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The Commoner
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SEPTEMBER, 1018
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Governor Pleasant's
Message
Governor Pleasant of Louisiana took tho lcacl,
in bringing about the ratification of the national
nrohibition amendment by tho legislature of his
state In this connection, his work stamps him
as a ieader of the type needed, in every American
commonwealth. In these days of progress, when
all the world is looking for leadership and for
ward looking men, there is no room for the slow
going, interest-serving office-holder of the old
school. Governor Ploasant's message, which
called the legislature of his state in special ses
sion, dealt especially with the liquor question,
and a reading of this portion of his message will
disclose the reason for the splendid 'results it
brought about in Louisiana. The portion of his
message referred to follows:
"Gentlemen of the General Assembly of the
State of Louisiana: This week four years ago
Germany began her assault upon the liberties
of tho world.- Her euchroachments extended to
Mh renublic. We resorted to every honorable
i . , ,... n : i
means to avoia war, ut uurmuii uksiubhiuuh,
hostilities, insults and criminality forced us to
take up arms in defense of our dignity and the
property and the lives of our citizens. Once in
the great conflict the national government re
solved that nothing should remain undone to ac
complish a certain and overwhelming victory.
The President, the cabinet, and the congress of
the United States quickly concluded that one of
the wisest and best laws that should be adopted
in order that the arm and brain of both soldier
and civilian might be developed to their highest
state of efficiency was tho prohibition by .the
Nation of the traffic in intoxicating liquors. The
great majority of the people of this couutry are
in accord with this view, and eventually prohibi
tion throughout the nation is a certainty. I
trust that Louisiana will not fail or further falter
in her affirmative approval of this great move
ment. "During the recent ' regular "session .'of the
general assembly tire7 house of representatives
favored the ratification of the national prohibi
tion amendment by a vote of seventy to forty
four. "The senate did not positively vote against
ratification, but merely failed to approve the
amendment by a tie vote o twenty yeas to twen
ty nays. One seat in the senate was vacant on
account of the resignation of the senator from
the twenty-seventh senatorial district. This
district Is known to be in favor of prohibition
in any and every form.
"The conditions being as above recited, I was
unwilling that Louisiana should be recorded in
the history of the nation differently from what
would have been her expressed sentiment, if a
full senate had Tseen present to vote on ratifi
cation. "1 have, therefore, called you. in extra session
principally for the purpose of further consider
ing this great moral and economic question. The
People of the various states, and of the United
States, have expressly said in the federal con
stitution that you must decide whether Louisiana
is for or against this, or any other federal
amendment submitted to you by the congress.
"A referendum, therefore, is out of order until
the people again speak and change from a re
presentative to a referendum policy.
"I have believed, and still believe, that Louis
iaua is not ready for mere state-wide prohibition
jor the reason that the percentage of her popula
tion opposed to prohibition is too great for the
proper enforcement of a state law to that effect,
successful state-wide prohibition can be ultim
ately accomplished only through the operation
oi local option until a sufficiently large percent-
hfim the parlshes anl population adopt pro
mottion and thus insure the enforcement of a
aw embracing the whole state. This has been
uemonstrated by the experience of the prohibi
tion states of the Union.
pJnIn?of?r as naUon-wide prohibition is con
nnii i e Unlted States is ripe for such a
i oucy More than eighty percent of the territory
J conunental United States is already dry, and
auout seventy percent of the nation's population
linRir y terrItry. She is, therefore, in a
i osiuon to secure the approximate enforcement
oi Prohibition laws. The anti-prohibitiori popula
tion and territory of Louisiana raav bn fc-iv
large when compared with tho rest of the state,
but'thoy aro qulto small when matched with tho
rest or tho United States.
"I urge you to ratify the national prohibition
amendment for tho good of humanity. It will
make us stronger as individuals, greater as a
people, and mightier as a nation.
"Dry territory in- this state should also bo
protected from invasion by the liquor dealers."
IS UIALHTAMjISM coming?
The following extract is taken from a news
letter in the Chicago Herald:
"Beyond the nearby questions of a loan to
China, of the creation of a formidable discount
institution, of a corporation to finance public
utilities companies, is the, world-wide problem
of establish'ng an international monetary systom,
or at lfast a plan to which the allies and neutral
countries may subscribe.
"The treasuries of the United Slates and of
Great Britain have had this matter under advise
ment for some time. Mr. 'McAdoo has conferred
with American and British bankers from time to
time.
"Once tho fourth loan is out of the way and
the nearer questions mentioned above disposed
of, the Secretary is likely to address himself in
a practical way- to the biggest problem.
"If the proposition is worked out along tho
lino in consideration gold and silver will be put
upon a ratio of coinage, together forming the
basis upon which tho paper money of the United
States and of Ujc allied and neutral countries
would be issued. Bimetallism, in other words,
would be restored in the money standard of the
nations.
"The scarcity of gold, which forms the basis
of currency coinage in theUnited States and Great
Britain, is advanced as an impolling argument
for establishing a bimonctary system.
"Mr. Lloyd George and Mr. Balfour believe
that bimetallism must be established to maintain
the equilibrium of international finance, al
though both frankly acknowledge that America
with her gold store has less need of the plan than
other countries.
"The British statesmen are urging the im
mediate considerat'on . by this country, Great
Britain, France the-allies- and the neutral
nations of an international bimonctary system to
be. in being indefinitely.
"Coloratlo, Nevada, Utah and Arizona senators
and representatives are working hard to bring
about a realization of the project."
CONSCRIPTION OF LABOR
The administration attitude toward conscription
of labor was outlined at an Association of Com
merce luncheon, at Chicago, by Louis F. Post,
assistant secretary of labor.
"The time may come," ho said, "when w.o will
have to conscript workers in the mines, forests
and factories, but in the name of democracy
these men shall not be conscripted until we have
first conscripted the places where they shall
work. This democracy will not stand for the
conscription of men to work for the profit of
other men. The conscripted man must work for
Uncle Sam and no one else.
"Let us not forget that there lias been pro
fiteering and labor troubles because large bodies
of labor men have been convinced they had been
made victims. But that time and condition have
passed. Most men feel that it will be a shame
for any man to come out of this war richer than
when the war began. There must be no pro
fiteering by rich or poor.
"The United States department of labor in
tends to stand behind the principles of the war
labor board, of which former Presideit. William
H. Taft and John F. Walsh are tho heads. These
principles are the right of workers to organize
trade unions; the right to bargain collectively;
retention of union shop or open shop as it was
before the war; basic eight hour day, and equal
pay for equal work when women are employed."
The war correspondents say that both of the
greaU:ontendiug armies carry a large number of
weather experts with them in order that intel
ligent direction may be given to assaults with gas.
The United States government meteorological
bureau ought to keep an eye on these gents so
that it may get some for its own use some time.
If one were to judge by outward seeming, the
candidate who can damn the kaiser most flu-
'ently and wrap the flag around himself most
securely imagines that these abilities entitle him
to the moBt votes.
WilsonOrdersStrikers
to Work or Fight
An Associated Proas dispatch, under Washing
ton dato of Soptembcr 13, says: Striking machin
ists and other war plant workmen .at Bridge
port, Conn., were informed today in a letter ad
dressed directly to them by President Wilson
that they must return to tholr work and abide
by the decision of the war labor board or be
barred for a year from all employment over
which the government exercises control and lose
all claims for draft exemption on occupational
grounds.
At the same time tho President announced
that tho plant and bua'ncss of tho Smith h
Wesson Company of Springfield, Mass., the 'Aral
employer to "flaunt" tho rules of tho war labor
board, had been commandeered by ttio War De
partment for the period of tho war.
President Wilson's lettor, addressed to tho
Bridgeport district lodge of tho International
Association of Machinists, "and other striking
workmen of Bridgeport, Conn.," follows:
"Gentlomcn: I am in rcco'pt of your resolu
tion of September 0, announcing that you liavo
begun a strike against your employers in Bridge
port, Conn. You are members of the Bridgeport
branches of tho International Union of Machin
ists. As sucli and with the approval of tho
national officers of your union you signod an
agreement to submit the questions as to the
terms of your employment to tho nat'onal war
labor board and to abide tho board's award.
"The members of tho board were not able lo
reach a unanimous conclusion on all the issues
presented, and, as provided in its constitution,
the questions upon which they did not agree
were carried before an abilrator, the unanimous
choice of tho members of tho board.
"The arbitrator thus chosen has made an
award which more than 00 per cent of tho work
ers affOctod accopt. You who constitute leas than
10 per cent refuse to abide by tho award,-although
you arc the best paid of the whole body
of workers affected and aro, thereforo, least en
titled to press a further increase of wages be
cause of tho high cost of l?vlng.
"But whatever the merits of the iosuo, it Is
closed by the award. Your strike against It Is
a breach of faith calculated to reflect on tho
sincerity of national organized labor In pro
claiming its acceptance of the principle and
machinery of the National War Labor Board.
"If such disregard of the solemn adjudication
of a tribunal to which both parties submitted
their claims be temporized with, agreements be
come mere scraps of paper. If errors creep into
awaTds, the proper remedy is submission to the
award with an application for rehearing to tho
tribunal. But to strike against the award is dis
loyalty and dishonor.
"The Smitii &. Wesson Corapauy of Spring
field, engaged in government work, has refused
to accept the mediation of the National War
Labor Board and has flaunted the board's rules
of decision approved by presidential proclama
tion. With my consent the War Department has
taken over the plant and business of the com
pany to secure continuity in production and (o
prevent industrial disturbance.
"It is of the highest importance to secure
compliance with reasonable rules and procedure
for the settlement of industrial disputes. Having
exercised a drastic remedy with recalcitrant em
ployers, It la my duty to use means equally well
adapted to the end with lawless and faithless
employed.
"Therefore, I desire that you return to work
and abide by the award. If you refuse each one
of you will be barred from employment In any
war industry In the community in which strike
occurs for a period of one year.
"During that time tlio United States employ
ment service will decline to obtain employment
for you In any war industry elsewhere In .the
United States, as well as under the War and
Navy departments, the shipping board, the rail
way administration and all government agencies,
and the draft board will be instructed to reject
any claim of exemption based on your alleged
; usefulness on war production. Sincerely y'purc,
"WOQDROW WFSpN''
' The safest investment in the world fs a LIbertr
Bond. For a patriotic American, Liberty Bond
arethe best inevstraent in the world. x
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