The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923, February 01, 1918, Page 3, Image 3

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Commoner
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BBRUAR3r,-1918
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friends ot the saloon protest against rat
ion, of i. the nat!6nal amendment by leglsla-
NOW in session. "They have no mandate
is,, the "people," shout the liquor interests
r-do not need it T,he saloon is not a new
Lution; its evils are as well known today
leywJJl bo one, -two or ten years hence. It
iown thafe. -.the ; people are against the sa-
They.. are- against it even when the en
ment of the law is by small units; they are
more unanimously against it when the law
. lft Anfnrnofl lif n lni(vni4 urttl TMTM.1 fnimy
jjuw euui,u uj t luigci uuiii auuiu j.utu
ity option than favor town option. More
r state prohibition than favor county option,
still more favor national prohibition. The
ter the unit .the more sura .the enforcement.
Postponement Iwilt not prevent, ratification
Srjll simply enable the liquor dealers to col-
,a imuqn or -two more irom me American
)le. JNO'tvme .should be lost. The amend-
it should be .ratified at the earliest possible
ien W. J. BRYAN.
A, CONFESSION
V.tiR
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ne of. the arguments made against the rati-
ion of the national amendment is that pro-
tion, once put into the constitution, can
er be taken, out. Why? It can be taken out
"jujeasily as it 'can be put in. It requires two-
as or ootn nouses ana three-fourths 01 the
es to put prohibition into the federal con-
ution, and two-thirds of both houses and
ee'-foufths of the states can take it out.
en the opponents of prohibition admit that
hibition can not be taken out of the constltu-
they simply confess that they know its
cess will 'be -'so complete as to silence com-
int an unanswerable argument in favor of
f amendment. .
--A REASONABLE REQUEST
hp United gate's can not, of course, regulate
saloons in lireat juntam ana trance: neitner
this country refuse to furnish breadstuffs to
Allies, even though they wojcse than waste
Wftrt of it by turning it over to breweries and
stilleries, but co'ngress might respectfully sug-
- .tiwmt that our neoDle are denying themselves in
"", -"fiSor to furnish food for the. fighters at the
nt, and express the hope that the food will
conserved for that purpose.. Our allies
Ight, at least, compel their liquor dealers to
jpect our law forbidding the sale of intoxi-
ints to American soldiers. W. J. BRYAN.
r.
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PEACE PROSPECTS
The Bolsheviki propaganda is threatening
uistrla and Germany. Labor is in revolt and
10 harsh measures adoptod to suppress it only
sake more sure the final overthrow of the mil
iary party. The toilers of Europe, more and
lore appalled by the growing war burden, ire
joking to peace as the only hope of escap6
trom endless servitude. An earthquake is -ahead
ind the rulers are becoming alarmed. No one
an tell how near the end may be but iiritil ft
iomes every American must stand by trip goy-
srnment ana oe reaay to maKe any sacrince tnat
hnay be required.
BAKER'S DEFENSE
On another page will be found the reply
hmade by Secretary Baker to Senator Chamber-
rlain's criticism. It is more than complete it
'gives the secretary a stronger position than he
occupied before the attack. He has not only si
lenced criticism .but he has taught 'his critics a
llesson. They will hereafter know better than
to make public letters of complaint without
first consulting the war department as to the
facts. A friend of the administration would
do this without waiting for a lesson.
CAN NOT SERVE TWO MASTERS
Press dispatches "indicate that some of, the
government buyers have been purchasing of
themselves. They.' have been, of course com
paratively few,. in. number, bat,tthere .should, be
npne. The Bible says that no man can servp
two masters, and it is not ,safe, to ignore the
Bible even when, patriotism ..reduces -selfishness
.to a minimum. "The. nation's, agents should, b
above suspicion, and they can not be so rqngjgi
they deal with themselves. W. J. BRYANT"
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WAR SAVINGS
Thrift Stamps and War Savings
Stamps are the most democratic of In
vestments and America expects every
American to Bhow love of republican in-'
stitutions by Investing in this demo
cratic security. Tho aggregate amount
of the investments and the number of
investors in these war savings secur
ities are in a way the answer of the
people of this great democracy to the
call of the cause of democracy through
out the world and the vindication of civ
ilization and humanity.
They afford every person, however
humble and however small his means,
the- opportunity to contribute his part,
to do his bit, in this groat struggle
against the military masters of Germany
who seek to dominate the world in con
tempt of justice and right and freedom
and . without conscience and without
mercy.
Surely every American desires to have
a part in the defeat of autocracy and tho
success of liberty and right.
Thrift Stamps and War Savings
Stamps may bo purchased at any bank
or postoffice anywhere in the United
States. Buy Thrift Stamps for every
member of tho fa.nlly.
WOMAN'S CONSCIENCE VINDICATED
Woman's conscience has been vindicated. She
favored prohibition because the saloon is an
evij. She feared the dram shop as instinctively
as one. fears a snake. For years man's Judg
ment supported the' saloon. He thought it
brought business to the town, and business. rea
sons outweighed the conscience. But the con
science has triumphed and now the .men find,
to their surprise, that prohibition is better for
business.
If woman had been allowed to vote the sa
loon would have gone long ago and the country
would have had the benefits of prohibition
sooner. This is only one instance; there are
other evils to be remedied, and woman's con
science will be helpful in these, reforms.
Welcome, woman suffrage.
A QUESTION OF VERACITY
As Lloyd-George and Congressman McGormick
differ widely as to what tho former told tho lat
ter, it might be worth while for the senate mil
itary committee to investigate the question of
veracity,. How can we hope to reach tho max
imum of efficiency with our great military' lead
ers' so wide apart on the facts?
SITUATION QUITE DIFFERENT .
Tho situation in the United State!. Jsf quite
different from the situation in Europe when, the
cbmbinatlon cabinets were formed. But' a s'mall
part of our man power has been called-i-but a
few billions have been' boVrowed. We do ' pot
have tti resort to the desperate expedient of rev
olutionizing our official machinery.
i
Recent events would seem to indicate that
Kaiser Wilhelm has dikcbvered there is no
royal road to peace, either.
"
GIBBONS DENOUNCES "DRY" AMENDMENT
A Baltimore, Md., dispatch, dated Feb. 5,
says: In strong, and decisive language Cardinal
Gibbons,, denounced the national prohibition
amendment aijd declared that legislators of the
states should .not bow to the "fanaticism that
seems to be rulipg us in this respect."
He declared that some of the law , makers
seemed to be acting through cowardice in going
against their strong convictions and giving their
vote for the amendment when- it is brought up.
"I feel said the cardinal, "that it the amend
ment is ratffieJL jnere wjft spring upt in all parts
of This country ijiiit stilly that will manufacture
a. low grade i)t wjhlskythat will do' more harm
than tho goo'd . gjade jfp doing. Beer ( and flight
wines wJll pass oit' of existence. ;, 4" .
;"i,t.will be a calamity ifthis amendment Is
adopted. ' It will be only a step in th'eLabridff
merit of other liberties that we enjoy."
Wealth Must Bear Its
Share
Congress is called upon to raise more taxes.
How will It apportion tho burden? At'vcr
Wealth must bear Its share. Congress has done
well In this respect, but it must do better. Th&
Income tax should be Increased' and he excess
profits tax should be made heavier. Tho soldier'
gives his ALL; he puts up his principal, even
llfo itself. Why should anyono bo allowed, to
grow rich out of war profits while the raaiscu
stint thomselyes to carry on the war? Al
ABOVE A REASONABLE PROFIT would 'not.
equal-the tax now collected on blood. A
W. J. BRYAN. '
THE DEMOCRATS LEADING
m
With a majority of tho democratic states "dry,
with three-fourths of the democratic 'oc'natora
and two-thirds of the democratic congressmen'
voting for national prohibition, and M'ssissipplr
Virginia, Kentucky and South Carolina thT first
to ratify, tho democratic party is leading the'
fight for tho abolition of the saloon.
BACK UP WILSON, BRYAN URGES . i
From Tho Virginian-Pilot, Jan. 31. ' '
William Jennings Bryan, former secretary ot
stato, struck a note of patriotism in his address
at tho Y. M. C. A. last night that thrilled anil
enthralled his audience. -He spoke before a gath
ering that filled J.ho gymnasium to. overflowing
on "The Prince of Peace."
Championing Christianity, and urging the ne
cessity of a firm belief I;i the Almighty God, the
Nebraska statesman prefaced his spiritual lec
ture with a ringing appeal to Americans to stand
behind the President of tho country in this hour
of need. , .
Spontaneousloutbursts of applause that mani
fested the true feelings of tho typically American
audience interrupted the great commoner of the
west as he drove home his facts. No greater
assurance could bo given that Norfolk was be
hind the country to a man. Tho simple, force
ful language of Mr. Bryan, devoid entirely of fig
ures of speech, impressed all who heard him.
BRYAN OFFERS SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT
In an editorial In "The Commoner," William
Jennings Bryan offers something new as a work
ing plan for government ownership of the rail
road systems. "Tho Dual Plan," ho calls it, and
contrasts its advantages with that of direct fed
eral ownership in an interesting way.
As he has done many times before, Mr. Bryan
has offered in the editorial some food fo'r thought.
Thinking people all over the country will cqn
sider his suggestions, not only from the stand
point of "pro-Bryan" and "anti-Bryan" sym
pathy, but with the thought of economic ' ad
vantage to the country. For the people of the
United States are at last awakening to the need
for intelligent and unbiased study of economic
conditions and economic remedies. Miami, Fla.,
Metropolis. v
Judging from only a superficial analysis of
the matter, we are of the" opinion that tho kais
er's method of requiring workmen to secure a
license from him' to strike is likely to result in
Germany's chief manufacturing industry becom
ing that of making bolsheviks.
MARYLAND HOUSE PASSES PROHIBITION
AMENDMENT !
An Annapolis, Md., dispatch, dated Feb. '8,
says: The house of delegates today passed the
resolution ratifying the federal prohibition
amendment by a vote of 58 to 36. The resolu
tion has reached the third reading stage in the
senate and its final passage by that body is vir
tually assured, probably Within the next few
days.
Henry Clay had only half of Mr, Bryan's joy.
He never became president though he may have
been Vjght. But comes the U. S. and virtually
acknowledges a part 'of the silver theory of the.
"Orator of the Platte, and actually nationalizes
the railroads.Tho Chicago New World.
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