(" ' T T
AUGUST, 1911
The Commoner
11
economic blockade and the stirring up of en
mity among the peoples after the war. The
freedom of the seas must be assured. Only an
economic peace can prepare the ground for the
friendly association of the peoples.
"The Reichstag will energetically promote the
creation of. international juridical organizations.
So long, however, as the enemy governments do
not accept such a peace, so long as they threat
en Germany and her allies with conquest' and
violation, the German people will stand together
as one man, hold out unshaken, and fight until
the rights of itself and its allies to life and de
velopment are secured. The German nation
united is unconquerable.
"The Reichstag knows that in this .nnounce
ment it is at one with the men who are defend
ing the fatherland. In their heroic struggles
they are sure of the undying thanks of the
whole ieople."
TWO OPPOSING FORCES IN GERMANY
This very sane and moderate expression, if
adopted in good faith by the German govern
ment, oughts to bring about peace negotiations
within a few weeks. But the German goverm
raent is not as yet under the control of a ma
jority of the members of the Reichstag. And
the retirement of Bethmann-Hollweg, together
with other political changes, must be regarded
as moves made, in the interest of the perpetua
tion of the present autocratic rule in Germany.
Gradually, two political forces begin to stand
out as facing one another. One force is that of
army and navy leaders, Junker aristocrats, pan
the Hohenzollern dynasty with the clique of
German industrial magnates, and propagandists
of the imperial cult. The other force is that of
democracy, representing the ideas of political
goodr wm hThn SI oVPtional peace and
fhS? m1orVnBl8tont demand on th .part of
LvJiberal elements, that the ReichBUg bo
given some part in the administration Most of
appoints the German chancellor and fills all tho
?hP ,witfcP0Bte7.lthottt th0 8lehteBt riferonco to
PrpnShel,0f the RelchBtB. The British and
French cabinets are merely committees of tho
parliamentary chambers, representing the ma-
ISlKJ! AcoalitIons- But the German
cabinet, like the American, is wholly apart from
the law-making bodies. American cabinet
olllcers, indeed, must be confirmed by the sen
ate after they have been chosen by the Presi
dent. But German administrative chiefs aro
not subject to such confirmation.
ALLIES EAGER TO TELL AIMS
A Washington, D. C, dispatch, dated July 23,
says: Favorable responses have been given by
Great Britain and France to tho Russian pro
posal for a conference of tho allied nations in
August to define war aims and the foreign pol
icies. It was said in Russian circles today that while
the United States and Italy had not been asked
to participate it was probable they would be in
vited. The conference has not been formally
called but will be, as Russia is determined that
the restatement of the war aims of the allies
shall take place so that every Russian soldier
"may know what he is fighting for."
Such a declaration of aims, it was asserted,
is a political necessity in Russia, the Intornat
situation requiring renunciation of imperialistic
designs.
It is problematical whether tho ontonto's pro
gram will bo endorsed by Russia, but it Is not
doubted hero that Russia sympathizes with the
French aspiration to recover her two lost prov
inces and to collect from Germany damages for
destruction in occupied portion of French ter
ritory. Great Britain, on tho other hand, is not ex
pected to disclaim an intention of keeping cap
tured German colonics in Africa, but it Is not
known as to how Russia will view this form of
annexation.
Senator Hitchcock of Nebraska said that he
would vote for the food control bill, becauso tho
people seemed to want it, but that ho know very
well it would be of no material bonoflt to thorn.
Thus demonstrating to the observant masses
that if they desire tho strnlght of it about any
legislation, they should turn to tho senator from
Nebraska and not to tho President and his cab
inet, who aro mere amateurs about diagnosing
tho real needs of tho people.
Predatory business regards as legitimate
profits all that it can make on any transaction,
regardless of tho morals of tho matter. It is
difficult to understand the mental makeup of a
man who can pocket money made In that way.
Besldo the man who boosts tho price of food
merely because ho has temporary power to do
so tho chap who was formerly tho ideal of mean
ness, who would steal tho pennies from a dead
man's eyes, looms up as a fairly reputablo citizen.
A Declaration of
Principled
By George A. Briggs, a candidate
or election as an Elkhart County
(Indiana) delegateto, the Constitu
tional Convention.
It is not necessary at this time to
discuss the, need for a constitutional
convention. It is as obvious as that
of an eighteen-year-old boy for long
trousers.
There is need, however, to discuss
"what shall be written into that con
stitution. Especially is there need
for those who wish to be delegates to
declare their position and their prin
ciples. I am such a candidate. I want you
to vote for me. . For this reason I
want you to know who I am and
what may be. expected of me if
elected.
If you vote for me, as I sincerely
nope you will; and if I am elected,
here is what you may expect of me
as your representative.
Popular Government The Declar
ation of Independence states specific
ally that governments derive their
just powers from the consent of the
governed. Modern government is so
complex, however, that if this prin
Mle is to be maintained, then some
mechanism is needed whereby, in
favoring or opposing specific meas
ures, as well as in favoring or op
Posing candidates, a majority of the
vofers may express their will legally
an' effectively.
uch a mechanism, already adopt
p by twenty-two states, is the ini-t-at
ve and referendum,
'' elected by you, as I hope to be,
1 shall work early and late for the
m tiative and referendum as the basic
Principle of our new constitution. It
w.l give us, as it has given twenty
mo other states, true government of
"it people, for the p -ple and by the
People.
Suffrage Governments derive
iiinr just powers from the consent of
me governed. Every adult human
in Mg therefore should have a voice
the affairs of government. Woman
8 a human being. Therefore woman
should have the legal right, as well
as the moral right and the logical
right to vote. For this reason I be
lieve thoroughly in woman suffrage.
I shall use mj- best 'endeavors if
elected to help incorporate it in our
new constitution.
Prohibition I believe that alco
holic liquors are poisons. I believe
that prohibition is as moral, as ben
eficial and as justifiable as are the
laws a'gainst the open and indiscrim
inate sale of opium and cocaine. I
believe that prohibition should be
part of the basic law of the state of
Indiana. I shall work earnestly,
therefore, to have it written into the
new constitution.
Taxation We all know that pres
ent methods of taxation are unsci
entific and unjust. They should be
; changed. There is, however, no ac
cepted science or taxation, -oiuaents
are divided roughly into two groups.
One would levy taxes according to
(ability to pay; the other according to
benefits received. XMeitner scnooi
has sufficient data based upon experi
ence to nrove its position. I believe
that a science of taxation will evolve
with experience just as the science or
agriculture is evolving.' But that
evolution has as yet scarcely begun.
For this reason I believe that taxa
tion should be treated negatively.
TCo restrictions should be written
into the -constitution which will
handicap the action of-the people in
the brighter light of maturer experi
ence. . .
Labor No restrictions against
workmen's compensation laws should
be written into the new constitution.
The present generation -and future
generations should be free to protect
workmen by law from injury, and to
compensate them for injuries in lany
way the best wisdom of the time may
SUTghe 'courts should be prohibited
from using the power of function
and of contempt of court to imprison
men without jury trials, especially
inGteraT-lei 'believe in general that
the new constitution should make us
faTas well as in name a free
SSL v'i: J
amendable under the initiative and
referendum, and should establish be
yond question that this is a govern
ment by majorities. Majorities may
err, of course. They may bo tryan
nical. But government by powerful
minorities is bound to err, and al
ways has been selfish.
So, the object of the delegates
should be to' safeguard majority rule,
i with hope and confidence that In
freedom, majorities will bo self-ro-'
strained and respectful of minority
i rights.
J These then aro tho principles upon
which I seek your support. I hopo
they will meet with your approval.
1 hope and confidently expect to be
elected. But whether elected or not,
upon these principles will I stand.
MODERNIZED "VERSION OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC AND THE SACRIFICIAI, RAM
I N :
'" SO 'Tis' ( KuJiSy I 'TAMJWrE
L- llj -fe i. PAD, THERE (
1- - " " From Dea Moines Register.
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