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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 1916)
. The Commoner OCTOBER, 1916 27 Springfield Republican for Wilson renirncrfleld. Mass.,' Repuhllcan. Mr. Wilson, in the face of difficul ties and criticism such as have con fronted no president sinco Lincoln, has accomplished much. To declare bis foreign policy futile Is idle. The conclusive answer is contained in the bitter protests of the radical fac tion In Germany that the German submarines have been caught "in a net of notes." The outstanding fact is that Mr. Wilson, without bringing the United States into war, has forced a recognition of neutral right. With relation to Mexico, Mr. "Wil son has grasped the underlying prin ciple that wo shall not have a per manently peaceful neighbor to the south of us until the most patent wrongs which the masses of the Mexican people have suffered are righted through their own efforts. The recognition of this principle in the long run means the minimum of evil to this country from the Mex ican problem. It is to Mr. Wilson's everlasting credit that in spite of dif ficulties, discouragements, and pos sibly of incidental mistakes, he has not wavered in his endeavor to apply this principle to, the changing cir cumstances of the times. Rlr. Hughes' Obligations Much is made,"Snd very properly, of the fact that Mr. Hughes, if elected, would take office free from hampering pledges.. But if free from pledges, he is not free from obliga tions. Having courted and gained the support of Colonel Roosevelt, it would bo impossible for Mr. Hughes, as a matter of practical politics, to sign a treaty with Colombia redress ing the wrongjkdone()tbat,nat:ion when Colonel Itooseveft ''seized" the canal zone. Mr. Roosevelt has angrily and bitterly opposed such action on the part of our government, correctly estimating that it would be a repu diation of his course and a personal humiliation to him. Consequently, for Mr. Hughes to support such a treaty would be to invite an experi ence similar to that' which befell Mr. Taft. Yet adjustment of Colombia's wrongs is important for the United States, not merely as a matter of national honor, but as a matter of dollars and cents in our commercial dealings with all Latin-America, where sympathy could be gained to so large a degree by no other one act. v Wilson is Progressive Under Mr. Wilson's leadership the democratic party is today a better instrument of progressive govern ment than in a generation, if not in its entire history, and, what is more to the point, a better instrument, in the opinion of this paper, than the republican party promises at this moment to become under Mr. Hughes. Various episodes have emphasized the fact that the democratic party has had comparatively few outstand ing leaders of national reputation. But it is one of the chief items of Mr. Wilson's leadership that during his term progressive and enlightened democrats such as Newton D. Baker, secretary of war, have been brought more and more to the front while the reactionaries have been sent more and more to the rear. The party has been in training and it has gained. But in spite of any compar ative lack of leaders, the democrats meeting in caucus, whenever caucus has been necessary, have threshed things out and determined to sup Port, one after another, a long series of soundly constructive legislative wea aires of historic importance notably among them the,income tax, tho banking and' currency act, the rural credits act, tho child labor bill, tho federal unemployment service, the humanitarian features of the seamen's act and the provision for vocational training for civil life in the army. To achieve such a record without leaders, if it were literally true that the democrats had had no leaders, would be in itself a triumph of democracy and a better promise than any amount of leadership stamped with tho political concep tions of Boies Renrose. Admirable as was Mr. Hughes' record of Albany, there can bo no definite assurance that ho would be able to force Penrose and others of that ilk to a back seat in the degree to which Mr. Wilson has revitalized tho democracy. Mr. Hughes would make a good president; it was a matter of national good fortune that he was nominated at Chicago. But Mr. Wilson, by reason of his excep tional experience in office and his overwhelmingly evident leadership of his party along progressive lines, is, in the opinion of "Tho Repub lican," better fitted to meet tho problems of foreign relations and social evolution in the broadest sense, which the next four years hold in store. TRUE PROGRESSIVE LEADER SHIP Henry Ford, who makes public announcement that ho intends to vote for Mr. Wilson, is more than a political progressive. Like Thomas A. Edison, who has expressed the same preference, he is industrially, commercially and socially progres sive. Such men, always forward-looking in their business affairs, always hos pitable to new ideas, always open minded and self-reliant, naturally abhor reaction and turn with con tempt from standpat policies of gov ernment based largely upon favor and greed. The wonderful successes that they have achieved have been due to their own ability and courage. While other men have been hanging around congress begging for laws in their own interest, professedly as friends of labor, Ford and Edison have blazed new paths, hit upon new devices, and by the force of their genius established vast industries which make many of the law-pampered enterprises appear feeble by comparison. In their cases progress has not been altogether materialistic. Both Ford and Edison have carried gen erous sentiments into all of their ac tivities. There never was a tariff or a subsidy of any kind that conferred such benefits upon workingmen as havoAeen derived from the just and even rbenevolent practices of these ereat captains of industry and inven tion. They will vote for Mr. Wilson because they are honest intellectually as well as commercially. If the so-called progressive party is faithful to a small part of its pro fession,1 such leadership this must appeal more powerfully to its intel ligent elements than that of the noisy political hacks who with easy consciences have enlisted under the banners of the old guard. New York World. Underwood of tho Erio railroad In an interview in tho Milwaukee Journal today. "Thoro Is a general feoling that tho eight-hour day is coming and no doubt it will come and it ought to come. "Tho eight-hour law will coBt tho Erie $3,000,000 a year. I do jiot believe any additional legislation is needed by congress on this question. "Tho interstate commerce commis sion can take care of the raise in rates, should any bo needed. Con gress has sot up" tho interstate com merce commission to take, care of railroad matters. If tho commission coufd take caro of both wages and rates there would bo no objection, because the commission is unques tionably honest and capable. "Mr. Wilson, however, is not play ing politics. He was doing what he honestly believed was for the good of the country. "No one could associate with Mr. Wilson as the railroad men of tho country did during these negotia tions and charge Mr. Wilson with playing politics in any way. Only some newspapers charged the Pres ident with working for political effect." WILSON DTD RIGHT IN RAILWAY CRISIS SAYS ERIE CHIEF A Milwaukee dispatch, dated Set. 19, says: "The railroad chiefs of the country were not opposed to the eight-hour day, contrary to the opin ion that has prevailed throughout the country," said President F. D. THE CHILD LABOR LAW Owen R. Lovojoy, secretary of the national child labor committee, sends out tho following reply from Sen ator Cummins to the attack made by James R. Garfield and others on tho Child Labor law lately enacted by congress. Senator Cummins is quoted as follows: "I have just read your letter sug gesting that certain critics of the re cently enacted Child Labor law claim to have discovered a joker or jokers in the act which reflect upon either the integrity or intelligence of those who are responsible for its passage. If republicans are making any such charge against the law In order to discredit the administration tho ef fort is disreputable and must react upon those who are foolish enough to give currency to the charge. If democrats are endeavoring to im peach tho good faith of the repub licans who helped to compose and pass the bill thoy are guilty of a flagrant offense against public mor als." Senator Cummins goes on to say that if the supreme court is called upon to decide the constitutionality of the law, and grants that it is con stitutional, "it will end for all time the employment of children under conditions forbidden in the statute. Tho claim, if it is made, that the prohibition of the statute can be evaded by retaining the output of a mine, quarry, mill, cannery, work shop, factory or manufacturinges tablishment for thirty days alter children have been employed and that then tho output may be shipped from the state of production to some other state is too absurd for consid eration. "I venture the prediction that no industrial-concern will ever attempt to evade the law in this respect. An honest examination of the act w'ill convince any person that it is just as effective as it could be made without creating such a disturbance in the commerce of innocent people as would have awakened a sentiment against the measure that would have brQUght about its speedy overthrow. I have reviewed again the entire subject and I am thoroughly per suaded that the act would effectuate the humane purposes toward which the friends of child labor legislation have for a long time been striving." Chicago Herald. MONEY Is one groat necessity of life dally needs must bo met, and actual cash is required. Till? CAREFUL MAN . j anticipates these needs by maintaining a substantial bank account, and It Is EQUALLY IMPORTANT that his bank account is acces sible at all times, and protect ed against possible loss. THE OKLAHOMA GUARANTY LAW furnishes such protection, and your doposlt with us, (an Oklahoma Stato Bank), draws tho maximum rate of Interest consistent with good bunk ing. VRKK BOOKLET and copy of guaranty law at you; request. SATISFIED DEPOSITORS v IN EVERY STATE GUARANTY STATE BANK MUSKOfilSK OKLAHOMA. M. G. HASKELL, President H. E. DAVIS, Cashier Ralph Parlette's "Hard Knocks' Book is an outgrowth of 2200 de liveries of his famous Chau tauqua lecture. "THE UNIVERSITY OF HARD KNOCKS" At Miami, Florida, Mr. Bryan introduced Mr. Par lette and sat on the plat form during his lecture. At its close he pronounced the "Going South" illustra tion one of the best he had ever heard. The book costs $1.00. Your, money returned if not pleased. - ' The Lyceum Magazine, 12U7 Peoples Gas Bldg., Chicago, Illinois. Find enclosed n ono dollar bill (f 1.00) for which plcaso neiid mo Drejmfd a copy of "Tho University of Hard Knock4' by Par-lcttc. Kaar. Street Gty State. M I i'J rM i til i i I ! .