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The Commoner
. " WILLIAM J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
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L. 18, NO. 3
Lincoln, Nebraska, March, 1918
Whole Number 707
Put none but ratificationists on guard. Democrats and Re
publicans everywhere should see to it that every candidate for the
state legislature is openly pledged to vote for the ratification of the
National Prohibition Amendment Take no chances This is
the supreme domestic issue until Constitutional Prohibition is secured.
RVhy Not 'a Refer
endum?
1 . .. .-. 'r ' -y
few "York paper expresses wonde4Jrthat"
libitionists .should oppose the referendum
ratification which the liquor interests of
estate are asking. The explanation is easy.
brewers, distillers, saloon keepers and their
i
rspaper champions ,have violently opposed a
fcrendum when the temperance forces have
ted for a vote. They have fought the sub-
jion of every state amendment submitted,
ly have fought county option; they have
ight every to""ri option.
(Because of the domination of Pennsylvania
the. liquor interests there is not now in
it state a unit large or small that 1s allowed '
express itself on the lfquor question. In
W Jersey local option has been secured only
lis year, and in New York only last year (in
fe cities of the third class). In every license
ite the liquor interests have opposed the in-
lative and referendum for fear the people
r t
rould use the initiative to submit the liquor
Question to popular vote, and yet in spite of
lis record the allied liquor forces impudently
aman" ... popular vote in New York be-
re ratification. "Why? First, because a ref
erendum would DELAY for at least a YEAR
THE ROLL OF HONOR
5 List of States That Have Ratified the
i
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National Proliibition Constitu
tional Amendment
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1 MISSISSIPPI, January 8, 1918. . ,
2 VIRGINIA, January 11, 1918.
3 KENTUCKY, January 14, 1918;
4 SOUTH CAROLINA, January 23,
1918.
5 NORTH DAKOTA, January 25, 1918.
6 MARYLAND, February 14, 1918.
7 MONTANA, February 20, 1918.
8TEXAS, March 6, 1918.
the ratification of the amendment by the em
pire state, and MIGHT delay for a year the
banishing of saloons from the coutiU'y and
' a year's delay would be worth from one to two
billion dollars to the liquor interests of the na-
tion.vThiB-is-an-importantrreason and yet7.n0
ft 1 ;
The Majority Have
Spoken
'i,
0
champion' of "the saloon everrefers to this" rea
son.
The second reason is that a referendum, if
binding on the conscience of the legislators,
would enable the wet cities to rob the country
districts of their constitutional rights in the
legislature. Legislators are elected by districts
and are RESPONSIBLE TO THEIR CONSTIT
UENTS. No legislative action can relievo
them of that responsibility or make the saloon
ridden cities custodians of their consciences.
The federal constitution puts the ratification
of amendments in the hands of legislatures. If
the system is to be changed it must be changed
EVERYWHERE, not .merely in states where
the liquor interests see an advantage in the
change.
Here are two reasons easily understood by
all wo want to know the truth reasons that
are invisible to those only who see through a
(beer) glass darkly. W. J. BRYAN.
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADS
Two more states have been added to the roll
of honor since the last issue of The Commoner
Montana and Texas. Eight states have thus
far ratified: Mississippi, Virginia, Kentucky,
S,outh Carolina, North Dakota, Maryland, Mon
tana and Texas and EVERY ONE OF THEM
WENT DEMOCRATIC IN 1916. At least one
republican state must ratify before that party
can enter the democratic class.
The kaiser his greedily devoured some of Rus
sia's territory. This will raise other Alsace
Lorraine problems that will disturb future gen
erations unless he is compelled to accept the
doctrine that governments derive their just
powers from the consent of the governed.
War requires money as well as men, and a
failure to furnish the mfney would be disas
trous to our cause. Subscribe for the Liberty
Bond. It Is the safest investment in the world.
- agiheMw.etoaorgfrar.c? gtewtlyconcecnedMleB
thothlrty-slx states necessary to ratification
ty-six states ' necessary
may not contain a majority of the population.
What bosh! They might wait and see before
giving utterance to lamentations. The chances
are that the ..-atirying states will contain a large
majority of ..ho voters of the country. Ohio,
Illinois and oven New York and Pennsylvania
are hkely to ratify. But even if they do not
it must be remembered that the majority
HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN..
The house of representatives is selected AC
CORDING TO POPULATION. When a major
ity of the DISTRICTS favor a proposition it
means that a majority of the people favor It.
As a matter of fact, more thai: TWO-THIRDS
OF THE DISTRICTS VOTED FOR SUBMIS
SION. The country Is ready for national pro
hibition. W. J. BRYAN.
r
The war continues, but the government is do
ing all that can be done to mobilize the resources
of the nation, and the people stand unitedly be
hind the government. x
CONTENTS
WHY NOT A REFERENDUM?
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADS
THE MAJORITY HAVE SPOKEN
CALL SPECIAL SESSION,
THE NATIONAL DRY FEDERATION
A WOMAN WINS
THE AMENDMENT WILL BE RATIFIED
RUSSIA ARISING FROM CHAOS
DRY MASS MEETING ON BRYAN
- BIRTHDAY
CALL FOR FARM VOLUNTEERS
PRESIDENT WILSON OUTLINES BASIS
FOR GENERAL PEACE
T.HE CATHOLIC MIND ON PROHIBITION
MR. BRYAN IN TORONTO
MR. BRYAN AT .ALBANY
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