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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 1916)
-- Jjr "W T IfV 1 The Commoner VOL. 16; NO. 8 L B A Fine Legislative Record ' ' From Now York Independent . In a prcoldontlal campaign tho party in power has tho advantage of position if it has a good record. It can "point with pride," while tho opposition can only "view with alarm"; and whon tho record io a substantial one, sounding tho alarm is not too oasy a task. Tho record of an administration has two Bides, tho oxocutivo and tho legislative. In tho present campaign tho domocratic record of legis lative achievement is a notablo one. Chairman AlcCormick, of tho democratic national commit too, has just issued a summary of it, intqnded for progressive consumption. It contains a scoro of itoms: t (1) Tho rural credits act, which permits tho farmor tho samo access to credit facilities that is onjoyed by tho other elements of our cit izenship. (2) Tho incomo tax law. (3) Tho federal reserve act, which meas ures up to tho progressive requirement for "the lssuo of currency as a governmental function under a system whoso control should bo lodged with tho government and should bo protected from domination or manipulation by Wall street or by any spoclal interest." (4) Tho good roads law, which extends federal aid to road building. (0) Tho trade commission law, which fully satisfied tho progressive demand for "a strong fodoral administrative commission of high standing that shall maintain permanent, active supervision over industrial corporations engaged In intorstato commerce." (C) An eight-hour law applying to work done for tho government as woll as work done by tho government. (7) An oight-hour law applying to female employees in the District of Columbia, over which congress has jurisdiction. (8) An eight-hour provision for post office clorks and carriers. FROM HARDING'S OLD PASTOR Dos Moinos Register and Leador, July 11. Jr. L. Harding is a member of tho Methodist Episcopal church in Morningsido, Sioux City. It is tho former preacher of that church, Rov. William Campbell Wassor of York, Nob., who writes that as Harding's pastor, ho "came to know him as being in the camp of the liquor forces and tho interests." The Rov. Mr. Wassor tells his nephew. L. F. Biddloman of Kellogg: , "You can ronder. no bettor service to your vftato and mankind than to compass his (Hard tag's) downfall politically at tho November lection." (This lottor brings tho opposition voiced by Jho ministers of all churchoB in Des Moines, and y conferences and conventions throughout tho ftato, right homo to Mr. Harding's own church and his own pastor. Tho Rov. Mr. Wassor was for years one of .the loading ministers of tkoj northwest Iowa conference. Ho was pastor of the church in Iwhich Mr. Harding holds membership. Pergonal alea operate to provent a minister from actively pposing a man with whom he is constantly as- uitcu. xuu xmjv. wasser, Having left Morn- sbiuo, in ireo io express his opinion of Mr. irding dlsnassionatolv &nri namitiiiv tt -. ,t Impression which he formed when he was . xaHruniEB pastor, ana ne calls upon the te to defeat him for rnvArnnr ( No one can overlook the fact that a. aflTiU I J 1 - . "" wvJ fnment ib oemg rormed In Iowa, having as basis tho legislative record ami tim nninnotn ithoda of the republican candidate for gov- ur. xuiB KUKnment is brinerlncr tho Mm.tV. plt of the state into direct opposition to Mr. rding. Hardinr is a chnrnh mnmhAK i,m ilf, yet bis own church is taking tho load In yusiuuu to mm. Participation, of religious organizations In tuca lb Bomoumos open to criticism. It is ai rs to be criticized when a. nYmroii nriaotrn, elevate itfl own mnmhara tn nfflnn v -i Lumbers of other denominations are opposed rcauso oi luoir religion. But there is no criticism of a church which HOUnceS one Of lta own mamhara a mnwii. tnflfc to ha mvArnnr nf fhn ufofa Ttrui.. j.. conduct of the individual merits the attack or (9) An eight-hour provision applicable to civilians engaged in tho manufacture of ord nance and powder for the government. (10) An eight-hour provision as to the min ing of all coal to bo used by the navy. (11) Tho children's bureau law to promoto the welfare of children and to devise means pre ventive of tho necessities of parents retarding development of tho child. (12) Tho industrial commission law to In vestigate the entire subject of industrial rela tions. (13) The phosphorus match law to protect tho health of workers in the match Industry. (14) The Clayton anti-trust act, embracing the regulations of the issuance of injunctions. (15) Tho department of labor law, creating a department with a secretary, who shall be a member of the President's cabinet. (1G) Tho Smith-Lever agricultural education law, which responds to tho progressive demand that measures be taken to lift "tho last load of illiteracy from American youth" by "encourag ing agricultural education and domestic schools." (17) The corrupt elections practices act. (18) Measures abolishing the commerce court and authorizing the interstate commerce commission to make a physical valuation of railroads. (19) The Sherwood pension bill, which must meet tho progressive idea of a "wise and just policy of pensioning American soldiers and sailors and their widows and children." (20) Tho parcels post law. This is impressive. Standing on such a record of accomplishment as this, the democrats are entitled to feel confident. The attack upon their position must be made from another angle. The Indications are that it is on the executive acts and policies of the administration that the heavy guns of the republicans will bo brought to bear. But that is another story. not, tho church is moved by disinterested mo tives, and its action is a step in the direction of religious and personal freedom. The test of propriety is the truth and importance of the chargo made against the candidate. Now is as good a time as any to settle the! question of the sincerity of the Iowa republicans who do not look with favor upon the candidacy of Mr. Harding. Harding himself has been making charges of personal pique against his opponents. But a point is soon reached where personal motives disappear because of the very size of the oppo sition. A man can not confess to having per sonal enemies by the scores of thousands. Honest people believe that Tho Register had opposed Harding for personal reasons, despite III It th thls pap.er'a 0PPsition antedates the personal causes cited by Hardinir It l conceivable that Harding will say his old paste? denounces him as being "in the mp of ttJ liquor forces" merely to even up some old per! Tnhf ?' &nd 80me peopl "W belleVe him. h? layg?r opposition, as represented by the united ministers of Des Moines, and by 1 ?nforences o sincere citizens all over HardWlPJBOnal- opposition to Mfc Harding is based upon an issue. That fact must be recognized and dlBcna ojt tto governorship BOit be DMeS oTS The question before the ueonle of Tr. i presented by the Rev. Mr WaSer i vS ? pointed fashion, i Tis ffiKKoSt from taS near home to be passed by sUeW r charges bear too directly upon the mor"al 2 fare of Iowa to be ignored. ral weJ" One old favorite of the republican orator, ni be missed from their camnati JZ. rPT8 wni It ran something likeflf?68 m fal1' cast their lurid llire uTon thett o?,Cl1 Rome lit up no scene Tl Create? nfl?11 when the democratic torchoTfri ST? than Plied to the workshopho of tSTJt lean people." ome8 Anier- ldetairtd?r1Und,iJ 5lonel Joa M. Parker, idea Is that it is a lot better to becin jv annul tho marriage of thn wmrEur "on to greasives atSBfftfi &nTSt&iS? PI?" wait until grounds for a rSr?rf.en PROHIBITION A SUCCESS IN LANSING , Lansing, Mich., Aug. 2, 1916. Mr t r, Hammond, Mgr., United Dry Campaign r Rapids, Mich. Dear Sir: This will aeknowi receipt of your letter dated July i iSBe my personal opinion relative to tho ' nrZ ? business conditions during our dry regime wm! your permission I wish first to call your h1? tion to the Roger W. Babson's statistical porting house of Wellesley Hills, Mass. In tit report you will find that Lansing enjoys ono tho highest financial ratings of any city lnibf United States. Would further call yoUr JttS tion to the Polks' State Gazeteer which will n a, measure substantiate the following inform? tion relative to tho capital, city. iniorma- Lansing has a populaiton of over 50,000 80 of the working men own their own homes Tho commercial life in our qity is unexcelled anv where, and the writer- finds that tho general attitude in reference to our dry conditions here so to speak, is a blessing that, is enjoyed by all our citizens with very lUp' if any exceptions it would be almost utterly impossible to make it comprehensive to you, Mr. Hammond, be tween the former wet years, of our city and the present dry regime. I respectfully call your at tention to an action taken by the Lansing Chamber of Commerce on Nevemher 2, 1915 and we submit the following resolution which will givev you some idea a,s. ,to .the opinion of our members relative to the ppen saloons: "Whereas, the Lansing Chamber of Commerce Is an organization to promote not only the com mercial prosperity of Lansing,, but to do any and all things that will, make Lansing a better and more desirable city in , which to live. 'In May, 191G, a vote wUl be taken on local option, therefore, be it resolved by the directors of the Lansing 0 Chamber of Commerce, that they are opposed to the opening of any saloons as heretofore existing in this pity, and pledge the influence and support of the Lansing Cham ber of Commerce to ppp.ose jiny, measure which, attempts to legalize the "open saloon" in this city. , . "We believe the open sajopn to be a menace to the mor.al and social ,, welfare, and a detri ment, to the business prosperity of our city." Carried unanimously.. ,, '.,,,.,, r There are so many reasons 'n my mind why any municipality can get aloig (without saloons that it would require too much, of your time to enable me to give all of them. ' If. there is any specific point or points that we have not covered in this letter, will thank you to communicate with the writer, as I feel 'surp that I. am safe in saying that I represent V vpf Lansing as a whole when I make the" statement that Lansing is one of the most progrespive cities in the country, and it has been 'Jargete? enabled to be such without the aid of saloons,,,' Trusting the above information will serve your purpose, .beg to remain, yours very truly, LANSING CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. CHAS. H.DAVJS, Sepretary. ' ' ' ' ii Maybe our hearing isn't? quite as good as it once was, but our tympanums have failed to re cord anything lately in protest against the sup posedly vast shipments o'f meat and corn from Argentina that it was solemnly proclaimed would displace American meat and 'corn from the home markets and thus depress the prices which the meat and corn producers) of the United States would secure for their products. Or maybe the tariff liars are busy thinking tip something else to attract attention, but which will, in the full ness of time, drop into the same old discard. 1 1 mi 1 1 y Most of the militia regiments that were sent to protect the Mexican border were forced to start without being able to secure enough re cruits to make each of war strength. Which would seem to prove that the late violent propa ganda to get the American people to hate the Mexicans and therefore insist upon going to war with them was not very successful. Considerable emphasis is being laid upon the alleged fact that Mr. Wilson has a single track ind. At that it will have to be admitted that a has been transporting a great lot of new ideas over it without any wreck of consequential proportions. '7emonnUlns look on Marathon, 'a 2 Maratnon looks on the sea; And musing there an hour alone; - I dreamed that Greece might still be freef For standing on the Persians' grave, - . ' 1 could not deem myself a slave." - ) j-Bryom