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The Commoner
WILLIAM J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
VOL 17, NO. 11
Lincoln, Nebraska, November, 1917
Whole Number 703
Victory for Woman's
Suffrage
The victory for woman's suffrage won in the
state of New York may well be regarded as a
crowning and compelling triumph. The empire
state by a decisive majority of nearly one-hundred
thousand extends suffrage to woman on
equal terms with man. The carrying of the big
gest state. in the union, and that, too, in the very
center of the east, will exert a powerful influ
ence on the election in other states. It seems
quite certain that Pennsylvania will follow New
York's example as soon as the voters have an
opportunity to express themselves again. Two
years ago suffrage was defeated in Pennsylvania
by a majority that was small when compared
with the majority registered against the reform
in New York at the same time. The women,
with the most populous state on their side and
with the second state in the union sure to fol
low, wifPlmter the fight with renewed vigor and
with stronger. hope of an early triumph of their
cause. It is not unlikely that the verdict of
New York will exert a powerful influence on
congress and may give to the advocates of the
national amendment the necessary two-th'rds
majority. ,
The Commoner congratulates the country no
less than the women upon the prospect of full
national enfranchisement of women. With the
new ethical questions that will arise, the world
needs woman's vote even more than man needs
the ballot. Her participation in polit'cs will
hasten the triumph of national prohibition, and
when this reform is accomplished, women's vote
will make the settlement of the question per
manent. "When the war is over, the world will be con
fronted by the greatest problem it has ever had
to meet, namely, the laying of the foundations of
peace that shall endure. When that time comes,
the mothers, who in all the belligerent nations
are giving their sons to the battlefield, should
have a voice in building a machinery for the set
tlement of international disputes which will
make this the last war to reddeifj thocarth with
blood. WT J. BRYAN.
f
Annvm TinmYTnn nm?!S DRY
c Welcome New Mexico to the roll of honor as
a prohibition state! She is the twenty-seventh
commonwealth to banish the saloqn by state ac
tion. Some feared that, because a large percent
age of the state's population is of Mexican
descent, prohibition might not carry, but it seems
that the Latin race, as well as the races of the
north, is coming to realize the deadly influence
of alcoholic liquor.
New Mexico has great possibilities, and these
will bo increased by the improved social condi
tions that will follow the driving out of the sa
loon. Viva! New Mexico. W. J. BRYAN.
THE ELECTIONS OP 1017
The elections of 1917 do not indicate any de
cided change in the trend of public opinion. Tho
most significant feature is the growth of the so
cialist vote throughout the country. It fell short
of tho expectations of tho leaders of that party,,,
and they did not secure the victories which they
prophesied, but their gain was sufficient to give
them substantial encouragement. These gains
will be variously interpreted. Tho more radical
socialists will see in them an increased accept
ance of the principles of tho socialistic party,
while those outside of that party will bo inclined
to account for these gains by considering them
an expression of tho ultra-anti-war element.
As between the democrats and republicans,
the latter have more reason than the former to
rejoice. Massachusetts, which has been going
democratic occasionally in recent years, gives an
oldtime republican majority in re-electing" Gov
ernor McCall. The domocratic majority in Bos
ton is lower than it has been in seventeen years.
The republicans also show considerable strength
in Baltimore, Louisville and Indianapolis, but
the party out of power generally gains some ad
vantage in the off-year elections. We shall have
to wait until the congressional election of 1918
to gain any definite idea of the drift of political
sentiment insofar as it is likely to affect the na
tional campaign of 1920. W. J. BRYAN.
ITALY'S RETREAT
Italy's retreat is most unfortunate at this
time, not becauEe it is likely to have any im
portant bearing on the war, but because it will
give temporary encouragement to the military
party in Germany. Nothing but success in tho
field can keep an autocracy in power at Berlin,
and Germany's signal victory over the Italians
may tide the - iling class over one more crisis.
Of course Italy will in time make a stand and
drive the enemy back toward his base of sup
plies, but it will take weeks to repair the dam
age done in the meantime.
Tax War Profits
It will probably bo necessary to largely In
croaso the revenue to bo ralsod by tax
ation, and legislators lira beginning now
to cast about for now sources of revenue.
Tho Commoner begs to commend tho ex
cess wa profits as a source of revenue not
yet fully oxplorod. As long as a soldier Ik re
quired to give his life In his country's behalf,
congress should not be squeamish about tho
collection of taxes .on Industries that profit by
the war. Excess war proflU mean profit be
yond a reasonable amount, and it rauat be re
membered that profits or incomes are from prin
cipal and not principal itse'.f. The tax upon tho
soldier is not upon profits only but upon tho
principal itself. Any tax upon profits therefore,
even if the tax took all the profits, leaves (ho
principal and thus gives the holder of tho prop
erty enormous advantage ovtr tho man whose
life' Is demanded.
The revenue law rocently cnastod- won tr far
ther in the direction of justice than previous
laws, but it does not go as far aj it ought to In
view of the demands that are now being mailo
upon the citizen. Tho President has called at
tention to the fact that patriotism and profits
are not to be pi t in the same class. WJille pat
riotism demands enormous sacrifice from all of
the rest of the people, the men engaged in tho
manufacture of Implements of wai should not
be allowed to fatten out of tho nation's perils.
. W. J. BRYAN.
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DNTENTS
VICTORY FOR WOMAN'S SUFFRAGE
TAX WAR PROFITS
THE ELECTIONS OF 1917
NEW MEXICO GOES DRY
'JBRft0! DRY DEMOCRATS!
PROHIBITION PROHIBITS IN NE
BRASKA . MOB LAW INTOLERABLE
PRESIDENT'S THANKSGIVINGS. PROC
LAMATION THE RESULT IN OHIO
THE NEW YORK CITY ELECTION
THE SOCIAL EVIL
MR BRYAN ON FOOD CONSERVATION
WORLD FOOD SITUATION
WHAT AMERICA IS FIGHTING FOR
It Is one of the rules of life that the man who
doesn't obey the rules soon lands In the discard.
If a man disobeys the laws of health he pays
the -penalty; if he disobeys the laws of morality
he becomes a degenerate. Why, then, should
any man imagine he can disobey the rules that
a citizen owes his first duty of allegiance to his
own country and escape the Inevitable punish
ment of banishment from loyal men's society?
BRAVO! DRY DEMOCRATS!
The organization effected In Ohio a year ago,
with Senator Miller at its head, has reason to
be proud of Its work. It gave a rallying point
for the Ohio democrats who are opposed to the
saloon, and not only added strengths tho
cause, but secured for the democratic party a
share of the glory. In every dry state the dem
ocratic party should see to It that the organiza
tion is put into the hands of those entirely in
sympathy with the prohibition amendment; in
the states where the question is still an Issue,
the opponents of the saloon should see to it that
the party organization is not debauched and dis
graced by tho liquor element. Prohibition is go
ing to win in the nation, and the democratic
party can not afford to take the immoral side of
this great moral issue. Put none but the truaU
worthy on guard! W. J. BRYAN.
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