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The Commoner
VOL. 18, N0 j
2.
Alabama for
Ratification
Alabama Ib tho only dry state in which the
woto have mado a light against ratification.
Thoro, tho oppooition was led by Senator Under
wood, tho loader of tho wot forces in tho United
StatoH senate, and he had tho actlvo assistance
of several b'g newspapers that used fo make
largo sunn out of tho liquor "ads."
Tho friends of ratification supported Kilby for
governor and the stato and legislative candidates
wero pledged to ratify tho federal prohibition
amendment. Tho primary was held on August 13
and l ulted in a sweeping victory for ratifica
tion. Tho advocates of tho amendment have 25
to 10 in the sonato and at least 70 out of the 10 G
mombcrs of tho houso. In addition they have
nominated their candidate, Kilby, forovernor,
nnd a dry for lieutenant-governor and for at
torney general.
Tho liquor intorosts mado their fight under
tho standard of stato rights, but they could not
deceivo tho voters. The victory in Alabama
makes ratification certain.. Every southern stato
will voto yes.
Rov. I) rooks Lawrence, tho superintendent of
tho Anti-saloon league of Alabama, did yeoman
servico and desorves a largo part of the credit
for tho success of the fight. Tho Commoner ex
tends it congratulations to Alabama and to Law
renco. W. J. BRYAN.
OLLIK JAMES
Ollio James is dead and grief overwhelms a
multitude of hearts, He was a l)ig man; so big
that ho did not hood a pedestal. Uc stood upon
tho ground and walked aradnj his friends.
Tho titles that ho won, congressman and
senator, wore becoming to him, out "Ollie"
brought him nearer and made him a companion.
Ho will bo missed missed in tho sonato
chamber where his voto and voice were always
at tho scyyico of his party missed upon the
stump wliero his powerful argument and elo
quence 'swayed his hearers missed by those who
loved him. Tho wife who shared his triumphs,
and ministered to him as his life ebbed out, has
tho heartfelt sympathy of his personal and polit
ical associates. Thoy share her sorrow.
W. J. BRYAN.
l'IGHT WON AT TUB PRIMARIES
Tho ratification fight has been won at tho
primarlos wo only need to hold what wo havo
already secured.
If the ninotoen dry states ratify there is no
sign of failure anywhere we only neod three
wot states to complete the twenty-two more
needed. Tho roturns from the primaries show
that wo havo won in Ohio, Missouri, Minnesota,
California, Vermont and Wyoming, with Florida,
Nevada and Illinois still to hear from.
KHWIS AHEAD
Caudidato McCormick, who received tho re
publican nomination for United States senator
from Jllinois, is running on tho fact that he
visltod the trenches some years ago, but Lewis
has tho best of it. Jim Ham not only brings back
later news but ho has thjo advantago of a narrow
escape his transport was torpedoed. A rescue
in a boat is worth two escapes on land.
. WITHOUT A ROLL CALL
Bono dry prohibition passed the senate WITH
OUT A ROLL CALL! It is not strange that
those that opposod it did not insist on going on
rocord. It would not look well a few years hence.
JULY 1, 1010
July 1, 1919, will stand out as ono of tho most
important dates in our nation's history it will
mark tho abolition of the saloon, While, accord
ing to the letter of the law, tho prohibition pro
vided for is to continue only during tho war and
the period covered by demobilization, the saloons
onco closed, will never reopen. Constitutional
prohibition will begin not later than March 1
1920 ono year after ratification by tho thirty
sixth stato. If demobilisation Is contemplated
beforo constitutional prohibition begins a dry
seaato and house will, without doubt, extend
statutory prohibition to cover tho intorim Hall
Juv 1, 1919. W. j. BRYAN.
00000
THE FOURTH LIBERTY LOAN
Tho campaign for the Fourth Liberty
Loan begins September 28 and closes
October 19. It will bo for a larger
amount than any of the preceding loans.
The American people, therefore, are
called upon to raise a larger sum of
money in a shorter length of time than
over before. There is need, therefore,
for prompt action prompt and efficient
work and prompt and liberal subscrip
tions. We have a great inspiration for a great
effort. The news from the battle front
insp'res every American heart, not only
wifh pride and patriotism but with a
great incentive to do his or her part.
There is no shirking, no shifting of the
individual burden, no selfishness by
American soldiers in France; there
should be none here. We are both sup
porting the same country and the same
cause our Army m one way, ourselves
in another. Theirs is the harder part,
but at least we can do our part as
promptly and loyally and efficiently as
they to theirs.
JAMES AT CHICAGO
The following interview with Mr. Brvan was
printed in the Springfield, Ills., State Register:
"When the death of Senator Ollle James was
mentioned, Mr. Bryan said feelingly, 'Yes, I have
just read the announcement. For Borne weeks tho
reports have been alarming, but I have been
hoping that he had strength enough to resist tho
attack and return to the senate where ho has
played so prominent a part for the past six years.
Ho was ono of the great men of our party and
wo shall miss his powerful aid in the campaign.
" 'To mo his death comes as a personal loss
For twenty-two years, we have been closely as
sociated in political work and I have had reason
to prizo his friendship, His is one of two faces
that stand, out before me when I think of the
Chicago convention of '9G, He towered above
tho delegates about him and his face was aglow
with 'enthusiasm. He was on the right of me, as
I stood upon the platform, Governor Hogg of
Texas, a man almost as large in stature as
Senator James was on myjeft. These two faces
I remember better than any other amid the
enthusiasm of that hour. Governor Hogg passed
away some years ago and now Senator James has
been called to his reward, both of them men hard
to replace in our party and the public life of our
nation.' "
Do you belong to that class of individuals who
are wishing that the war would be over quickty?
i he best way to put that wish Into action is to get
behind the Liberty Loan campaign, and subscribe
for Liberty Bonds to your very limit.
The Hotel Keepers association started out in
August to prevent war prohibition. No use; the
hotels might as well sell their bar fixtures and
open restaurants. Milk will prove more attrac
tive than high-balls.
Steadily, as the march to the grave, the saloon
is moving toward the end of its career. "Peace
to its ashes"? No, there won't be any ashes
it will keep on burning.
l
The kaiser's troops have become so accustomed
to walking backwards that they may not beTblo
to resume a forward march.
What a Fourth of July we will havo next year
-not a saloon under the American flag Ami
never afterwards. h' a
No man can serve two masters he must m
saloon. Skle thG h0m r n WtS
The kaiser promised his followers bread w'n,
sugar on it but he has given them a verf fll$
$52 per Capita
r
"Washington, D. 0., August 18. More actwi
money gold, silver and paper currency i,i
circulation at present than at any time in y
nation's history and there is a bigger share f
every man, woman and child. A Treasi!!
report today showed $5,559,000,000 in m?
culatlon $700,000,000 more than a Z
ago and $175,000,000 more than a month aeo
making an average of $52.44 for each persoT
These figures on tho stock of money bear Rttle
relation to the nation's actual wealth, or to ill
credit resources, sine these, pyramided on each
other, amount to many times the actual money
available." ;
The above dispatch is interesting. In 1896
we had in circulation $1,506,631,026, or $2110
per capita, and the Wall street financiers
said we had "enough" and did not need any
more.
The quantitative theory o money has been
established; relief from the depressing condi
tions of 1896 would have been impossible but
for an unexpected increase in the volume of
money after 1896. That increase brought better
times just as bimetallists said it would, and now
they ard talking about the restoration of bt
metallism so as to give the world a supply of basic
money sufficient to support the enlarged body
of credit money issued during the war. The
world moves; the wisdom of the democrats of
1896 is constantly receiving new vindications.
W. J. BRYAN.
13,000,000 MORE
The second registration shows more than
13,000,000, men between the ages of 18 and 21
and the ages of 31 and 45. While a larger per
centage of these will for various reasons be ex-'
empt than of those registered a year ago, there
will be enough fit for duty to strike terror to
the heart of the enemy. The kaiser will see that
the United States has entered the war in earnest
and that a victory for the allied arms is only
a question of time. Tho fact that we HAVE the
men may make it unnecessary to use them all.
Nearly 25,000,000 men between 18 and 45 and
such men! In peaceful arts or on the battlefield
they make a tremendous showing.
JoUn Barleycorn must be pretty groggy when
opponents of war prohibition don't askffor ami
PROHIBITION COMES NEARER
The war prohibition bill fixed May 1, 1919, as
the date for tho suspension of the manufacture of
beer, but now comes an executive order pro
hibiting the manufacture of beer after December
1, 1918. The order is issued to save coal and
foodstuffs, and applies to soft drinks made from
food grains as well as to beer. Thus does pro
hibition come nearer. Now that the manufacture
of beer is to stop December 1 instead of May 1,
why not shorten the time for bone-dry prohibi
tion from July 1 to February 1.
RUMBLINGS IN GERMANX
Daily defeat is wearing away the fighting spirit
of the German troops and stirring the spirit
of revolution amongNthe people at home. And
why not? The war party promised loot and
booty, and disappointment is as great as hopes
were high. ' The tide of battle has turned.
A QUESTION
The kaiser has made very bold claims as to
his partnership with God. He used to shout
"Onward with God." Query: Did God advance
with him? If so, Jehovah must be w'th the
Allies NOW, unless He is retreating with the
kaiser and God does not retreat.
This is a poor time to strike,- except to strika
for our altars and our fires.
The kaiser's "shock" regiments have beel
shocked all right.
YES, QUITE DIFFERENT
The Republicans members of the house way
and means committee say they will voto for the
new revenue bill but announce that, IF THEY
WERE DRAWING IT, "it would not have come
to the house in its present form."
That is just it. It would have been quite a
different bill. They say that they would have
RAISED tho TARIFF. That is. the milk in the
cocoanut. They would shift more of the burden
to the backs of the iioor. '
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