Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (July 1, 1918)
f mp w tffjT' 'fc 91 "& M 4, The Commoner JULY, 1918 i Charles W. Bryan for Governor Announces Platform Against Profiteering Says Help President Win War by Making Patriotic Ap plication of Patriotism To the Voters of Nebraska: I have filed as a candidate for governor on the democratip ticket, subject to the action of . the primaries August 20. Six weeks ago I gave a statement to the press that was widely pub lished, analyzing conditions that were causing the unrest among the producers and consumers, and pointed out that the menace to keeping the people of the United States united and their minds concentrated on winning the war was the unpatriotic and conscienceless profiteering upon the sacrifices of the people. I suggested a state legislative program to supplement the work President Wilson is doing to destroy the para sites who were preying upon the open hearts and open pocketbooks of loyal Americans. Three weeks agd President Wilson startled the country by a public statement to the effect that profiteering is being practiced on a wide scale and that the income tax reports on file at Wash ington furnished the evidence as to the extent of the profiteering and fixed the guilt on the right parties. One week ago the federal trade commission published the result of its investi gations into the cost of- manufacture of lines of merchandise and supplies necessary to feed and clothe the people and the army and to furnish heat, power, ammunition and supplies for the public and for our soldiers at the front. The official report so startled the public as to what was going on in some business institutions as to immediately make the question of profit eering the paramount issue for the public to consider. In announcing six weeks ago a legislative program providing means as to how the state governmental machinery could be utilized to stop the various forms of profiteering by the elevators and flour mills, the manufacture of farm machinery, by factories, by wholesale and re tail merchants and insurance companies, and sug gesting legislation to'protect the laboring people in case of sickness or accident, I had hoped that candidates could be prevailed upon to file for the nomination for governor on one or both of the two great political party tickets of the state and lead a fight against the special interests that have been dominating the upper branch or our legislature and preventing our state government from carrying out the will of the People as expressed by thirty thousand majority n the liquor question. This is no time for Partisanship or partisan appeals. The people of "cmdbKa are united in a patriotic effort to win the war. They have , over-subscribed their Quota in men and money for all branches of the bervice, and the great object and aim of government officials at this time is to keep thenf lAni te.d by leeislative action and executive ISn irs? p as t0 make lt unnecessary for the IS urn asido from the sreai work which imi nre inff ln the Production of foodstuffs tn J manufacture of raw material in order artvn, Vent a sma11 grouP of m(m from taking Product6 f tUSe Wh trade In wIiat other mei dpJf w!?ve in tho thought expressed by Presi tint Wil?n when a candidate for the presidency shoinS i execuUve elected by the people ine Hm the lead in Promoting and prolect- ia in n B.en?ral welfare of the people. Nebraska and v c,?ltural atate' aud legislative remedies creUo hU e action should be directed to in teed! A? production of all of its foods and markpH, I? regulate their distribution .and benefit If ?at tho Prducer shall receive the tect ,o at he Produces and so as to pro inn unr,onaunierB against the high cost of liv the PrneSi pP?flteer wuo llas been denounced by can nil lna,ni1 tne federal trade commission c smeld himself from an outraged public by his demagogic attacks on men who appeal to the public to stand by President Wilson and protect the public from graft while the war is being fought to a successful conclusion. No one should have the audacity to defend the enormous profits taken from the public by the profiteers and described in per cent of profits by the federal trado commission as follows: "Some food dealers as high as 2183 per cent; flour miller, 437 per cent; meat packers, 234 per cent; soft coal operators, 504 per cent; re tail coal concerns, 80 per cent; department store, 331 per cent; retail clothing 1100 per cent; tool manufacturer, 788 per cent." The federal government should not be ex pected to appoint a million or more inspectors to go through the various states to stop local profiteering, and the people of Nebraska should not have to wait for relief from the many forms of profiteering until the federal govern ment can take up such matters. It is the duty of the state government and municipal-governments to do this work on behalf of citizens and to assist in every way possible the heroic efforts of President Wilson and his official associatps. The terms used by the federal trade commis--sion in referring to the war profiteer and his cunning methods to prevent the government from detecting his work and to shield himself against paying his just war tax on profits are as follows: "Enormous," "unusual," "exorbit ant," "unprecedented," "outrageous," "uncon scionable," "astounding," "inordinate and bare faced fraud." PLATFORM I recommend below some legislation and n" ecutive remedies for co-operating with the President in winning the war: LOYALTY TO PRESIDENT WILSON.' Unswerving support without question or equivocation of President Wilson's war plans until the war is brought to a successful and permanent close. Prompt and adequate punishmept for all dis loyalty or interference with the program of 'the commander-in-chief of tho army. Ample pro tection to all loyal citizens against unjust jirlti cisms or attacks and to keep the efforts of the people united in one great patriotic effort in support of President Wilson to win the war. A STATE FOOD COMMISSION TO PROTECT CONSUMERS. A state trade commission with power to in vestigate costs and profits, to report to the chief executive of the state and legislature and to work in harmony and supplement the splendid work the federal trade commission is doing to protect the people of the state against profit eering. Enforcement of state laws against monopolies in restraint of trade and enactment of new legis lation to prevent profiteering. WAR PROHIBITION AND RATIFICATION. Immediate war prohibition and ratification of "the national prohibition constitutional amend ment, and equal suffrage state and national. The women and children in Nebraska are mak ing a sacrifice in the use of grain and other foodstuffs, and no true patriot will support the efforts to defend the liquor men in Illinois, Mis souri and other states in th.eir use of Nebraska grain and foodstuffs for the manufacture of booze. State fire and hail insurance. These would be self-supporting and save the people several million dollars yearly. OLD AGE PENSIONS FOR WAGE WORKERS. State insurance against sickness and injury for all wage-earners and a plan of old age pen sions for dependents. It is to the Interest and tho welfare of tho state that our wago-earnora bo given tho same care and protection that . other governments are giving. PROTECT FABMERS AGAINST PROFITEERS. State ownership and control of a sufficient number of terminal elevators and encourage- ment and protection to co-operative-owned clc-' vators so as to protect the grain-growers of Ne braska in tho grading, shipping and marketing of their products. Bonded gra'n and produce Inspector to pro tect grain-growers in marketing and grading their grain and produce the same as other coun tries have provided. Bonded livestock commission to protect the livestock producers and feeders In marketing livestock and in buying feeders and stockers, to give tho livestock Interests in Nebraska the pro tection other countries are giving. PUBLIC MARKETS. V Legislation authorizing all towns and cities to establish public markets and public slaughter houses to bring the producer and consumer to gether to prevent monopoly and to keep down tho high cost of living. MUNICIPAL COAL YARDS. Legislation authorizing all cities and towns and county commissioners to establish municipal coal yards and food markets for the public when necessary to protect the people against un scrupulous profiteers. WATER POWER AND GOVERNMENT OWN ERSHIP. Development of the water power of the siafe by a governmental development or adequate governmental control in order to secure cheap power for the factories and farms and to sup ply heat and light in the home, which will con serve coal and transportation of same. Government ownership of public utilities and municipal ownership of local public utilities when the federal government's financial plans for conducting the war will permit. ' NEBRASKA SOLDIERS. Nebraska soldiers represent the finest man hood of the state; they are making the supremo sacrifice that our democratic Nebraska insti tutions shall be preserved. Those remaining at home should make every provision for the welfare, comfort and support of onr boys who are fighting the nation's battle. A wise pro vision has been made to enable the soldiers to vote, and it is the duty of parents, relatives and friends of our boys In the army to keep them advised as to the issues and efforts being made to support them in their home states so they will not overlook their patriotic duty of voting with other citizens of the state to support in every way possible the efforts of the commander-in-chief to- win the war. A BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. The conduct of the state govemment on a business basis so as to cut out unnecessary ap propriations, reduce taxes, abolish unnecessary boards and commissions and create only such new governmental machinery as is needed to protect the producers and consumers of the state against the avarice of the unconscionable profiteer. The duty of the chief executive of the state is to initiate and lead in all movements for the ; triotic, economic and social welfare of tho state, and he should givc careful consideration to all complaints and suggestions by tlfepeople for the remedy of governmental abuses. ASSIST THE PRESIDENT. This program will supplement and assist Pres ident Wilson to carry the war to a successful conclusion. If elected governor I will appoint no profiteer to an office that could be used to his financial gain, and the door to the govern or's office will be kept openC In advo--cating these measures I realize that they will not please the profiteer. Patriotism has been described as "love of one's country put into action." I appeal to the .people of Nebraska to make a practical applica tion of their patriotism by helping the President make the world safe for democracy and protect democracy at home by curbing the unconscion able greed of the parasites who are fattening their incomes out of the sacrifices of the people. CHARLES W. BRYAN. if A-lW 1 Tfl i,i i SLC'Zj,
