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The Commoner
vol; i6, n6: 2
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Let the People Rule
Ex-Governor Jolks of Alabama introduced
at tho last meeting of tho National Democratic
committee tho following resolution:
"Whoroas, the democratic' party is tho party
of tho people and has Jealously contended from
tho foundation of the government for tho .equal
rights of all tho people and has specifically der
nicd special privileges and rights and powers, to
favored or preferred persons; and , .
"Whereas, tho 'unit rule recognized heretor
foro in our national conventions, is, certainly in
a measure, subversive of that law,
"Therefore, bo it resolved:
"First, that the chairman of this committee
in tho noxt national convention be instructed to
recognize on any preliminary motion which may
como before him, tho right of congressional dis
trict delegates to vote as instructed by their dis
tricts, tho order of any state convention to the
contrary, notwithstanding.
"Second, that the tomporary chairman of the
noxt national convention bo instructed to recog
nizo, in like manner, the instructions of the dis
tricts. "Third, that these resolutions are to apply to
district delegates only.
"Fourth, that these instructions may be mod
ified, of course, by tho said chairman where
special statutes of. any state may provide the
necessity for a contrary ruling."
The Jolks resolution presents the true dem
ocratic policy, and ought to bo adopted. It will
bo remembered that the Baltimore convention
took this position in tho Ohio contest. The
state convention of Ohio which met after the
district delegates wore elected and instructed
attompted to commit tho entire Ohio delegation
to tho support of Governor Harmon. The nine
toon dolegates who had been instructed at the
primaries, refused to bo bound liy tho action of
tho stato convention, and the national conven
tion doclded in favor of the delegates and they
woro not only permitted to carry out their in
structions, but they played an important part in
tho national convention.
Tho position taken by ox-Governor Jolks is
therefore not only sound, but in harmony with
the most recent precedents.
W. J. BRYAN.
THE RIGHTS OF A RATION
On another pago will bo found a Bill of Rights
for nations, prepared and published by the
American Institute of International Law, com
posed of five membors from each of the twenty
ono American republics. The declaration is a
stop in advance and may prove the beginning of
a hotter understanding of the rights of nations.'
Heretofore we have had to rely upon interna
tional law, which is but a serios of precedents,
and, sinco these precedents rest upon invasion
of rights, as well as upon recognition of rights,
they do not make a very near approach to a code
of ethics.
Tho declaration of rights for the western hem
isphere may prove a model for the old world.
There ought to bo some code of international
morals, conforming to tho moral code now ap
plied to individuals, and the Pan-American dec
aration is a step in that direction.
RELIGIOUS REVIVAL NEEDED
On another page will bo found a press dis
patch giving tho views of Admiral Beatty, who
commanded tho British Squadron at tho first
North sea fight. It is encouraging to see a sol
dier who recognizes tho fundamental need of re
ligion. Tho admiral is entirely right when he
says that the great need of the world today is a
religious revival, and the need is not confined to
England. All of the belligerent countries need
religious revival and the neutral countries need
it also. It is especially needed in tho United
States to put a quietus upon the military influ
ences that are trying to make the United States
over Into a frontier trading post, and would con
vert our citizens into blanket Indians and nut
them to practising war whoops.
OPPOSITION TO PREPAREDNESS GROWING
Tho Mississippi house of representatives bv
a vote of 62 to 55, VOTED DOWN a resolution
endorsing the army and navy increase proposed
'by the President. Good. The President is hear
ing from the people from the democratic peo
ple and they aro a very different people from
those who applauded him at the Manhattan
club banquet, and make their living in a very
different way.
WILLIAMS' WISE RECOMMENDATION
; In another part of this issue will be found a
condensed report of Hon. John S. Williams,
comptroller of currency. It is worthy of care
ful perusal.
Having investigated the banking system, which
is under his department, he makes a number
of important recommendations in the interest of
better regulation.
He advises that bank officers be prohibited
from borrowing from their own banks. This is
a -necessary precaution in view of the influence
which the officers exert over the directors.
He advises that directors be prohibited from
borrowing except upon formal approval by the
board.
He also advises that officers and employees
be required to give security bonds.
One of his most important recommendations
is that a limit be placed upon the direct and in
direct loans which may be made to one individ
ual, firm or corporation.
He asks also that the comptroller be author
ized to bring proceedings against directors for
violation of the National Bank act. This is a
very important recommendation and will go far
toward compelling- care on the part of directors.
Comptroller Williams is justifying the con
fidence that the public feels in him. He is con
scientiously endeavoring to raise the standard
of banking by recommending reforms which are
so reasonable that congress can hardly refuse to
carry out the recommendations. It is fortunate
for the country that we have at the head of the
comptroller's department, a man who has an
exhaustive knowledge of the banking business
and is so completely in harmony with the .busi
ness world, made, up of depositors and borrow
ers the world that the bank is established to
Serve. '
Another reform should be secured. It is not
sufficient to punish the speculator AFTER he
has lost. He should be removed as $0011 as lie
yields to the temptation to speculate. It would
be a blessing to him, as well as a matter of se
curity to the depositors. No man who handles
the money of others should be permitted to spec
ulate. No one complains about a rule forbid
ding the carrying of matches in a powder-house.
The risk, while of a different kind, is no greater
than the risk incurred when a bank official is al
lowed to speculate. The law should prohibit
speculation by bank officials.
W. J. BRYAN.
The Philadelphia Inquirer says that Congress
man Mann's speech "lifts him into immediate
prominence as the real leader of this important
movement," and the Congressional Record says
that the republicans applauded when this ex
tract from the paper was read in the house
The real leader? Why not? As the doctrine of
scaredness is a republican doctrine, the leader
ship ought to fall to the republicans, and no re
pub hcan in public life is better qualified to lead
a distinctly republican movement, designed to
aid special interests, than this same Congress
man Mann, who conversed with, the Serpent in
the Garden.
The owner of a large and completely equipped
combination printing plant-job printing book
bindery along with newspaper equipment in
one of the most prosperous northwestern mid
dle states, in a city of between 10 000 ami
15,000 inhabitants, desires a partner to found a
democratic daily newspaper in one of the most
prosperous fields to be found anywhere This
party wants a man reliable and competent to
share the burden and responsibilities. Compar
atively but little capital will be required by the
right party. For full information as to this
field and opportunity write to "C " care of Thh
Commoner office.
"THE FORGOTTEN MAN."
Some years ago an economist made a stronc
argument against the protective tariff because
of the burcTen it placed on "the forgotten man
Militarism places a double burden on the forcot
ten man. He not only pays the taxes, but he
is the man who fights in the wars into which
the militarists lead the nation for their profit
Americanism
Americanism, when properly defined, is a vir
tue which ought to be found in every American;
that is, "when defined as that devotion to the
welfare of his country which leads every Amer
ican citizen, whether native-born or naturalized,
to put the interest of the United States first, and
to be willing to render a whole-hearted service
to the nation at all times, whether iri peace or
war.
As every virtue has its imitation, it is to be
expected that the word "American" will be mis
used, and made a cloak for prejudice unworthy
of a patriotic citizen.
Americanism does not require, indeed it does
not tolerate, the stirring up of animosities be
tween different groups of citizens divided by
lines of descent. It .should be the desire of all
good citizens to facilitate the amalgamation and
assimilation of the various elements of our pop
ulation. This can not be done by the arousing
of race antipathies; Americanism, therefore, im
plies charity toward other Americans, as well
as the conscientious ' fulfillment of the obliga
tions which each citizen owes to his govern
ment, w. J. BRYAN.
THE CHRISTIAN CONSCIENCE AROUSED
It is very gratifying to note the increasing
evidence of an aroused Christian conscience in
the United States. Various organizations of
Christians have passed resolutions against pre
paredness, and leading divines are speaking out
with a growing emphasis against the policy of
preparedness a policy which rests upon the
doctrine that force and fear are the only foun
dations upon which peace can be built. This
doctrine is a challenge to the spirit of the New
Testament and to the Christian church.
The Missionary Voice, published at Nashville,
Tenn., by the Board of Missions of the Meth
odist Episcopal church, south, devotes a large
part of the January number to the Subject of
preparedness, assailing it with splendid vigor.:
?" a,noJlhrer DaSe will be found its editorialfen
titled, Preparedness and National peril.". ;It
also quotes extensively from other papers
among them being the Raleigh Christian Advo
cate, the Evangelical Herald, the St. Louis Advocate.
A DENIAL
A i?1!??!1, ,Pla,5 Swatch to the Birmingham
iSalVated Jfn; ?5' 1916' '- "WiUlSia
Jennings Bryan today published a stat'e-
?pn?ilwuyin? Pushed Sports that he 'in
tended following in the wake of the President oh
his trip through the middle west, making a se
ries of speeches in answer to those of the Pres
ident on preparedness.. He said he would rel
main in Miami until he left for LincolnNeb oh
February 20, to attend a birthday d?nner
"Mr Bryan said he would make a few speech
es on his way to Lincoln,' but they wold have
110 connectionwith the President and his refYr?
ences to preparedness would be along the lihe of
the addresses he delivered last fall
He added that the dates- for these sneeehM
were;arranged before it was announced thafthe
President would make his speaking tour." '
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