I
u ;1
The Commoner
SEPTEMBER, 1915
5
Protect the Cotton
Producers
Tho allies have announced their intention to
declare cotton contraband. We shall, of course,
protest, but protest may prove unavailing
so long as the war lasts. The belligerent na
tions are too busy trying to destroy each other
to pay much attention to the rights of neutrals. It
is interesting, however, to notice how ready the
pro-ally portion of the American press is to ex
plain thtf urgent necessity which compels the al
lies to thus interfere with our trade with neutrals.
They can not see how Germany can feel under
any compulsion to prevent ammunition, ready
for use, from reaching the allies, but they have
no difficulty in seeing a Teason for intercepting
all cotton because a small fraction of it may be
used in the manufacture of ammunition. The
pro-ally press is just as anxious to prevent war
with the allies as it is to provoke war with Ger
many and Austria. THE NEUTRAL PRESS
SHOULD OPPOSE WAR WITH ANY OF THE
BELLIGERENTS.
The government should carry its protest as
far as necessary to state its position
clearly and emphatically, as it has with Ger
many, and it should use all possible diplomatic
pressure to secure respect for our rights, but
it should not carry the protest to the point of
war or even to the point of suspending diplo
matic relations. In the meantime the govern
ment should proceed to protect those American
producers upon whom the burdens of the war
fall most heavily. It is not the fault of our cot
ton farmers that this blow is struck at their in
dustry they suffer without blame. But to go
to war to relievo them would simply increase
the sacrifice called for. There is an easier way:
extraordinary conditions require extraordinary
remedies. Let the government fix a price based
upon normal prices and either purchase and
hold the cotton, or issue loans upon it so that
the farmer will not be compelled to sacrifice it.
When the war is over we can present a claim for
damages if we are able to maintain our conten
tion against the right of belligerent nations to
declare cotton contraband. Tho same plan can
b applied to any other non-perishable crop
that is threatened with special injury, 'interna
tional law, as now interpreted and applied,
seems to have been written for the benefit of
nations at war rather than for the benefit of
nations at peace; when peace is restored, the
neutral nationsr will doubtless endeavor to se
cure such changes as may be necessary to pro
tect the rights and interests of the nations that
prefer to settle their disputes by reason rather
than by force.
W. J. BRYAN.
MR. BRYAN IS RIGHT
From the Washington Post, August 25,
1915.1 '
Calm and dispassionate study of the situation
has convinced a large proportion of the Amer
ican people that citizens of this country ought
to save their government embarrassment by re-,
framing from traveling on British vessels.
Neutrals have a right to travel on merchant
vessels of a belligerent and the United States
government has very properly refused to waive
this right In behalf of its citizens.
This does not prevent an American traveler,
however, from using common sense while in the
war zone. If any American wishes to waive his
right and save his life by sticking to ships carry
ing the American flag, the United States govern
ment has no objection.
Mr. Bryan is right in suggesting that Amer
ican travelers should do their share to avoid a
quarrel with Germany by keeping off British
ships. It is good, sensible advice. Most of the
Americans who go 'hrough the war zone are
already following it.
The situation might be compared to a disturb
ance in a street. Passersby have a right to use
the sidewalk, and rioter,s have no right to shoot
them while they are on their peaceful errands.
But any man of sense, seeing a riot and hear
ing bullets whizzing, will keep off the street tem
porarily. He chooses to waive his right rather
than risk losing his life. At the same time the
authorities have no right to waive this right for
him and to admit tha. peaceful citizens have
no rights which the rioters are bound to respect.
The analogy is not strict, but it is close enough
to explain tho difference botween tho cltlzon's
privilege and tho stato's duty.
uInits note t0 tho United States dated July 8,
the German government said:
"The imperial government will always bo
ready to do all it can during tho present war
to prevent the jeopardizing cf lives of American
citizens. The imperial government therefore
repeats tho assurances that American ships will
not be hindered in tho prosecution of legitimate
shipping, and the lives of American citizens In
neutral vessels shall not bo placed in joopardy."
This does not concede that American citizens
have a right to travel In British vessols, but It
certainly does point out to individual Amorlcans
how they may travel safely through the war
zone. Why should they not take advantage of
this immunity? Why is not the American flag
good enough for them?
It Is suggested that In some cases AmorlcaiiB
have urgent business and can not wait to get
passage on an American vessel, but must travel
on British vessels or be subjected to great in
convenience. Is their privato business so im
portant that they must make it paramount to
their duty to the country? Aro they willing
that the United States and Germany should go
to war. on the point? Knowing that their gov
ernment will not waive their rights, will they
place it in the position of being forced to unliold
these rights, even at the cost of tens of thou
sands of American lives?
The government has done its duty by stand
ing up for the rights of its people and making
it plain that it will fight rather than abandon
these rights. Now, how about the citizen? Has
he no duty in the premises? Is he as regardful
of his government as his government is of him?
Is the exercise of his individual right so neces
sary, so vital, that he can not waive it, even to
avoid war?
The practical sense of Americans tells them
that the right to travel on a belligerent ship Is
a minor and unessential right, which they can
afford to waive in individual cases, so long as
they are able to travel with perfect safety un
der their own flag.
THE HOOSIER POET
Before another issue of The Commonor ap
pears Indiana will honor "her most beloved son."
October seventh the 66th anniversary of tho
birth of James Whitcomb Riley, has been set
apart by Governor Ralston's decree as Riley
Day. The citizens of the Hoosier state will not
begrudge the outside world tho privilego of
joining with them in doing honor to tho poet
whose fame, like his sympathies, long sinco ex
tended beyond the borders of his nation. Tho
Commoner tenders its tribute of respect, and
shares in the universal wish that tho distin
guished author may enjoy many returns of tho
day each happier than tho one before.
Correspondents of New York newspapers aro
suggesting, in view of the utterances of Colonol
Roosevelt, that his name be barred from the news
paper columns just as it was announced some
weeks ago that Mr. Bryan's name would be elim
inated.' Editors now and then get the Idea that
they edit their own newspapers, but a little re
flection shows them that the reader Jv the final
arbiter. If they want to know whaTa public
man is saying the newspapers must print his ut
terances; if one doesn't the others will, because
tho newspaper is a commercial enterprise first.
The Welsh miners who refused to continue
work unless they received an advance in wages
are being excoriated by the organs of wealth for
being unpatriotic and as deserving of punish
ment as traitors because the navy needed coal.
The offense, however, loses much of its viclous
ness when it is learned that all they were asking,
for was a 10 per cent increase in wages to meet
a corresponding Increase In lining expenses and
that the men who owned the coal were getting
from 50 to 100 per cent more for It than they
did under the old wage schedule.
The Altgeld Statue
A striking bronzo statuo of John Peter Altgeld
was unvoilcd at Chicago on Labor Day. It oc
cupies a commanding position at tho north end
of Lincoln' park, and represents tho great hu
manitarian in tho attitudo of appeal for the
family tho unit of society. Tho statuo was de
signed by tho eminent sculptor, Borglum, and
was paid for by an appropriation (?2G,000)
mado by tho Illinois legislature.
Altgeld was a great orator ho had a mes
sage; ho was a frlond of labor just as ho w.aa
tho friend of every other clement, becauso all
aro parts of tho human raco. Ho was a phil
osopher ho took hold of fundamental princi
ples. Hero Is ono bit of his philosphy which war
ring nations should heed:
"Tho doctrtno that 'might makes right' has
covered tho earth with misery. Whllo it crush
es tho weak, it also destroys tho strong. Every
deception, every cruelty, every wrong, reaches
back sooner or later and crushes its author. Jus
tico is moral health, bringing happiness; wrong
is moral disease, bringing moral death."
Ho was a man of faith hero Is a sample of
his utterances on this subject:
"I am not discouraged. Things will right
themselves. Tho pendulum swings ono way, and
then another, but tho steady pull of gravitation
is toward tho center of tho earth. Any struc
ture must bo plumb if it is to endure. So It is
with nations: Wrong may socm to triumph,
right may socm to bo defeated, but tho gravita
tion of Eternal justice is toward tho throno of
God. Any political institution which is to en
dure must bo plumb with that lino of justice."
Believing that truth would triumph, and hav
ing confidence that he was right, he could wait.
Thirteen years after his death tho people of Il
linois honor his memory. Ills career will be am
inspiration not only to those who, like himself,
aro foreign born, but to native born as well. Ho
has shown how, rlBing from obscurity, ono may
mako himself a power In the world by attaching
himself to great ideas.
W. J. BRYAN.
Greed knows no law and respects no conven
tions. Tho interests that have been attempting
for years to secure a subsidized merchant ma
rine owned by private parties aro now utilizing
the uneasiness caused by the war talk to push
forward their old scheme. They are urging its
necessity becauso tho nation might, should It be
come embroiled In war, need these merchant
vessels for transports, but It is to bo recalled
that when the president was championing a
merchant marine owned by the government, they
were able to restrain their patriotic Impulses
sufficient to oppose that solution of a big prob
lem.
It must have been a decided shock to these
gentlemen who are so very sure what the pres
ident should dcsfcwlth respect to Germany that
they had declared that the time for further par
ley had passed and the time for blows had come,
to read the very next day that tho Berlin gov
(ftjrnmcnt stood Teady to disavow the acts of the
commander who torpedoed the Arabic and to
make whatever reparation the government of
the United States thought proper under the circumstances.
Ellhu Root has finally discovered tho exist
ence of the Invisible government, and is of the
opinion that it has occasioned a great deal of
sullen resentment on the part of tho people. Mr.
Root is a little bit late In 'making his discovery,
but then he never seriously ran for president before.
THE DOWN IHLIi ROAD
By substituting the word "war" for the word
"Hell" and Gen. Sherman saw no difference
between the two a classical quotation may bo
used to describe the well-worn highway that
leads to trouble, and the difficult way out:
"The gates of Hell (war) are open night and
qmooth the descent and easy is the way.
But to return and view the cheerful skies
In this the task and mighty labor lies."
THE ELECTION OP POSTMASTERS
After a two years and a half struggle with
the postofllces, with their disappointments and
complaints, wonder if congress would not be in
clined toward the selection of postmasters by
popular vote? No office comes nearer to tho
people. Whv not give them a chance to decide
tho question? Whether tho selection Is left to
the party primary of the dominant party or to
a general primary. It would be a satisfaction to
the public and a relief to congressmen to put
the responsibility upon the patrons the post
office department reserving, of course, the right
to prescribe qualifications and to remove for
cause. This reform will come ultimately whv
not now? W. J. BRYAN. '