission of either of
these amendments. A national contest for either
amendment would simply divert attention from
other issues upon which the people are ready to
act, without advancing the cause of woman's
suffrage or the" prohibition movement.
These questions are, however, at issue in the
states, and as a democrat I- am interested in see
ing the party take the moral side of both ques
tions the side that appeals to young men who
are coming out of- our schools and colleges and
who assume the obligations of citizenship with
a vision of better things. Every new issue
causes a new alignment; in proportion as it is
an important issue it brings about changes in
party affiliations. If the democratic party takes
the side of the brewerr the distiller, and the sa
loon keeper, it will'lose many of its best mem-"
bers and it will draw to itself the worst ele
ment of the republican party and the demo
cratic party can not afford to invite an element
that puts desire for drink before principles of
government and the nation's welfare. The
more we have of that element, the more difficult
it will be to draw to us those whose presence
gives strength to a party and whose voice and
example increase its numbers.
The democratic, party can not be killed, even
by association with so contaminating an influ
ence as the liquor interests, but why should the
party allow itself to be debauched and disgraced?
It would take a' decade or more to remove the
odium that the representatives of the triple
curse the saloon, the gambling-hall and the
, The President's
f
The Commoner
wishes a
Merry Christmas
and a
HappyNewYear
to Everyone, Every
where, and For
ever.
Bfe
brothel. will bring upon the party if they are
allowed to dictate its policy. The result of the
liquor fight in the late campaign is full of warn
ing if the democratic party fails to hoed ,this
warning to it, it does so at its own peril. .
W. J, BRYAN. .
ASK POK AN INVENTORY
The reports from several states indicate that
the democrats have learned a lesson from the
recent campaign. Efforts are now under way
to prevent representatives of the various special
interests from fastening themselves in the fu
ture upon the democratic party organization or
attaching themselves to democratic campaign
committees and thus compelling thG party to
bear the odium and carry thn load Incurred by
trying to make the party of the people serve as
the means of protecting certain groups of finan-
cial interests. The democratic party can not
serve two masters. If it is to be the instrument
of the people it can not afford to permit itself
to be used by the reactionary element for private
gain. The stockholders of the democratic party
should call for an inventory of the stock on
hand, and wherever goods are shown to be taint
ed, they should be eliminated so as to prevent
their entire stock from falling under th ban of
the public censor the people.
CONTENTS
PROHIBITION AND WOMAN'S
SUFFRAGE
THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
ASK FOR AN INVENTORY
PROGRESSIVE DEFEAT EXPLAINED
ECONOMY AND EFFICIENCY '
ELECTION OF POSTMASTERS
NO INCREASE IN THE NAVY
TOTAL ABSTINENCE PLEDGE
BURDENS BORNE BY NEUTRAL
NATIONS
PRESIDENT WILSON SEES BRIGHT
BUSINESS FUTURE
THANKSGIVING IN "WASHINGTON
THE PRESIDENT'S ANNUAL MESSAGE
THE NEW WAR TAXES
AMBASSADOR NAOHt'S SPEECH
.WORK OF THE PRESIDENT'S CABINET
M
il
Tho messago of the president, road to th
sixty-third congress at tho opening of its last
session, will stand out as one of his greatest
state papers. Ho doals with t lie question of con
servation and also with tho merchant marine.
Ho urges the passage of the Phlllpplno bill and
then takes up tho subject of national defense.
His message is evidently an answer to tho recorit
propaganda in favor of a bigger army and a big
ger navy. Putting the discussion upon a high
plane ho appeals to the sober sense of tho Amer
ican people, and his appeal will not bo In vain.
Ho Is right In saying that the adoption of a large
military and naval program would bo a reversal
of the whole history and character of our coun
try, and at this time "would mean merely that
we had lost our self-possession, that wo had been
thrown off our balance by a wo? with which wo
have nothing to do, whoso causes can not touch
us, whoso very existence- affords us opportunity
of friendship and disinterested serviqo tyliicli
should make us ashamed of any thought of Hos
tility or fearful preparation for trouble." "Tho
mission of this country Js splendidly stated
when he says "This is assuredly tho opportun
ity for which a people and a government like
ours were raised up, the' opportunity not onlv
to speak but actually to embody and. exemplify
the counsels of peace and amity nnd tho last
ing concord which Is based on justice and fafr
and generous dealing." W. J. BRYAN.
A government report shows that from August
1st to November 1st there were collected $735,
000 as tolls from the owners of vessels that usdd
the Panama canal. Ninety per cent of this sum
came from coast-wlso traders who would have
been exempt from any payment whatever if tho
president's opponents in congress had had their
way. Instead of being in the United States
treasury it would have been In the coffers of tlio
ship owners?
A DESERVED COMPLIMENT
Tho election of Samuel Gompers, FOR
;THE THIRTIETH TIME, to the position
of president of the American Federation
of Labor is a high compliment to a de
serving man. The thirty years covered by hh
official career embrace a long and eventful peri
od In this rapidly moving age, and to meet the
exacting requirements of that important posi
tion has been no easy matter. Faithful to his
associates at all times, Mr. Gompers has striven
to secure the reforms needed by the wage-earners
without unnecessarily antagonizing other
elements of society. He ha? faithfully stood for
labor's rights and yet been courageous enough
to include aH producers in his sympathies. Con
gratulattond and good wishes to him.
-. W. J. BRYAN.
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