The Commoner
JANUARY, 1917
The President's Peace
Note
The appeal which the President has sent
to all the belligerent nations opens the way to
negotiations.
Ho urges them to state in definite terms tho
conditions which they regard as necessary to, an
enduring peace. The request is reasonable and
can not be refused.
It would be a reflection on the nations at war
to doubt that they themselves clearly understood
just what it is that they are fighting for, or to
assume that they are seeking any advantages
which they are unwilling to avow.
Since, therefore, they know what they are
fighting for and havo no secert reasons for con
tinuing the war they will welcome the opportun
ity which the President affords them to presdnt
their respective sides.
While both sides will probably ask for more
than they expect to secure, they will recognize
that from now on the responsibility for a contin
uance of the war will rest upon tho side that
makes unreasonable demands.
All the rulers have denied responsibility for
tho beginning of the war and they can not fail
to understand that responsibility for continuing
the conflict is still more grave, because the war
is more cruel and more costly than anyone could
have imagined beforehand. x
All the other neutral nations will be glad to
support the President's efforts out of considera
tion for their own welfare as well as fpr human
itarian reasons
The peace conference when it assembles will
furnish the representatives of Christianity an
opportunity to offer the philosophy of Christ in
the place of the philosophy of Pilate, the phil
osophy which 1s responsible for the present war.
The nations of the world havo built their hope
of peace on their ability to excite fear. They
have tried to terrorize each other into peace.
They have allowed militarists to set up false
standards of honor and to give a threatening
tone to their diplomacy. The time is ripe for
the substitution of love for hatred, and the
spirit of co-operation for the spirit of combat.
It has been popular to argue that JUSTICE
must come BEFORE love. That is not the order
in Christ's teachings.
"LOVE "YOUR ENEMIES," WAS THE LAW
HE PROCLAIMED. LOVE COMES .FIRST AND
BRINGS JUSTICE WITH IT.
W. J. BRYAN.
TOO LATE
Mr. Busch, of the great St. Louis brewery,
has come out strongly for the purifying of the
saloon, and he is doubtless sincere in his efforts
-but it is too late. He did not get busy until
the saloon had been driven from twenty-three
states, not until more thai, half the people re
sided in dry territory, and he could not have
done anything even if he had commenced earlier.
If he had refused to sell to a bad saloon, others
would have taken away his trade. The saloon
can not be purified; it would suffocate in pure
air and wholesome surroundings. If the public
accepted the saloon's promise to "clean up," the
promise would be broken at once because the
scare would be gone.
"When the devil was7 sick, the devil a monk
would be,
When the devil got well, the devil a monk was
he."
The place to clean the saloon . is in the
MORGUE when it lies in state with its victims.
HOUSE RESOLUTION INDORSING PRESI
DENT'S PEACE NOTES
Congressman Bailey of Pennsylvania submit
ted the following resolution in the houso of rep
resentatives, December 22, 1910, which wntf re
ferred to tho comm'tteo on foreign affairs and
ordered to bo printed:
Resolved, That tho houso of representatives
strongly indorses and approves tho action taken
by tho President in sending diplomatic notes un
der date of Docember eighteenth to the nations
now at war, suggesting and recommending the
first steps in possible negotiations to arrango
the terms of peace.
Resolved, That in taking this action tho Pres
ident has rendered an Invaluablo service to a
war-stricken world. In asking tho belligerent
nations to set forth the concessions and assur
ances which they deem necessary to tho estab
lishment of a lasting peace, he has afforded them
an opportunity which it is fervently hoped they
may not disregard. It would be" a reflection up
on the nations at war to doubt that they know
the ends for whlch they are fighting or to as
sume that they havo any purposes which they
are unwilling to reveal.
Resolved, That a definite statement by both
sides, no matter how far these statements may
bo apart, will clear tho air and afford a basis
for negotiations; and when negotiations begin
wo believe they are not likely to terminate until
an agreement is reached,' because wo boliovo
neither side will consent to assume responsibil
ity for continuing the unspeakable horrors of
this conflict, if any reasonable terms can bo so
cured. Resolved, That wo congratulate the President
on the stand lie has taken and that wo extend
to him our earnest wishes for the complete and
speedy success of the great movement which ho
has hadthe honor to inaugurate.
A WORD OF WARNING
The democrats in congress both senate and
house, should beware of tho insidious efforts
that are being made to restore a protective tariff.
The special interests nevoi sleep. Their lobby
ists are always on hand, ready to make Washing
ton life pleasant to those who are willing to -forget
"the folks at home." Tho, protective tariff
is the veteran corruptfbnist of our land; the
system has been routed in the open; it must not
be permitted to return by secret influence.
W. J. BRYAN.
WHY NOT?
Why allow theVjxpress companies to reap a
rich harvest at the expense of the moralg of tho
communities in which they do business? Tho
states are powerless to protect themselves; tho
responsibility rests on congress. How long will
congress permit the lawless representatives of
an outlawed business to use the mails and tho
express companies 'to over-ride the police regu
lations oj the dry states?
Congress now has a dry majority in both
houses; why not stop the Issuing of federal li
censes in dry territory and tho use of the mails
and express companies for the violation of state
laws?
THE INTERSTATE RATE
Congressman Hilliard of Colorado has intro
duced a very sensible bill compelling railways
to make the interstate rate NOT MORE than
the sum of the local rates on the lines followed.
Why not? The railroads never submit to a
local rate that is unjust, therefore an interstate
rate based upon the local rates can not be un
just. Why compel passengers to get off at the
state line and purchase new tickets in order to
secure the advantage of uncontested local rates?
A RADLROAD SCHEME
On another page will be found Mr. Bryan's
testimony before the Newlands-Adamson com
mittee, which is investigating various phases of
the railway question. The railroads are at
tempting to concentrate all regulation at Wash
ington. Mr. Bryan points out tho objections to
surrendering tho regulating power that the
states now have.
SUSPEND PREPAREDNESS
On another page will be found a very sensible
editorial from the San Francisco Chronicle, sug
gesting a suspension of preparedness appropria
tions while we appeal for peace. Why no? W
show very little faith In the success of our ap
peal if we go on increasing preparation for war
while we work for peace.
A suggestion: Why not erect a tall flag pole
at some conspicuous place in Washington and
keep the big white flag flying until the victory
is won? The Commoner will subscribe one hun
dred dollars to such a Flag Fund.
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Now for Liquor
Legislation .;.
Now that wo have a prohibition majority In
both senate and' houso no timo should bo lost in
enacting such laws as will carry restriction 10
tho maximum. The submission of tho national
amend mont Is, of course, tho end which all pro
hibitionists havo in viow, but that requires a
two-thirds majority in both houses. Don't wait.
Every law that lessens tho use of intoxicating
liquors will hasten tho day of complete emanpi
pation. Prohibition in tho District of Columbia will
bo progress.
Shut out liquor advertisements: this will not
only cleanse the pages of tho papers, but will
withdraw tho subsidies which tho liquor inter
ests pay for the suppression of truth.
Prohibit tho issuance of federal llconscs in
dry torritory or require applicants for federal
licenso to advertise in advanco whore tho liquor
is to bo sold. The boot-logger can not do this.
Restrict the abuses connected with express
shipments into dry torritory.
Stop treating in rooms in which government
Hconses are posted.
Require all holders of licenses to roport, at
stated intervals, amount, value and kind of li
quor sold, with alcoholic content of each kind,
and anything else that anyono can think of. It
is impossible to hit tho traffic a lick amiss.
W. J. BRYAN.
PROHIBITION WINS WASHINGTON
Prohibition has raised Its white flag over tho
nation's capltol lot tho country rejolco.
By a vote of 55 to 32 tho senate passed tho
bill prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquor
in tho District of Columbia. Tho liquor inter
ests tried to refer tho question to the malo voter
of the District, but the senate, after so amend
ing the amendment as to permit tho women of
tho District to vote, rejected the amended
amendment on the ground that questions relat
ing to Hfo, liberty and tho homo were not re
ferred to tho voters of tho District, and that the
saloon was not more sacred than theso. Con
gress did not consult the people when the saloon
was allowed to come into tho District; why
should they bo consulted when it is driven out?
Some of the men most clamorous for a refer
endum for tho benefit of the saloons have been
violently opposed to tho principle of tho refer
endum. Tho liquor interests have always op
posed tho Initativo and referendum in wet states.
The houso Is sure to pass the aenalo bill and
it is now only a question of a few weeks when
prohibition will have received the endorsement
of tho federal government house, senate anor"
President. Then, who will deny that the saloon
is an outlaw? And, then, what democrat or re
publican will think so little of his party as to bo
willing to chain It to a corpse. The saloon is
dead the sooner it is buried by tho adoption
of a national amendment the better.
W. J. BRYAN.
A POST ELECTION LETTER
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, The Attorney General
Washington, D. C.
My dear Mr. Bryan:
I take this occasion of writing ypu a few lines
to express tho personal gratification I havo felt
at the vigorous and effective part ypu have taken
In the national campaign just closed.
I havo observed the important effect of your
speeches in every state in which you went, and
feel that you are largely responsible for th
splendid showing made in the west. The fin
patriotism and good will displayed by you to
wards the administration has given much plcna
ure to all' your friends, although we, of course,
knew all tho while that you would do just at
you have done. This is certainly the most re
markable victory for progressive ideas that thig
country has ever witnessed.
Sincerely your friend,
T. W. GREGORY.
The mothers -who helped to re-elect the-President
will feel, when they read his appeal for
peace, that their confidence in him 'was .not misplaced.
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