,l1
The Commoner
WILLIAM J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
VOL 17, NO. 6
Lincoln, Nebraska, June, 1917
The Liberty Bonds
It takes money as well as men to carry on a
war. The men have been registered some
ten millions of them and the government will
make the selection according to tho law pro
viding for selective conscription.
The money will be raised, first by taxation
and, second, by bond issues. Congress is now
working on a revenue bill which will raiso as
much as the legislators think it wiso to raiso
in this way and the taxpayers will respond
with the money. -
The government haa also authorized bonds
to the extent of seven billions, and two billions
have been put upon the market. There ought
to bo no difficulty in securing tho amount. It
is the duty of the people to subscribe- especial
ly tho duty of those too old to enlipt. It is also
a good investment; dVz per cent is more than
the average paidvpn savings bank deposUs, and
the rate will be raised to any higher ratd that"
ia hereafter paid on government bonds.
Don't be afraid of the security. When U. S.
bonds are not good there will be nothing else
worth investing in. If the world goes into
bankruptcy the U. S. will be the last to make
an assignment.
Buy a bond.
W. J. BRYAN.
"GARDEN GOLF"
Tho agitation for more garden stuff has led
some genius to invent a new phrase, "Garden
Golf." The cartoon illustrating It represents
the man with a hoe, while the happy housewife
encourages the game by following, caddy-like,
with an armful of other garden tools. The ice
chest is the nineteenth hole, and the success of
the game is measured by tho number of pota
toes driven home. The American sense of hu
mor will extract some fun from every -situation,
no matter how serious it is.
THE VALUE OF SAVING
If the country can be pursuaded to savo tho
700,000,000 worth of . food which, according
to agricultural department estimates, is wasted
each year, the experience will be useful after
the war. We have been so rich that wo havo
not felt tho need of being careful, but with the
burdens which we assume in entering the world
war we shall be compelled to ex'erciso more
economy.
BUY A BOND
Buying a bond is the easiest and most profit
able form of patriotism. If tho mother sends a
son to the front he may not como back;, if tho
father pays an increased amount in taxes it is
gone for good; but money LOANED to the gov
ernment returns, bringing 3 per cent interest
with it. Buy a bond.
GUARDING ARMY'S MORALS
On another page will be found an appeal mado
by Secretary of War Baker to the governors of
all tho states, calling for co-operation in koep
ing the army camps free from improper sur
roundings and immoral influences.
It is a wiso move. It is Just as necessary to
guard tho moral welfare of tho soldiers as it is
to feed their bodies, and we are fortunate in
having at tho head of the war department a man
like Secretary Baker who appreciates tho fact
and who has the courage to take tho stops
necessary to protect tho soldiers from thoso who
seek to mako money by the ruin of men.
The new army law makes it a penal offeiiBO
for any one to sell liquor to a man in uniform,
and the secretary is to bo commended for his
determination to shield the soldiers from thoso
who conspire against the morals in other ways.
W. J. BRYAN,
"- '
THE PRESIDENT VINDICATED
'.. .- ' . - . ' . vi
If the President needed anything to vindi
cate his action in refusing to accept Colonel
Roosevelt's offer to lead a division to France,
the Colonel furnished tho vindication when ho
gave out his criticism of tho President's de
cision. The President Is lucky as well as w'se
and courageous.
THE RED CROSS
Subscribe for the Red Cross fund and thus
make as comfortable as possible the lot of sick
and wounded soldiers. This much is duo from
those at home to those' of whom the govern
ment requires the sacrifices- demanded of the
soldier.
TEN MILLION IN A DAY
Well, registration day passed off without a
hitch. Who said there would be trouble? It
was more than "a million in a day." All tho
President had to do was to fix the day, and the
lino stretched through all the states.
CONTENTS
THE LIBERTY BONDS
FOOD CATECHISM
GUARDING ARMY'S MORALS
NEBRASKA UN Tttiy AiUliu uiimiu j
BRINGING GOOD OUT OF EVIL
UNFAIR TACTICS
PRESIDENT WILSON'S STATEMENT
PROHIBITION AND PROGRESS
WHY UNITED STATES ENTERED WAR
TEXT OF SELECTIVE CONSCRIPTION
LAW
PROGRSSEIVE PARTY ENDORSES
PROHIBITION
HOOVER THE FOOD ADMINISTRATOR,
HOME DEPARTMENT
Whole Number 698
Food Catechism
Why do wo need more food?
To feed Americans, citizens and soldiers, and
for export to thoso who aro making this fight
with us.
How can wo lucroaso tho food supply?
1st. By greater efficiency among producers,
to bo secured by hotter organization and raoro
completo co-operation.
2nd. By bringing Into tho ranks now food
producers especially tho children. Wo now
havo 300,000 boys and girls In corn clubs,
poutry clubs, pig. clubs, canning clubs, etc., but
we should have 10,000,000, or more than thirty
times as many. Even more valuable than tho
food thoy would produce would bo tho value of
tho effort to them. It would bo a lesson in
practical patriotism and would give to each boy
ind girl the' proud consciousness, of helping the
country in its hour of need.
4th. Wo Can a'dd to Iho food supply by sav
ing tho $700,000,000 worth of food that wa
now waste almost equivalent to a wheat crop
not to speak of the $145,000,000 worth of
grain converted into alcohol.
Tho food propaganda, stated In a word,
means:
1. Produce moro food.
2. Economize In the uso of food.
This Is a kind of patriotism that- everyono
can display.
PRODUCE MORE.
WASTE LESS.
W. J. BRYAN. .
. WHAT DOES RUSSIA MEAN?
What does Russia mean by reiterating so
often her agreement with us In wanting a vic
tory without indemnities or territory? Does
she mean that, while asking nothing for herself,
she will help other nations secure Indemnities
and territory, or does she mean she will not fight
to help any nation secure indemnities and territory?
THE Y. 31. C. A.
The soldier's spiritual nature needs nourish
ment as well as his body, and tho Y. M. C. A.
is the organization best fitted to give it. Sup
port it liberally, and It will do its best to main
tain in the army the moral standards of tho
home.
A SUGGESTION TO 'GRANDPAS
Why not buy a Liberty Bond for tho grand
children? It will give them a pleasant remind
er of a grandparent's interest, and it will bo a
patriotic response to tho country's call.
Tho kaiser has another- grtiesa comiiig it h
counts on any help from Americans of German
birth.
4U UBU M . ;