., aftrJfc ih- -,:. at". 'f ' Wi-iI. Ml tfikit -. .. -'."'f 5X 'V' V'? NEBRASKA STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY 1 1 The v .Hb. commoner j.r &7.i .il 1V1 t- Afttft .... E?a'5- ;;? ' r. WILLIAM J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR , . 1 .Wffjf "4wa 71 Lincoln, Nebraska, January, 1918 Whole Number 705 h -i ittle Royal 000. M9TCSBKK7S1 Til ;,- . . . or tne prohibition amendment ititution is the noginnlng of leal battle of the present" gen; to the finish contest between j&e home. There can be no ratification of the amendment unwise to underestimate the tegy of the opposition. "The in aptly said, "has no defense rs," and these defenders, con- . ikness of their cause, will not nt in the open. No serious at- tdo to justify the existence of little will be said about "per- mo, the old arguments are gone; (practically abandoned. An en- t treasons will be put forward to Lends of prohibition . reasonsr lieJfcht "whatever with those who linost is the "state's rigtfikfwr ft1 would jeopardize tb4 'reserved' ates to put the enforcement of lie hands of the federal gdvern- jtlhe saloon's first line of detense, of alcohol have already gone of this, for they have won tbe south, which is most jealous of upon the reserved rights jf the fitates that want prohibition are ithe federal government assist in it. The people of the south pre- ibfflcial who protects their boys to. if menaces their homes. tfnaann nnv rulioil rn frt rlafaaf lYia ay be described as the "trench ar- eraely, that prohibition would cause ong the people and prevent a rt of the government. One bomb facts will demolish this trench, and I .few of the facts. The injury done on is greater than any harm that $from the open opposition of the li- x when they are disarmed by the the rum shop; and then, too, it is fc convict them-of lack of loyalty than 6me the evil their business does. . As. for the irritation of those who drink, that will hfr turned into thanksgiving as soon as the 4lnkhbit is broken not 'to speak of the joy; iaithV families pf tbe. reformed Let , vry friend of prohibition do his part. T Jhe Woman's Christian Temperance Union and thai Atiti-Saloon League will continue their non-partisan efforts, and the prohibition party, will keep up its fight. But these are not enougH the dry- democrats should organize in every doubtful skater, and the dry-Republicans should do likewise. And all the 'organizations should co-operate In the "selection of .legislators favor- ' able to ratification. Until this paramount issue is disposed of ad vocates of the saloon will stand together regard- 9 0 THE ROLL OF HONOR List of States That Have Ratified the National Prolilbition Constitu tional Amendment IMISSISSIPPI, January 8, 1918. - 2 VIRGINIA, January ,11, 1918. 3 KENTUCKY, January 4, 1918. '0 . less of party, and the friends of the home can not afford to permit difference of. opinion on other subjects to divide them on this issue. They should support. candidates pledged to ratifica tion as against any whj are opposed to it, or who are unwilling to pledge themselves. Put none but the trustworthy on guard. W. :J.BRtf-AtoV: "en. "LIGHT JN THE EAST" the. ternwL.'FJ WripwMW oHvKtLJi m WOMAN SUFFRAGE TRIUMPHS The world moves! Woman suffrage triumphs in the house of representatives. It had a bare two-thirdsbut ENOUGH. The democrat. vote stood 104 to 102 a majority for the amend ment. The republicans made even "a. better showing 165 to 33. Now for the senate may it do as well. mm 6woi "Jin BH&'k - A.i.'vi'! MISSISSIPPI FIRST Mississippi has won top , place on the roll of honor by being first to ratify, the prohibition amendment. Virginia and Kentucky followed close fn order. And all democratic states, too. Next! . v CONTENTS THE BATTLE ROYAL " A MOVE TOWARD PEACE-'' J DUAp OWNERSHIP VS. FEDERAL OWNERSHIP - NEW CUSTODIANS OF THE ARK "DRYi' AMERICA ONLY QUESTION OF TIME NATIONAL PROHIBITION AND NA TIONAL PATRIOTISM PRESIDENT WILSON SETS .FORTH PEACE PROGRAM . WOMAN SUFFRAGE WINS IN HOUSE -.PROHIBITION AMENDMENT SUBMIT TED TO STATES ; PRESIDENTS PROCLAMATION TAKING ; OVER RAILROADS A MoveToward Peace -The President's statement of torms, which will be found on another page, is a long step toward peace and will greatly cheer; those whose relatives have been called to the colors. It will undeceive the German people, who have been led by the war party to believe that they were compelled to fight for their very existence; The war aims of the United States are not a menace to the German people they are, on the contrary, an expression of the hopo universal the hope of the friends of peace and liberty everywhere. There can be no permanent peace, so long m subject races are held In political bondage and exploited by the stronger nations. "Government by the consent of the governed' is theigr,p,ig,? Pioliticar principle of the age; It is destined to . control all 'governments. Opposition; to thlj prlri- ' ciple is responsible for much 'discord .and man!?,? Y.v. K .;&;" '; '.' '"" '"-,'., '.. .i' , .... i-.p "z .lyc- our ihg'tb' negptUW fs'rhefifse tfgli in the e'asfc"'' The dove leaves the ark when belligerent na tions begin to exchange views as to terms of peace, and each day is likely to add to the chances of an agreement. The United States is prepared to continue the war better prepared than any other nation but the American peo ple will rejoice when the object of the war is attained and a just peace secured. mmmimmmmmminm iS&it0' to stand those who ad vockte this doclrln'ii are traveling toward the dawn. W. J. BRYAN. UNIVERSAL MILITARY TRAINING "The subject of imlversal military training continues to be discussed in the country. The department has not sought and does not now seek legislation on the subject, chiefly for the reason that the formulation of a permanent military policy wijl inevitably be affected by the arrangements consequent upon the termination of the present war. Civilized men must hope that the future has in store a relief from the burden of armament and the destruction and waste of war. However vain tlidt Jaope may appear in the midst of the most devastating, and destructive war in the history of the, raceit per sists perhaps because we ire encouragecU-by the analagous substitution,, of courts for force in tlie settlement of private controversies; per haps because all the perfections of nature teach us that they are the product of prdceesee which have eliminated waste and substituted construc tive for destructive principles. When a perma nent military -policy, therefore, come to be adopted, it will doubtless be conceived in-a spirit which will 'he adequate to preserve agalnsCany possible attack those vital principles of HVerty upon which demopratic institutions are based, and yet be so restrained as in no event to. foster the growth of mere militarist ambition or to excite the apprehension of nations 'with wom it Is our first desire to live in harmonid.sand3ust accord." "",T The above quotation Is from Secretary Baker's last report. T v '' ."- ""-The secretary Is exactly right. It is Impossible, to plan win intelligence for the days after the war. Everything depends on the prospect of permanent pece. -..,.. If .the yictory pf the allies Is ar complete as we hope for and expect it ought 6t 'to brf "acces sary to burden our people with universal mil itary service; the urging of suck a system now suggests a lack of faith in the overtkrow-of the militarism that menace the world. - ;, .". '-'' ' W; J. BRTAN 4 & y - s I ,K , a ntxr "V