nt-
The Commoner
VOL. 18, NO. 7
lir
The Commoner
IM.MUIOD MONTHLY
JSntorod rtt tlio I'OMtofllco at Lincoln, Nalmifclcu,
riK Hucoml-eluwB miiltor,
WILLIAM J. linVAN, fJITATlLTOS W. BRYAN,
IMHor and Proprli-tor AhhocIiUo Ed, and PubllHhcr
I'MIl, ItmH. and lltidliiPHH Ofllco, Stilto 207 ProHB J3ldff.
One Yrnr Sf.Of) Three KonlliN 2S
.Mix IIoiKIin ... ., .() filiiKlf Copy 10
In Clnbfc of Flvo or flampl" CoploH Froo.
u'f por year.. ,7." Foreign PohI, 2Gc Kxtra
MUIISOUII'TIONN ran tic Hont direct to Tlio Com
moner. They can a!.-) bo went through nownpaporn
which have advertised a clubbing rate, or through
local agentu, where hucIi ugontB havo boon ap
pnlnted. All romlttnneeH nhould bo nent by post
ollce money order, expreHu order, or by bank draft
on New York or Chicago, Do not end Individual
chock, Rlamp, or currency.
HHNijVAl,S The dale on your wrapper shown
Mm time to which your xtihhcrlptlnn In paid. TIiuh
January 11 mcanx that payment ban been received
to and Including the lnuo of January, 1918.
CIlANfJM OP AOOriKSS SubHcrlberH requesting
a change of addreH nniHt glvo old an well as now
nddresH.
ADVF.HTrsiXG Rateft will bo 'u.'nlHhod upon
ippllentlon.
AldreHH all communications to '
Til 13 COMMOiVKIt, MNCOUV, NWn.
Ohauncoy Dopow Hays that two-thirds of his
frlomlH havo died from ontlng too much. At
olghty-four Climincoy Is a living example of
what a banquet .Is really for.
The farm implomont manufacturers havo been
placed under fedoral llconsc. That ought to
provo moro satisfactory to tho farmers than the
Uconso (ho manufacturers formerly enjoyed.
Nebraska claims to havo an automobile for
ovory sovon inhabitants. Thla is about tho only
bit of ovidonco that has como to linjicl that tho
rloh aro getting pooror and tho poor getting
rlchor.
Tho rulers of Austria and Gormany recontly
mot and selected four kings, one oach for Poland,
Lithuania, Esthronia and Courland. All we
havo got to say is that thoy had botl'.er watch
out for thoso aceu from tho Amorican air squadron.
Ono of tho things that rather reconciles us
to tho fact that a stato of war exists is that it
has practically ended Uio pugilistic enterprise.
This counry is in no mood to make heroes of
inon who light only for coin.
. t
Judging by somo of, tho votes cast by some of
tho republican senators thoso gentlomon who
claim to bo so Valiantly standing by the presi
dent havo boon getting corns on their foot or at
least been changing legsi
Jamos Gordon Beunott loft a largo part of
his fortune to found a homo for retired news
paper men in Now York. Ono of the conditions
of. entranco is that a man shall havo worked ten
yours on a Now York newspaper. No ono has
ovor yet accomplished that foat, but Mr. Ben
nett ovidontly believed it could be done.
Tho legislature of Masaschusetts voted to
ratify the prohibition amendment. Both of her
senators, Lodge and Weeks, voled against sub
mitting it .to tho states. Thoro aro times whon
tho theory that this is a representative govern
ment shows signs of being largely a theory.
.The federal trado commission reports that tho
millors, despite tho fact that tho government
guaranteed them 25 cents a barrol profit, more
than thoy havo boon making for years, mado as
high as 50 and GO cents a barrol. Wo doubt it
this fact qualifies a millor vory highly for pass
ing on tho patriotism of his fellow-citizens.
It is significant that most of tho men who are
now talking of tho necosslty of at once adopt
ing tho policy of univorsal military training
,-vvoro also tho men who wero quito sure, before
wo got into tho war, that it was necessary then
By waiting until it is ascertained whether wo
attain ono of tho groat objects of this war
which is tho prevention of all future wars wo
would bo displaying most excellent wisdom
Patriotism and
Profiteering
6n another page will be found the platform
of Former Mayor Charles W. Bryan, who is a
candidate for the democratic gubernatorial nom
ination in tho Nebraska primaries to be held Au
gust 20.
Tho extent to which so-called big Tiuslness,
also a largo number of smaller business insti
tutions, have been taking advantage of war con
ditions to wring unreasonable and outrageous
profits from patriotic people has aroused the na
tion. The report of the federal trade commis
sion on profiteering has been, a revelation to
tho avorago man. The federal government is
making heroic efforts to curb the greed of the
parasites, but the federal government can not
give tho prompt and adequate help necessary In
the various cities and towns throughout the
country to stamp out tho unconscionable profit
eering without the co-operation of state and
municipal governments.
Charles W. Bryan has outlined in his platform
state legislation to give relief to the farmers,
laboring men and consumers from the disad
vatages at which they have been placed by
various business organizations who have failed
to keop within tho rules laid down by the fed
eral administration and havo been exacting un
reasonable profits. The recent bringing to light
in Nebraska of the unreasonable, disgraceful
and unpatriotic profits that the flour-milling and
elevator combine in this stato havo been exact
ing from a loyal, patriotic people has brought
the question of profiteering to the front as the
paramount issue to bo considered in connection
with the support of tho President and our arm
ies in tho fight to make the world safe for
democracy. A man can not be loyal to hjs
country in time of war while he has his hand
in tho pocket of a loyal A erican whoso sons
and relatives are making the supreme sacrifice
at the front.
Tho anti-profiteering program of Candidate
Bryan provides, first, for "unswerving support
without question or equiv cation of President
Wilson's war plans until tho wnr is brought to a
successful and permanent close."
Immediate war prohibition and ratification of
tho national prohibition constitutional amend
ment. For a stato trade commission similar to the
foleral trade commission, to investigate and re
port on tho cost of production and distribution
and" to assist in determining reasonable profits
Ownership or Btrict control of grain elevators!
bonded livestock commissioner, bonded grain
commissioner, state water power development,
municipal ownership of public untilities, state
fire and hall insurance at cost, sick benefits for
wage-earners, old age pensions for dependents
and other remedial legislation to meet the con
ditions which aro disturbing the people r dis
tracting their attention from the supreme d
of undivided and hearty support of the nation's
The Commoner expresses the hope that every
candidate on the democratic ticket wil express
his approval and will pledge his support in case
of election in carrying out the patriotic and anti
profiteor program outlined by Mr. Charles W
Bryan The democratic candidates who haTe
already expressed their approval of Mr Br van A
anti-profiteering platform are: Bryan a
seifato?" HWard' candl(latQ f United States
Carl E. siatt, candidate for liout -covernnr
SenrvVr8' Cail(Udate for a
Henry C. Borgo, candidate for treasurer.
J. S. Canady, candidate for treasurer
mental machinery shouM J TuMM TjZn
tut incrensoYn tcos'tV & 'h COn-
, A BULLION MEN IN FRANCE
President Wilson issued the following state
ment, July 2:
"I have today received the following letter
from the secretary of war, which seems to me
to .contain information which will be so satis
factory to the country that its publication will
be welcomed and will give additional zest to our
national celebration of the Fourth of July:
MR. BAKER'S LETTER.
" 'War Department,
" 'Washington, July 1, 1918.
" 'My Dear Mr. President:
" 'More than one million American soldiers
have sailed from the ports in this country to
participate in the war in France. In reporting
this fact' to you, I feel that you will be inter
ested in a few data showing the progress of our
overseas military effort.
" 'The first ship carrying military personnel
sailed May 8, 1917, having on board Base Hos
pital No. 4 and members of the Reserve Nurses'
corps.
" 'General Pershing and his staff sailed May
20, 1917. The embarkations in the months
from May, 1917, to and including June, 1918,
are as follows:
"'1917 May, 1,718; June, 12,261; July,
12,988; August, 18,323; September, 32,523;
October, 38,259; November, 23,016; December,
48,840.
"'1918 January, 46,776; February, 4S,027;
March, 83,811; April, 117,212; May, 244,345;
June, 276,372.
" 'Marines 14,644.
" 'Aggregating 1,019,115.
" 'The total number of troops returned from
abroad, lost at sea and casualty is 8,165, and
of these, by reason of superbly effective protec
tion which the navy has given our transport
system, only 291 have been lost at sea.
" 'The supplies ant: equipment in France for
all troops sent is, by our latest reports, ad
equate, and the output of our war industries
in this country is showing marked improvement
in practically all line's of necessary equipment
and supply.
" 'Respectfully yours,
" 'NEWTON D. BAKER.'
"To which I replied:
PRESIDENT'S REPLY.
" 'The White House,
" 'Washington, July 2, 1918.
'My Dear Mr. Secretary:
" 'Your letter of J ly 1 contains a very sig
nificant report of the forwarding of troops dur
Jr : the last year to the other side of tho water.
It '3 a record which I think must cause uni
versal satisfaction, because te heart of the
country is ui tionably in this war and the
people of the United States rejoice to see their
force pat faster and faster into the great strug
gle which is destined to redeem the world.
'Cordially and sincerely yours,
" 'WOODROW WILSON.
Hon. Newton Baker,
" 'Secretary of War.' "
a i
It may be too much to expect, but the fact
seems to be that the senate that found so much
lault with Secretary Baker a few months ago
owes him an embossed card of thanks in view
or the tremendous accomplishments in move
ment of troops across the Atlantic achieved by
his department.
,T We suspect that if all the jokes sprung on
von Hindenburg uecanse of his failure to Keep
the various Paris dinner dates he mado with
himself were placed end to end they would reach
irom his present headquarters to the French
capital.
It would be merely a bit of prudence on the
Part of the republican congressmen if they
would insist on carefully looking over that
proposition to draft for war service all who are
not performing a useful service, before voting
for it.
Just as wo go to press, a report is flashed over
tno wire that ono of Colonel Roosevelt's sons
iias mado tho supreme sacrifice for the cause of
uemocrncy. Tho nation's sympathy and appre
ciation will go out to the stricken parents i
uio loss of this bravo and patriotic young niniit
ana to the parents of tlio many other young men
juio are giving their lives that democracy may
L.. TA -M''.'Ul&.W3i.i