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The Commoner
WILLIAM J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
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VOL 18, NO. 8
Lincoln, Nebraska, August, 1918
Whole Number 712
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WAR PROHIBITION
Tlie senate has, by unanimous consent, agreed to the consideration of war prohibition immediately upon the convening
of congress, August 26.
The national amendment will be ratified before the 1st of April, 1919 this is as sure as any future event can be and
twelve months after ratification by the 36th state the nation will be dry. But we need war prohibition in the meantime.
The brewers are using something like one hundred million dollars worth of foodstuffs a year we can not spare a bushel of
grain. They are using some six million tons of coal we can not spare a ton of coal. They are sapping the strength of our
producers of food) fuel and munitions we need one hundred per cent men at home as well as upon the battlefield.
We are fighting the most militant power the world has known, and can not afford to allow men engaged in the wicked
business of selling alcoholic poison to delay victory by impairing the efficiency of 'those who worl; or fight.
We must win the war, and win it at the earliest possible moment. Nothing will contribute more to tljis end than the pro
hibition o,f the manufacture and sale, of intoxicating liquor. The soldiers are offering their lives the people are tendering
their money through taxation and through loans; why longer permit the waste of food; and fuel, ancVman power?
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A Fitting Conclusion
The overwhelming defeat visited on ex-Governor
Ferguson at the Texas primary was
enough to retire him to private life, but the
disclosures that followed the defeat give a fit
ting conclusion to his career. He became the
spokesman of the liquor interests of the state
and, for a time, succeeded in shielding them
from the wrath of the ,people. But .the end
came, us it always comes to the wrongdoer
in politics as surely -as elsewhere and he fell.
Then, one calamity followed another until he
was compelled to disclose the source of the mys
terious loan he made while governor. When
threatened wlth impeachment he defiantly re
fused to give the names of his creditors. But
when it was' charged that the money came from
the German propaganda fund, he had to reveal
CONTENTS
A FITTING CONCLUSION
LIQUOR DEALERS BUSY
VIVA, GOVERNOR PLEASANT
Trr, REPUBLICAN POLITICS
RESIDENT DENOUNCES MOB VIO
LENCE m WAR PROHIBITION
GETTING DOWN TO BRASS TACKS
NEBRASKA POLITICS
THE NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE
CAMPAIGN LIE NO. 1 NAILED
cjuttCMPAIGN LE NO. 2 NAILED
&UIP BUILDING RECORD vDISPROVES
WAm BEER PLEA '
i' ACTS SHOW GERMANY PLANNED
"... WAR
the names of those who advanced the $156,000,
and lo, it came, as many had suspected, from
the brewers.
Let the curtain fall on another political tra.
gedy. It should be a warning to the young man
in politics, In popular government the fear of
the people is the beginning of wisdom.
W. J. BRYAN.
GOVERNOR HOBBY'S STAR RISES
A few months ago Governor Hobby came into
the governorship of Texas by ihe resignation of
Governor Ferguson under threat of impeach
ment. He was confronted with a very difficult
situation, but he consulted wise advisers and
chose the straight and narrow way. He met the
issues manfully and lead the fight for prohibi
tion and woman suffrage. He put his state in
line with the moral forces of the nation.
He lids just been renominated by over 200,
000 majority, and his star still rises. It pays to
do right.
ON TO BERLIN
It is glorious news that comes from the front.
The allies are pushing forward the kaiser is
retreating. And, as was to be expected, the
-people are beginning to complain.
Victory is the bread with which the military
party must feed the German masses If it would
continue in control and this kind of food is all
gone. The people will find a kaiser's ambition
too costly they will some day rejoice that an
outside force broke the yoke of the ruling fam
ily and set a nation free.
WHISKEY TAX NOT NEEDED
A nation that can borrow of its citizens nine
billions in a year does not need' to dicker with
brewers, distillers or liquor dealers for money
to carry on the war.
Liquor Dealers Busy
On another page will be found a letter, repro
duced in the Christian Advocate, sent by Budde
& Westermann to those engaged in' the liquor
traffic. The letter Is published" to show tlfe
necessity of prompt action on the part of the
friends of war prohibition. If those engaged in,
the liquor business are to deluge congress with,
letters and telegrams, the friends of the bill,
should not be idle.
An OVERWHELMING majority of the people
of the United States want the manufacture and'
sale of intoxicating liquors stopped during the
war and a CONSIDERABLE majority desire that
prohibition should continue when the war fq,
over. Write and wire to your congressmen
and to your senators. Let them know your views,.
act at once. Tell them that you favor effective
war prohibition at the earliest possible date. T
W. J. BRYAN.".
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THE ROLL OF HONOR
List of States That Have Ratified Uhe
National Prohibition Constitu
tional Amendment
1 MISSISSIPPI, Jan. 8, 1918.
2 VIRGINIA, Jan. 11, 1918.
3 KENTUCKY, Jan. 14, 1918.
4SOUTH CAROLINA, Jan. 25, 1918
5 NORTH DAKOTA, Jan. 25, 1918.
6 MARYLAND, Feb. 13, 1918.
7 MONTANA, Feb. 19, 1918.
8 TEXAS, March 4, 1915.
9 DELAWARE, March 18, 1918.
10 SOUTH DAKOTA, March 20, 1918.
11 MASSACHUSETTS, April 2, 1918.
12 ARIZONA, May 24, 1918.
13 GEORGIA, June 2C, 1918.
14 LOUISIANA, August 8, 1918.
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