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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 1918)
?W,rl?fw JK '"wpv-T.r vw"r The Commoner 'AUGUST, 191'S " WtmsM (joristitutidri and the laws by giving 6th wealth, our Iatibr "arid1 dur energy to one endr We'feel constrained in the discharge of this trireme duty to call the attention of the" people td'ce'rtain facta or record. ' y ' ,''.'' "When the" resolution was introduced in con gress authorizing the President to arm our mer chant ships to defend American lives, American property and the American flag against German piracy, it was a republican senator from Ne braska who led the fight for its adoption. Again, when Germany's brutal and lawless, aggressions reached the stage of war,, and resolutions were introduced in congress recognizing and declaring a state of war to exist, it was the democrats in congress from Nebraska who led the fight for America, and it was the republicans from Ne braska who unanimously opposed it. The dem ocracy of Nebraska proudly and confidently ac cepts the issue thus joined. It commends the democratic delegation for its uncompromising support of these measures and it condemns the republican delegation for its solid opp6sition. We call on the liberty loving, justice loving and decency) loving electorate of our great common wealth to decide the issue thus joined, in the fullest confidence that their verdict wilL be one of which Nebraska forever after may, be proud and not forever ashamed, , ,. WE SHALL WIN WITH WILSON! "To the boys in the trenches and camp's and at sea who are offering their lives in their country's cause we send loving greetings. While 'we re main safely at home thGy are fighting' our bat tles. They are suffering' untold hardships and making the greatest sacrifices it is" possible for men to make. t Their cause shall be 'ever our cause, and in pledging bur support 'to their commander-in-chief, we 'pledge it alike' t6 'them. And tfucb a commandeV-in-chiefU Never "in his tory has 'here been a time "when 'the' straining eyes arid throbbing hopes' of civilized mankind turned to" one man as they turn todayto 'Wood row Wilson! Serene, strong, patient1,' firm. He towers above the statesmanship of the world. In his wiBdom, in his devdtfoh, in his sUpe'rb' moral courage, in his fervor for- democracy 'and human rights he1 stands' matchless and tliorottgh all time, all aged sliall 'call him blessed' " Tb'his support to the end of his great task, we pledge our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor. We will win with Wilson. "We commend the record of our democratic state administration and ate proud of" it.' it,has kept its promises and pledges with scrupulous fidelity. It has been clean, courageous and splendidly patriotic. It has enforced the laws. It has been efficient, businesslike andstrorig in building1 for Nebrrislca's prosperity and credit at home and abroad. ' '' 'We, favor thevpropbsed calling of a constitu tional convention, equal political rights for wo men and Jegislative action consistent with the people's, will on the proposed prohibitory amendment to the federal constitution," .. i '"i A WAR PROHIBITION PETITION Sent from Colfax, California. ' The undersigned citizens of Colfax, California, each and severally request your honorable body to enact a bill providing for immediate prohi bition of the beverage liquor traffic as a war measure. We desire to set forth and emphasize as un fair and undemocratic, the continuance in this nation ,of the beverage "liquor traffic as-a gov ernmental policy, or at .all, whereby the young men who withstand the temptation, of this pol icy and attain efficiency for war service are hailed. to the trenches for the supreme sacri fice, while those made unfit by it and kindred vice are permitted to remain' at home rind en joy the blessings and comforts of the valor and blood of 'their warring brothers:" ' " - Such course is offering a sweepstakes prize for inefficiency. .. We desire t0 be specific" and state that we know of instances where the fit boys have been drafted to take the place of those who, but for the beverage- liquor traffic, would have been found 'fit' for setvibe.1 Further, we desire to state that the kaiser's greatest ally in. this- nation, the beverage liquor irafficj actually ndurdered a fine yoUng'taian in this 'town, jusfipriorv to''his examination 'for the tin This is 'nly 'one -case of many thousand. Without question war-time prohibition -would Place ithe natf-onvdn the-'best possible' basis' for SUCCeSSfHl .' mart a -ra ta-rCSr; !hAc.Vin. V.W iAht ntCirtn- . - "WB-UU nuoicu fcllU uj Mt.- - wy; ana. peaces - --: ' 'osj'i; . Government Control of Wire Service A Washington dispatch, dated July 23, says: Acting under authority recently conferred by congress, President Wilson today issued a proc lamation taking all telephone and telegraph lines under government, operation and control at midnight, Wednesday, July 31. Although congress empowered him to do. so, the President did not include wireless systems, because the navy already is in control of thorn, and he did not include ocean cables, presumably because contracts the cable companies have with foreign governments, on whoso shores they land, contain clauses respecting government operation which raised involved questions. The navy already is in practical control of the cables through its censorship. The President's proclamation placed admin istration of the wire systems with Postmaster General Burleson and provided that, until oth erwise decided the present management and em ployes will continue. Present financial ar rangements also will continue with the ap proval of the postmaster general. LEAST POSSIBLE INTERFERENCE. In a statement accorqpanyirig the proclama tion, Postmaster (General Burleson announced that his policy would be one of the least pos sible interference with the wire communication systems consistent with the interests and needs of the government. Press wire service, ",.ip onWi. ""uiii be interfered with only to improve its facilities, and farmers' telephones would be Interfered with only to facilitate their connection with the larger lines. No general policy has been decided upon, the postmaster general announced, and public notice will be given of any plans to 'change present arrancoments 1 Pledging -to the public his best efforts for. the most efficient service at-the least cost the post master general said- ho welcomed the sugges tions and co-operation of the men who have built up the systems. , Postmaster General Burleson personally will take charge of the 'administration of the wire communication and' will bd assisted by a com mittee of three composed of John L. Koons, first assistant postmaster general, in subjects of or ganization and administration; David J. LewiB, former congressman from Maryland, now 'a member of the tariff cdmmissioh, on subjects of Operation, and William H. Lamar, solicitor fdr the postofflce' department, on matters of finance. MAY ACT. THROUGH 'OWNERS. .' ' The President's-proclamation provides that the postmaster-general, if he so elects, may admin ister the lines through the general managers, boards of directors or receivers. It provides further that until the postmaster general directs qtherwise, the present managements shall con tinue. Regular dividends previously declared and interest on maturing obligations shall continue to be paid until the postmaster general directs otherwise; and subject to his approval, the com- panies may arrange renewal and extension of maturing obligations. The Postmaster General in his discretion, may hereafter relinquish, in whole or In part, to the owners apy telegraph or telephone sys tem over which he has assumed control. PRESIDENT'S PROCLAMATION. President Wilson's' proclamation, after quot ing the law by which congress authorized' him to take over the'telephone and telegraph lines, says: " ' ' "Whereas, It is deemed necessary for the na tional security and defense to supervise and to take possession and assume control of all tele graph and telephone systems and to operate the same in such manner as may be needful or. de sirable: . "Now, therefore, I, Woodrow Wilson, Presi dent of the United1 States, under and by virtue of the powers 'vested in me by the foregoing resolution and -by virtue -of all; other powers .thereto me enablirig, do hereby 'take possession and assume Control arid i supervision of eacb'a&d every telegraph, and telephone- isystemy and' ev ery Part .thereot.within -the jurisdiction of the United. States, including all equipment - thereof and appurtenances thereto whatseeynr jtndtU materials and supplies. it ow n tf-wii "It is hereby- directed that- the-rjwpervlalofl possession, control and operation At sHqhr teln graph and telephone system hereby liy mO'UBr dertaken shall bo oxerciscd by the flostmaptpr general, Elbert S. Burleson. Said postmaster general may perform the duties hereby and hereunder imposed upon him, so lpng and. tp such extent and in such manner as ho shall de termine, through the owners, managers, boards of directors, receivers, officers and employes of 'said telegraph and telephone systems'. . PROVI8ION FOR DIVIDEND, ",.., "Until and except so far as said postmaster general shall from timo- to time by general or special orders otherwise provide, the owners, managers, boards of directors, receivoro, officers, and employes of the various telegraph and tolfl phone systems shall contlnuo the oporation thereof in the usual and ordinary oourso -of business of said systems, in the" names oC their respective companies, associatidns, organizations, owners, or managers, as the case may be. ' t "Regular dividends thereto directed and, ma turing Interest upon bonds, debentures &nd other obligations may be paid in duo course; and such regular dividends and interest may con tinue to be paid until and unless tho said post master general shall from timo to time, other wise by general or special orders determine; and, subject to the approval of said postmaster general the various telegraph and telOphop. systems may determine upon and arrange fdr the renewal and extension of maturing obliga tions." BURLESON'S STATEMENT. Postmaster General Burleson made this stateihent: "I realize the immensity of tho task which has been intrusted to me by the President's or der. Tho telegraph and telephone service as conducted by those who have had the responsi bility under conditions heretofore existing, hau been remarkably successful, considering the un usual additions' to their task and the unprece dented difficulties in the way of its full perform ance which have arisen out of the war diffi culties which could be overcome only by a unity of administration, particularly a unification of the use of tho telephone and telegraph lines, which could not be realized without the did of the government, "Under the President's order conditions aro changed and greater opportunity afforded to ef fect improvemerits and economies, and a larger use by the peopjo of these facilities which have become an imperative need in their evcry-ddy life. "Whether advantage can be taken of theso opportunities to improve this service to the pub lic remains to bo disclosed by experience. L'ypry ' effort of the department will be directed to he accomplishment of this end. It will be the. pur pose of the postoffice department to broaden the use of the service at the least cost to tho people, keeping In mind that a high standard of efficiency must be maintained. I shall dvail myself of an early opportunity to corisuft with those Who have heretofore had the responsibil ity of directing the various wire systems, antf ' I doubt not, will be greatly benefited by sugges tions they may be kind enough to offer me. ' ' "The operation or control of what are com monly called farmers' telephone Hnds will be interfered with only for the purpose of facili tating their connections with the lofager lines. There will be no change affecting the prestf wires service, except to improve it wherever -possible. Of course, no general policy has been decided upon, and will not be until a most careful sur vey of the whole situation is had and-a grasp of conditions as they now exist secured. I shall freely avail mystelf of all advice and- sugges tions which those In a position to make same valuable may be good enoughHo offer mo, "Whenever it is necessary to inaugurate.-: any changes of policy, announcement of such .will' be made through the postmaster generaL," . . The government has told the professional baseball men of the country that they" ''must either work or fight, and the league owners' Who have been digging deep into their poclce"fV to keep the teams- running seem to feel rfcther cheerfuU about it. Following so closely bri the collapseot the 'pugilistic- industry, whose1 'chief stars:;neither work nor flht. it mav wir v'; cluded.-,tbat.jsportkas' also been adjdurrd tor iineKwarc . n i i., . n,-' -,)ji .I. t-i H ; r . fr ' "ffi 7 ifcM. -