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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (July 1, 1917)
jgjy, ion and wearisome dissertation upon this important subject,' but I trust some of the facts I have been endeavoring to bring to your attention may not bo without some value to you. FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE The retiring president of the Rotary club, at the meeting of that useful body Friday night, suggested that the club provide a medal or a token of some description to be conferred an nually upon that Rotarian who during the year had rendered to his city the most distinguished service. This suggestion is a wise one and if carried out would establish a mark of distinction which any Rotarian could well seek to attain. The requirements of urban existence and the realization that the security and the happiness of the individual depend in large measure upon unselfish service by the citizenshp as a whole, furnish opportunity for distnguished achieve ments on behalf of humanity and for the wel fare of the community which Individual men and women today are accepting with pleasure, and with little thought of pecuniary gain or per sonal popularity. There are many offices which the political machinery of the average municipality can not discharge, whatever the municipality of the fu ture, in its ideal conception, may be able to ac complish. The municipality, acting through its constituted authorities, can levy taxes for the support of schools, hospitals, parks, playgrounds and all public facilities and conveniences, but unless there is back of hese official transactions a public sentiment expressed through the intel ligent and energetic co-operation of men and women who are animated by other than purely selfish motives, little will be accomplished that will make the city a better place in which to live and in which to rear and educate one's children. One can not fail to note with pride the prog ress which Lexington is making in all phases of its municipal life. There is a growing popular interest in better city government, in higher ed ucation, in the welfare of child life, in the sick and inefficient, and in advanced morality. While this is the direct result of the changing mental and moral attitude of the individual cit izen, the sum of which is manifested by the things already done, those who watch the progress of the community know pretty well the names of the men and the women, who have contributed more or less freely of their time and of the means to hasten these improvements. Their light can not be hidden. Just as no man, how ever clever at concealment, can live a double life and forever deceive his neighbors with re gard to his true character, so the good man and useful citizen will soon be recognized by his fellows and his unselfish labors and wise bene factions gratefully remembered. Why should not the distinction of eminent public service be coveted by a" member of the Rotary club, or by any citizen, and why should we not erect some monuments to the generosity and the industry of our useful private citizens while they are still among us and able to enjoy these evidences of the gratitude of their fellow men? The Rotary club will do well to follow the advice of its retiring president. Lexington, Ky., Leader. The Commoner PROFITS AND PATRIOTISM The remarkable clarity with which President Wilson is able to stale a proposition an abil ity that is the envy of most professional writers is again evident in his discussion of profits and patriotism. The President was moved to make this statement of his opinion and posi tion by the fact that congress, presumably un der the usual pressure, has not showr any dis position to hvy upon excess profits, the profits that are the inevitable result of war conditions ia a country, the tax that the occasion and the cause warrant. It is a primary propos'tion of national ethics that no man can take advantage of war in his country to pile up large profits and at the same time lay claim to being a patriot. When a nation is at war three natural divisions follow. One part of the nation is sent to the trenches and upen the high seas to do the fight ing. Another part remains at home and busies itself in the actual production of necessities. The third part busies itself with providing the fa cilities by which the nation', resources are EXftf0?,.?10 "WW. " is moat In. iquitablo that this group shall bo permitted to flUDr8traInod ln lta ar8ttIt of Profit? while SS 0iiB.mi!!lt f0rcg0 th0 opportunity if they Pron? nrotSnt0 1pa,rtic,pat0 ,n th,a Prosperity. ? . tU inducenents that get men to enter business, and wo must concede to thorn the rewards to which they aro entitled. Tho necessity of a limitation upon them during war time is, however, bo necessary that it needs no argument. The President has presented tho ar- BUmf,nit, and th0 ract B0 forcibly that wo need add little to wha ho has said. It is actual trea son to the nation if one class so conducts itself that it Is made more difficult for the others to cheerfully and properly perform their tasks. Lincoln, Neb., Daily News. THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC From Tho Chicago Tribune. If the secret records of tho brewing and dis tilling industries were ever brought to light they would tell a story of social and political corrup tion unequaled in the annals of our history. If the veritable narrative of the American saloon were ever written, it would mako the decadence of Rome look like an ago of pristine purity in comparison. Whiskey, wine, and beer never caused half as much injury to society as the manufacturers and purveyors of these beverages. If these men have not made a practice of committing murder and arson it is because these crimes did not seem immediately profitable. The liquor business has been tho faithful ally of every vicious element in American life; it has protected criminals, it has fostered the social evil, and it has bribed politicians, juries, and legislatures. The inherent corruption has extended, even to the so-called decent saloons. There are few that do not serve adulterates products, and it is an unusual proprietor that is not more pleased when his patrons are getting drunk than when they keep sober. Philip drunk stays longer and spends more money than Philip sober. That Is one rea son the saloon would rather sell ardent spirits than beer; they are more intoxicating. We have, teen speaking of the "decent" sa loon; the other variety is almost unspeakable. The smallest count in the indictment against tho evil bar room is Its persistent evasion of the law. We are not surprised to read th,t numer ous Cook county roadhouses aro operating with out licenses, tht they keep open 'on Sunday, or that they seem' to exercise a mysterious control over public officials. Yet these are only minor offenses in the calendar of saloon iniquities. The brewers have at times tried, or said they would try, to clean up tho saloon business. The head of a great St. Louis brewery often told his confreres that it was the brewers' only salvation. The theory was accepted, but tho practice was always to expend every energy to sell one more keg of beer, even if it had to be sold to boot leggers and resort keepers. It is for these reasons that the prohibition movement has gained such strength. The demand for the abolition of the liquor traffic is the ex pression of a ripening conviction that it is con ducted by nefarious mans for nefarious ends. "After us the deluge," seems to have been the philosophy of the liquor men but now the del ude seems to be on the roint of breaking The prohibition bill that was passed by the Wisconsin legislature was vetoed by Governor Phillips on the ground that it would confiscate the big brewing concerns located in Milwaukee. The men responsible for the passage of the bill say that the governor is a candidate for United States senator. It sounds reasonable, Congress is apparently having a very difficult time of it determining how to apportion the Durden of the war cost. Yet it ought not to re nnfre any high degree of statesmanship to flg ure thate men who profit most by the fact fw we are in war should pay the most of its ost, whife thonse who profit not at all should be burdened aj little as possible. If those who would be hard hit by a large suf fix upon Incomes desire to escape the agony of having to pay them perhaps they might bo able ?o effect an exchange of some sort with those who are not threatened with any visit from tho Income tax collector. WHAT LIQUOR COSTS By Sonator William B, Borah. Blr, another Item: Last year tho liquor bill of tho United States amounted to $2,438,037, 985. Our Liborty Loan completed for tho pres ent at $2,000,000,000; our Rod Cross subscrip tion. So wo havo at thin timo roprcaontod In tho Liborty Loan and tho Rod Cross subscrip tion $2,100,000,000, and wo havo In tho other column, representing tho amount expended for liquor in a single yoar, $2,438,037,985. Vlow this question from nny standpoint from tho standpoint of revenue, from tho standpoint of food conservation, prom tho standpoint of human energy and human efficiency, from ths standpoint of good cit izenship, from tho standpoint of success In tho war and tho appeal comos to us horo, repre senting this entire nation now, at this time In connection with this question, to put our seal of disapproval upon the liquor tralllc In its entirety. PEACE THROUGH WAR Mr. Bryan shows, by his adaptation to tho war, an admirable capacity for living In tho world. Tho only way out of tho war, ho tolls a Kentucky audience, Is "through it." Mr. Bry an has coined an epigram which should be help ful to such pacifists as havo had difficulty to ad just themselves to tho sta'.o of war in which their country Is involved. Mr. Bryan went tho whole length In opposing tho war. Ho did not think that war could cure war. But as botweon his own country warring nnd Germany warring ho Is for his own country. Ho takes circum stances as they aro and makes tho host of them. Tho work of the pacifist now Is not to hinder a war not npw to bo prevented. That merely fur nishes advantage to our opponent In war. Hit present part is to try to stoer a succcabful wa to the port of peace. Mr. Bryan Is sanely tak ing his part. Lincoln (Neb.) Stato Journal. FIRST "BONE-DRY" COMMENCEMENT A Cambridge, Mass., dispatch, dated 3uno 21, says: War-shattered and time-honored custom caused commencement day at Harvard university today to bo transformed Into a memorable pat riotic occasion. More than 1,200 degrees were awarded graduates of tho college and Harvard graduate schools, many of whom were absent on war duty. It was the first "bone-dry" commencement In tho history of the university. In an effort to help along tho war pohibition movement the Harvard Alumni Association had requested thai soft drinks aione be served at the various class reunions, and there was goLoral compliance. DRINK CONTAINING ALCOHOL IS LIQUOR A Washington dispatch of Juno 19 says: Any drink containing alcohol was defined by the postoffice department today as intoxicating li quor within the meaning Ml tho law forbidding mailing of liquor advertisements Into dry ter ritory after July 1. Mythl, wood and denatured alcohol are excepted. The department ruled also that the prohibition against advertisement applies to liquor for scientific, sacramental medicinal and mechanical purposes. Hawaii is tho latest land to offer the ballot to women. Which reminds us that if anybody has bet that the greatest democracy in tho world, tho United States of America, would bo tho last country to enfranchise women, his chances of winning the wager are getting better all the time. . Some of the swaggering swashbucklers who desire inserted in prison every man who Is not willing or anxious to be as noisy ln displaying his patriotism as they are seem to have secured their standards of conduct from close friends o the kaiser. A united nation behind the Presi dent is impossible as loi.g as these run at larg through the newspapers. Tho patriotism of none of tho railroads has risen to tho height of developing a system of rates that will locate factories and mills in th same section of tho country where the raw ma terial is produced. Yet here is an economy that would make all others look like extravagance in comparison. i jI m i r. ju
