-- 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
