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The Commoner
lT, 1918
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Both Sides
?here are two sides to every question and a
of ordinary intelligence will want to know
Eh sides on any question before ho definitely
ides his own course of action. It is the hali
te of, ignorance and small intelligence for
one to decide a question by merely consid-
lg one side of the matter. Take the liquor
jtion, for example, and examine it from its
sides and what intelligent, decent citizen
vote for any man who favors liquor in the
it degree, or vote in any way for its possible
itinuance in any political unit of any state or
the nation. Look at both' sides:
PROHIBITION
HEmptles Jails.
(Lessens Crime.
Gives children prop-
nourisliment for
ilr bodies; proper
thing, better oppor-
fiitjes for an educa-
m anu success in
akes homes hap-
rr and more secure
m the desperation
ft. au irresponsible,
mken humanity,..
Gives fathers " and
kthers a better pro-
mction and aid in the
iring of their, child-1.
S-Makes more certain
rat the home will
ive the material sup-
rt it is entitled to.
iMakes for better
niomic conditions.
lps every class of
rltimate business.
insures a more stable
Jyernment in city.
fcunty, state and Da
rn.
Prohibition is a pro
pter of Peace, Pro3-
rity and Hanniness
ii, -. .........
ij-iue nves or lntiiviti-
lls. in the life nf tht
Bme, in the life of
te communitv. in the
tfe of the state, in
gie life of the nation.
I At xja MM.XJ 41 til ui iu
myone, and the good
If does in one com-
lunity or in one state
lay well be snread
throughout the whole
f this Christian na
tion.
SALOONS AND
LIQUOR
Furnishes a certain
revenue to govern
ment. The police cost to
government charge
able to liquor, and
other costs to govern
ment because of liquor
are about ten times
the amount govern
ment receives in rev
enue from Hie liquor
traffic.
It fosters crimes.
It fills our jails and
penitentiaries.
Takes the clothes
from the backs of
childhood and robs
their littfte bodies of
the food necessary to
sustain them.
Broods over . the
homes of the land as
a destroying angel,
blighting and cursing
without regard td
classes or conditions.
It makes braggarts
and blasphemers " of
men and under its in
fluence they become
liars and lewd mon
sters. It Is a murderer, not
only of men's bodies,
but of their souls.
It makes an econom
ic waste of dollars and
of man power that is
as fearful as that of
war.
And so we might go on indefinitely. The
mrden is all on the liquor traffic. It is a heavy
liability to the individual, to the home, to the
Fcommunity, the state and the nation.
This Js the responsible cause for the wide-
preadr , almost universal, activity against li-
quor. It is a matter of mortification and shame
that any part of Alabama's citizenship should
ibe found fighting to perpetuate such an evil,
(with no single palliating circumstance or con-
dition -connected with it.
The stronger sentiment in Alabama against
(liquor is a cause for rejoicing. Our people will
select a legislature this year that will, by an
overwhelming 'majority, join with thirty-five
other states, to banish forever this curse from
all America. Alabama Citizen.
THE GERMANS IN AMERICA
While the United States was maintaining a
neutral attitude in the world war, George Syl
vester Viereck, publisher of a periodical called
the "Fatherland," was not only intensely, but
violently pro-German, so much so that he made
himself extremely obnoxious to loyal Americans
who resented his anti-Americanism.
Since the United States has entered the war
against Germany Mr. Viereck appears finally to
have decided where his allegiance is due and
which country has the claim upon his loyalty.
He retained his love for the fatherland and his
sympathy for the German people, but he saw
with a clearer vision the aims and purposes of
the German military autocracy and heard with
a clearer understanding tho voice of democracy
and of humanity.
Since then he has changed tho name of his
periodical to "The American Weekly" and its
motto is "America firBt; America only." Her
mann Hagedorn, another of the very pronounced
sympathizers of Germany in this country be
fore America entered the war, has written a
pamphlet addressed to American citizens of
German birth or descent, in which he asks
"whore do you stand." In his pamphlet, Mr.
Hagedorn gives An intelligent and elaborate ex
position of the pro-German view of the world
conflict before the United States had been drawn
into it by the ruthless invasion of her liberties
and the gross disregard of her rights on tho high
seas, and the unprovoked murder of her citizens,
her women and children, while in peaceful pur
suit of business or pleasure.
After a resume of all the arguments advanced
by pro-Germans of every class in this country,
especially of citizens who had transferred their
allegiance to the United States, Mr. Hagedorn .
concludes by saying: "Unless we of German or
igin stand forth now, individually and collect
ively, openly and absolutely, for America and
against Germany; in no way denying our blood,
in no way denying the heritage of our fathers,
the men of German birth or descent resident in
America will fail of their bounden duty to tho
country of their adoption and to themselves.
This is not a war of many nations against the
Teuton race, but a war of men of every race
who love liberty and justice against a system
which stands on despotism and force."
Commenting on this, Viereck answers tho
question, "Where Do We Stand?" addressed to
Germans resident in the United States, by say
ing that "For tho German-American it is suffi
cient to know that his country is at war with
Germany. Under the circumstances he must
forget his racial sympathies and unreservedly
devote himself to the task of winning the war
for America Duty and the voice of his child
ren demand this course." Declaring that there
is no choice in the matter, that it is not even
debatable, that the decision has been made" by
ninety-ning per cent of the German-Americans,
-and- that it is "all for America," Mr. Viereck
adds that such is the judgment of a number of,
prominent German-Americans whom he, names,
all of whom were intensely pro-German until a
jfear or so ago.
That there has been a notable change of senti
ment in this country as America's part in the
war has become better understood, and a clearer
understanding of the nature of the conflict has
been forced upon the minds of those who were
carried away by their racial Instincts before
they realized that "this is not a war of many
nations against the Teuton race, but a war of
men of every race, who love liberty, against a
system which stands on despotism and force,"
has become gratifyingly evident in recent months
and, is daily becoming more and more so. The
enemy aliens are being weeded out and their
number will become infinitestimal. San Antonio,
TexaS Express.
NEVER AGAIN
From The Pioneer, Canada, March 15, 1918.
This country can not afford to stand by and
see her public men insulted.
The experience bf Sir William Hearst with a
deputation of liquor traffic sympathizers who
waited upon his government recently will re
main one of the unpleasant recollections of his
term of office.
The experience of Hon. J. A. Calder, when
addressing in Massey Hall a great audience com
posed of citizens from many sections of Ontario
was equally reprehensible, calling from the dis
tinguished visitor the Temark: "I don't think I
had any reason to anticipate the necessity for
the services of a policeman at a gathering of
this nature."
The jostling of the Premier of Ontario; the
persistent and unseemly interruption of a min
"isler of the crown, especially when delivering,
as representative of the Prime Minister of Can
ada, a non-partisan address; and, as referred
tp in last issue, the offensive treatment of the
president of the Federated Prohibition Organ
ization of the United States, when delivering
an address on the temperance situation; these
are experiences that in the interests of decency
and civic honor should never again be permitted
in a city whose intelligence is at least a good
average, and which possesses in largo measure
a very real type of patriotism and but a mln.
imum of the professional kind.
That all throe insults were instigated by the
samo element is an added reason why Toronto's
civic authorities should prevent the recurrence
of such exhibitions of ignorance and bad citizenship.
PRINCIPLE IS TUB GUIDING STAR
From the Fort Worth (Tex.) Record, March
3, 1918.
"If it is right, do it boldly. If it Is wrong,
let It alone." If it Is necessary to dissipate tho
mists, then dissipate them. If it is necessary
to strike from the shoulder, to make a clear-cut
announcement of the policy of a newspaper,
then the striking should be done.
Tho Record, does not concern itself with
personalities nor partisan politics. The Record
strikes boldly for principle and hews to the lino.
The Record is not a political organ. It is a
newspaper devoted to the fiag and country and
tho interests of all the people, tho well being
of the masses and tho uplift of society.
This is not an hour for personalities. It is
not a time for narrow politics or petty politi
cians. Principles are uppermost. They como
firBt and last.
The Record Is for prohibition ten-mile zono
prohibition if it can not get twenty-mile pro
hibition. It is for twenty-mile prohibition if It
can not get fifty-mile prohibition. It is for a
hundred-mile prohibition If It can not get five
hundred-mile prohibition. It is for'five hundred
mile prohibition if it can not get one thousand
mile prohibition. Its attitude is plain, or should
be, and its pol'cy is clear-cut and definite. It
believes tho hour has come for state-wide pro
hibition by statute and it Is for state-wide pro
hibition by statute, and it is for nation-wide
prohibition without any If or ands.
The Record believes that the clock lias struck
and the hour is here and there can be no mis
understanding its motives nor impugning its sin
cerity of purpose. This declaration is made for
the benefit of all concerned. This is the policy
of The Record and it will continue the policy
of The Record regardless of individuals or pol
itics. Eleven state legislatures, voting on tho na-
tioual prohibitory amendment, have declared
their wish to have the sign of "saloon uber
alles" taken off American politics. Every pat
riotic citizen who wants to make his vote ef
fective in the coming campaign should see to
it that It is not cast for any candidate for any
influential office who is not openly in-favor of
making this nation dry in fact as it is today in
sentiment, no matter 'what his party label may
be. The war can not be made an issue in this
campaign to camouflage real enemies of tho
nation.
The man who Invented benevolent assimila
tion 'as descriptive of a big nation's process of
swallowing up a little nation must feel abashed
at its inadequacy when confronted with the
kaiser's methods of extracting peace from west
ern Russian provinces.
,
If the conscript army that the bolshevikl
leaders in Russia propose tq put in the field Is
to be composed entirely of capitalists, it Is not
likely that Hindenburg will have to detach very
many divisions from the western front to at
tend to it.
OMAHA ELECTS REFORM TICKET
An Omaha dispatch, dated May 8, says: "Jameg
C. Dahlman, mayor of Omaha for the past four
teen years, and the entire city commission with
tho exception of Dan B. Butler, were swept out
of office In yesterday's election. The successful
candidates were: Dan B. Butler, Ed. P. Smith,
Thomas Falconer, Roy N. Towl, W. G. Ure, Dean
Ringer, Harry B. Zimman.
"The following unsuccessful candidates finished
in the order named: Thomas P. Reynolds, J. B.
Hummel, J. C. Dahlman, George Parks, Henry
F. Wulf, C. H. Withnell and W. S. Jardine.
"The new commission, which will be headed by
Ed. P. Smith ag mayor, is committed to public
service reform measures, the strict enforcement
of the state prohibitory law, and a general cleans
ing up of vice conditions;"
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