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The Commoner
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Vol. is, no. 6
War Prohibition
Mr. Bryan passed through San Francisco Juno
6, stopping long enough to address tho Ad
club at luncheon. His attontion was called to
a dispatch from Washington netting forth Mr.
IIoovor'H objection to tho Randall prohibition
amendment. When asked his opinion on tho
subject ho roplicd:
"Yes, I havo road Mr. Hoover's objection as
itatcd in tho morning papers, but ho does not
moot tho real issue. Tho objection which he
offors is tho samo as that which he mado last
fall, namely, that tho prohibition of the manu
facture of beer would result in greater con
sumption of whiskey and other strong drinks.
tlo then estimated the quantity of whiskey on
hand as sufficient for two years at tho present
rato of consumption.
"Mr. Hoover's objection can bo very easily
mot by a bill prohibiting tho sale of all intox
icating liquors during tho war, as well as their
manufacture. Thcro is no reason to beliovo that
ho would ontbr an objection to such a bill be
cauBO no ono knows better than he docs tho in
jurious offoct. of alcohol in tho lessoning of effl-
cioncy among thoso who uso-it. War prohibi
tion should include both mauufacturo and sale
during tho war. Such a law would not only savo
for food tho breadstufTs now worse than wasted
in tho manufacture of intoxicants, but it would
prevent tho impairment of productive power in
oS'thnZm; ,." '?, mCkery t0 put our 80ldler
on tho battlo lino if we aro not prepared to feed
them while they fight, and furnish them with
tho ammunition they need.
"Whilo I havo no doubt that wo skill win
t iMT'n11 ,WUl(l b0 folly t0 8hut our wes o
tho fact that wo nro fighting the most militant
naton of which history tells. WeTan n t
Joul to throw away any chances or to permit
SSCSSE.01 0,,r fleht,nE stth --
"Tho manufacture of intoxicants is not only a
drain upon our food supply, but it is a drain
linrTni Ur 8Upply ol coa1' anrt can not
jparo fuel any inoro than wo can breadsiuffs
pur case is still stronger. Tho manufactuJo of
Intoxicants; not only decreases tho quantity of
grain available for food and of coal availablo
for Industry, and for the heating of ou? wnoo?
rooms, but tho manufacturers of alcoholic Hnuor
produco a drink which decreases the emciencj
of those who produco food and fuel. The linuor
business, therefore, burns the candle at both
"I shall not assume that Mr. Hoover would
attempt to decide for tho people whether war
prohibition is vise. Everybody lnoor0than
anybody and. no person would bo presumption?
enough to try to substitute his opinion for tlm
op nion of the people on this subject The voters
will doubtless communicate their views to tK
roprcsen atives in the senate and hoIand these
represontativos will thus bo able to reflect the
wishes of tho peoplo nioro accurately than anv
ono individual could. ny
"Tho Randall amendment does not nrnn
war prohibition in its strongest form a
arato bill embodying prohibition of TottianT
facturo and salo during the war would bettE
ropresont what seems to be the Krowimr !S
mont throughout tho nation?" BrowinS aenti-
WHEN FRIENDS DISAGREE
On another page will bo found an extract from
tho Sacramento Beo, containing tho comments
made on Mr. Bryan's lecture there, by Mr. Chas.
K. McClatchy, owner and editor of the paper.
It is reproduced as an illustration of the
kindly spirit in which an honest man can deal
with a friend from whom he differs radically in
opinion.
Mr. McClatchy is a big, brave, brainy man,
who has been a tower of strength to the pro
gressive movement in the west. He is opposed
to prohibition and he calls his cohorts to battlo
as courageously as if his cause were as righteous
as he thinks it is. But, stubbornly as he con
tests each 'inch of the ground, he fights honor
ably and in the open. He concedes honesty to
adversaries and deserves respectful considerar
tion from them.
And what consolation there is in tho thought
that this liquor issue will soon be eliminated!
Within a year the amendment will be ratified;
within two years there will not be a distillery,
a brewery or a saloon under the American flag
and then, after a few years more, the staunch
est opponents of the amendment will wonderf
how the nation could have tolerated fbr so long
a time such an institution as the saloonthe
fruitful cause of corruption in politics, the fes
tering center of crime in tho community, and a
menace to every home within the radius of its
poisonous influence.
Hands will soon be "clasped across the
bloody chasm." W. J. BRYAN.
POLITICAL candidates
- Progressive democrats should be on the alert
to spot the wolves in sheep's clothing among
the candidates for office this year. At a time
when the people are intent upon winning the
war and not as critically-inclined about candi
dates, the chances for tho liquor and corpora
tion interests putting through their men is
greatest. Watch the fellow who is shouting
loudest about his patriotism and note who
his political intimates are, who are the men
to whom he owes his presence in tho race and
who are backing him strongest. It's worth
many -millions every month to the brewers to
postpone putting prohibition in the national
constitution, and they will have their candidates
in every primary.
THE BEST FIGHTING MACHINE
Tin American soldier it proving himself to
bo the world's best fighting mcchine. And why
not? More has been put into the average
American than was ever put into any other aver
age man, and more of hope and opportunity have
been placed before him. The American soldi
Is above the average he is the average of those
selected as most fit for service. He would I dis
appoint expectations if he were not the best sol
dier the world has ever known. He can be
trusted to make good.
THE TIDE RISES
Tho prohibition tide is rising. Twelve statoa
have ra ifted-24 more are necessary V But as
20 of the dry states have not vet notZ i
onlv impel font. , .-. c yet acted, wo
i are auite certain n iTfriJ? ,? ' wo
m !, , '"I";.. ""'" uu lulls six. in fact
1 IVwi r uul "iy I1V0 as certain to vote NO
m and they can not control ,, ...i . . 1NU
havo voted wet. No state win want tT ,
in history on tho immoral side of m ata.?d
5 F to of the generat onhi8'M
m umo io got on tho Roll of Honor
Sinco Nebraska lias been leading in
ita contributions to war savin!? pe caP
bonds and war activity there nto PS' llberty
in tho eastern papers to tRiV bW66'1"8
doesn't seem to be half awake tJ ft?,"10 Yest
the nation is at war. There 1 1 1 h? faCt that
flap anymore speeches ppft New Yrk
but -we havo a clearly definad aZ , YL orlc
not aid so effectively la ttoiinSt,?! Cy do
m tho Nebraska plan. inning, ot the-war
LOANS TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS
On another page will be found a communica
tion from Mr John F. Murray of SS y
w.,SUgfStIn? that tne government loan
postal savings funds to school districts S
suggestion is a good one, the argument in
vor of it aro unanswerable.
The Dallas News man celebrated thanksiriv
ing day five months In advance. He saw- "One
have made up Who a cha of tha?TeIt
languago in schools" uh?lA mnU?, Germau
the brewers always rnn l i countles where
tion majoriUes m have To snd ?h'!"Pr0hibi'
to a deaf and dumb school Vi heir peoDle
ofHhe sign ianwo If wL.80
cate hereafter. - coinmuni-
i'
' t-'fn.;
Guaranty of National
Bank Deposits
The following statement was iBsued from tho
office of the comptroller of the currency at
Washington, under date of June 6:
"The- comptroller of the currency is today
sending out a circular letter to all national
banks inviting their views on a measure before
the United, States senate providing for the guar
antee of all deposits in national banks of $5,000
and ufider, upon which interest not in excess of
three per cent per annum is paid; and leaving It
optional with the national banks as to whether
they shall accept the benefits of the guaranty
or not.
"The comptroller shows, for the first time in
more than thirty-seven years, that five months
and five days of the calendar year have elapsed
without recording the. failureof a single national
bank; while 123 applications have been received
for charters for new national banks, since Jan
uary 1, 1918. In the same period, thirteen
banking institutions under state -supervision in
ten states have closed.
"The recommendation for federal guarantee
of deposits is made pursuant to a statute which
makes it the duty of the comptroller of the
currency to recommend to congress any 'amend
ment to the laws relative to banking by which
the system may be improved and the security
of the holders of its notes and other creditors
may be increased.
" "The main arguments presented by the comp
troller in favor of the adoption of the guaranty
law are:
"First: That it would bring from its hiding
places many millions of dollars of hoarded
money in all parts of the country.
"Second: That such a guaranty law will afford
complete security to some sixteen million de
positors in the national banks, whose balances
amount to $5,000 or less.
"Third: That such a law would largely pre
vent in the future runs on national- banks, with
the disturbances and panics which they some
times precipitate.
"Fourth: That the application of this law
would contribute more to the unification and
solidarity of the entire banking system than
anything else that could be done at this time.
The records show that in thepast five years
the amount of money which was tied nip the
greater part of it only temporarily and some
permanently by bank failures and suspensions
amounted to approximately 7& million dollars.
The comptroller mentions the case of one bank
which failed 27 years ago whose affairs were
so badly tangled that the final dividend in
omiation has not yet been paid.
The comptroller states that the plan which
he Is advocating for the guarantee of bank de
posits has the approval of the secretary of the
treasury, the chairmen of the banking and cur
rency committees of the senate and house of
representatives, and, including its ex-offlcio
members of a majority individually of the mem
tiers of the federal reserve board."
CHARLES WARREN PARIBANKS
The death of Charles Warren Fairbanks re
7ieilne,J the really bIS men or the nation.
Jr i sU fc was as vice-president that he was
St vn t0 tne neral public, his greatest
aTI es VT,Q Performed as. member of the
American-British joint commission which dealt
oL;T 1qusMons of boundaries, Alaska fisheries
and similar vexing and delicate points,
as a candidate for political honors he was
temperamentally unable to create the Intense
iS7f0P, enthusiasm which usually marks a
heated campaign, but his .qualities as a man and
Li extremely useful and able public official
mpm w aB one whoso name will always be
remembered gratefully. Wichita Beacon,
PRANCE FORBIDS ALCDHOMO DRINKS IN
THE WAR ZONE "
cret 2!,B dIspatch' dated Je 3; says: A de
autwSL S8Ue.a ysteray by the French army
5Si2? ateeorically forbidding the selling
zone ? vf?1 ?n ot alcaolic drinks in ;the war
imntahJ Uoni o tnU eder wfll-lie strictly
wo ni.i
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