-, t ap" "rif T" Xf
The Commoner
VOL. 15, NO. 3
Lincoln, Nebraska, March, 1915
Whole Number 671
A Great Congress
Speaker Clark and those associated with him
In the directing of the congress just adjourned,
are to be congratulated upon the splendid record
made. It has no parallel when measured by the
importance of the work accomplished. The tariff
law realized at last the hopes which democrats
for a generation have entertained of tariff re
form; the new currency law is monumental and
far-reaching in its effects; the repeal of the free
tolls law was most timely in view of the -commercial
complications that have followed the
war; the anti-trust legislation goes far toward
remedying the evils that have followed in the
wake of private monopoly. In addition to what
lias been accomplished by the joint action of the
senate and house, the house has done its part in
supporting the president on other matters which
have failed of final action of the senate. The
senate has been handicapped by the rules which
permit, a minority to indefinitely extend debate
and thus retard legislation, but with a larger
democratic majority in the next senate it is al
most certain that tiiat body will so change its
rules as to enable the majority to assume re
sponsibility for legislation
The Sixty-third congress will stand out in his
tory as a vindication of the people's faith in the
democratic party. It kept the pledges of the
party, and contributed largely to the victory won
last fall which gives us an increase in the sen
ate and a majority in the house large enough for
all practical purposes.
W. J. BRYAN.
THE INDIANA PRIMARY LAW
Indiana has risen to the emergency and passed
a primary law. The machine politicians of In
diana have had enough influence to stay the hand
of reform in that state until after all the sur
rounding states had acted, but the sentiment at
last became so strong that the leglslaturegrace
f ully yielded to the demand and enacted a law
which puts the voters in control of the party ma
chinery of the state. Senator Kern, who "made
a bold and courageous fight for the primary law,
will be one of the first beneficiaries it insures
his renomination to the United States senate next
year. The Commoner congratulates him and all
who' contributed to the securing of this very im
portant reform. Right has again triumphed,
and the masses have again won another victory.
As for the politicians of Indiana, they have acted
wisely in manifesting a willingness to trust the
voters of the state. The rule of the people is
spreading.
CLOTURE NECESSARY
If any one has doubted the necessity for clo
ture in the senate, the events of the last few
weeks ought to convince him. A sP purchase
bill of great importance was defeated because
the minority could talk indefinitely. Two trea
ties dealing with questions of great magnitude
failed of ratification because a minority could
talk without limit. Claims were allowed and
objectionable amendments to appropriation bills
were accepted because a few men could by
speaking delay a vote indefinitely. Under the
present rules of the senate, a man with a speech
can hold up legislation as effectively as a high
wayman can hold up a traveler on a country
road. Let the people rule. Cloture is necessary
to bring the senate into harmony with the theory
of popular government.
W. J. BRYAN.
TJIE "HOME RULE" FRAUD
The liquor interests o' Ohio won a tem
porary victory but they won it under a false
plea, and it will lead to their overthrow. The
phrase, "Home Rule" Is a popular one, and tho
friends of the saloon made the most of it. They
would have been overwhelmed with defeat if
they had used a phrase which truthfully stated
the real purpose of those who led tho fight.
"Down with the Home," or "Saloon Rule" would
have been a more appropriate slogan. The
fraudulent character of the Contest will be un
derstood when it is remembered that the liquor
InterojJ.3 themselves have made "home rule" on
tho saloon question an Impossibility, They have
formed a national organization which impudent
ly invades any community in which the liquor
question is at issue.
When Lincoln, Nebraska, had a saloon fight
a few years ago, the city was visited by three
speakers of national reputation who were sent
there to argu in favor of saloons one went
from Milwaukee, one from Chicago and one all
tho way from New York. If "Home Rule" Is de
sirable, why not let the people AT HOME de
cide the question for themselves? Why do liquor
interests of the nation band themselves together
to force the sale o Intoxicating liquor on any
and every community? The deception worked
in Ohio once, but the indignation aroused by
this unexpected triumph of the rum forces will
hasten the end and there can be but one end,
namely, tho victory of the people over the sor
did interests and the conscienceless methods of
those who plot against the homo and the welfare
of society.
wi
CONTENTS
A GREAT CONGRESS
CLOTURE NECESSARY,
A STEP TOWARD PUBLICITY
ANOTHER PLUTOCRAT
TWO YEARS OF WILSON
ADMIRAL DEWA'S VISIT
PROHIBITION IN IOWA
' IMPARTIALITY PROVEN
AN IDEAL FOR WORKERS
P DR. BLANCO OF URUGUAY
COUNSELOR LANSING'S ADDRESS
,"MR. BRYAN'S ADDRESS TO THE
INDIANA LEGISLATURE
11 WORK OF THE PRESIDENT'S CABINET
til MR. BRYAN TO INDIANJf EDITORS
IKOPENING OF THE PANAMA-PACIFIC
& EXPOSITION
A Step Forward in
Publicity
The present congress took a now stop forward
in tlie matter of publicity. During tho consider
ation of a bill in tho houuo providing for tho ap
pointment of an additional Judge In a Georgia
district, Congressman Culloj) of Indiana intro
duced tho following amendment:
"PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT THE PRES
IDENT SHALL MAKE PUBLIC ALL INDORSE
MENTS MADE IN BEHALF OF THE PERSON
APPOINTED AS SUCH DISTRICT JUDGE."
The same provision was added to another bill
providing for the appointment of an additional
Judge. Mr. Cullop tried to make tho amendment
applicable to all appointments to the federal bench,
but the general amendment was ruled out on a
point of order. Tho precedent, however, having been
established n these cases, thcro is no doubt that
it will bo applied generally, and it is a stop In
the right direction. Tho federal Judges hold
offices for lifo, and the power which they exor
cise is so important tlmt the public can justly ask;
for information upon the matter of recommenda
tions. It is impossible, of course, for the presi
dent to know personally all Judicial applicants
throughout the country; ho must rely upon the
recommendations made by those who do know
the candidates. Those who are acquainted wltk
inside politics know how easy it is for the favor
seeking corporations to collect recommendations
for those whoso appointment they desire, and a
well-meaning president may easily be deceived
by the volume of recommendations and the high
standing of the endorsers. When endorsements
are made public, inquiry will be instituted as to
the character of the endorsers, and then tho pulv
lic can judge of tho reasons for tho endorse
ments. The amendment above referred to la another
concession to the demand for publicity a de
mand which has been growing and which will b
granted in time in regard to all public matters.
The government belongs to the people, and since
those who conduct tho government are attend
ing to the people's business, there is no reason
why the people should not know what is being
done. Congressman Cullop deserves to be con
gratulated upon his success in securing a new
reform. W. J. BRYAN.
The Sixty-third congress has expired by lim
itation of lav, but the good It did is not interred
with its bones. Instead it is written in the stat
ute books, and there Is not an Intelligent citizen
in the country who would applaud the man who
.would publicly demand the repeal of any one of
the great measures relating to the finance and
the trusts.
The political wisdom displayed in providing
that state legislatures should meet but once in
two years is being vindicated at a number of
state capitals this winter.