V
The Commoner
V0L 18, NO. 10
w
it.it'
The Cdinmoner
INSIJKI) MONTHLY
' IJJiftdrod' at tho PoHtofllco at Lincoln, Nebraska,
hn second -olaHH mattor.
William j. diiyan, ' uiiarliss w. nuYAN,
ISilltur and Proprietor A. oclatc Ed. and vubllHhor
IMIt. nitifl, and MiiHlnoHH Officio, Suite 207 Press BlUg.
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Villi) COMMONKIt, LINCOLN, MSB.
Tho popular definition of what constitutes a
non-essential during war times scorns to be what
tho other follow is junking or selling.
Tho Kaisor bombastically declares, every, once
In a while, that ho is nob afraid of tho Amer
icans. Well, tho Americans seem to have demon
strated that they rotain the samo lively opinion
of tho Kaisor,
Director Gonoral McAdoo is doing his best to
got railroad omploycs to treat tho general public
with duo courtesy. Tho director general seoms
to have tho idoa that while wo aro about it wo
might as well malco a clean swoop of autocracy.
Gas companies, oloctric light companies, ex
press companies and other public utilities aro
raising their rates everywhere Evidently tho
business theory that tho timo to get Is when tho
getting is good is growing in popularity.
Tho Kaiser's dream of ompiro is over. His
soldiers are retreating, and tho new chancellor,
speaking for tho legislative body, accepts tho
terms proposed by tho President. Abdication of
tho omperor arid his entire family would relievo
tho pooplo whom ho has so grossly wronged.
Howovor -much we way deprocato war it has
its compensations. It creates so much news
nowadays that tho general public is kept in com
ploto ignorance of scandals in high life in New
York city and whether or not the Chicago
council has sold another- part of the lake front
to iho corporations.
Judging from tho excited commonts of em
ploying capitalists,- 'a'borer has no business to
accept enough' mon6y. to permit him to own an
automobile in which q can ride back and forth
from hla work. They call men who are making
510 a day profiteering worko'rs. This is rather
strango doctrine coming from a class that has
always ins'stod that tho price of an article was
not determined by anything else than what
could be got for it.
The theory upon which somo senators stand
by tho President is that when ho wants what
they aro in favor of they should voto to enact
whatever legislation he desires. When ho wants
what thoy aro opposed to ho is being misled bv
popular clamor. It is a very good thing for this
country and tho allied cause that the boys in the
army do not claim tho right to refuse to allow
their commander-in-chief when he indicates
what ho desires.
Pooplo who patronize the restaurants remark
that tho proprietors were very prompt to follow
the suggestion of tho food administration that
they cut tho portions of meat, but that thoy
Beeined" to have forgotten that fairness requires
also that tho price bo cut. Tho reason given
for not doing A is that it costs just as much
to sorvo a Bmalf portion as a largo one. The man
who invented "overhead expense" sure was a
lineal descendant of the chap who first dis
covered interest.
Wet Democracy in
California
Below will be found a statement made by a
California democrat in regard to the effort ma'de
by wet democrats, aided by wet republicans, to
nominate a wet republican for governor on tho
domocratio ticket:
"(1) I was in San Benito County,- where l
ed to live, two weeks before the election. I
noimii nnmnmiiB nnilvfi wnll-ltnnwn democrats
there if they knew of any democrats in that
county who would voto for Mr. Itolph for the
democratic nomination and I was informed in
every caso that no democrats there were known
to be for Mr. Itolph. Out of the first 20 precincts
counted in San Benito County the democratic
vote on the governorship was as follows: Wool
wino, 183; Iieney, 211; Itolph, 512.
"Here is the unmistakable evidence that what
ever campaign was made for Mr. Rolph within
tho democratic party was made very quietly.
Tho leading democrats knew nothing of it. I
am so thoroughly familiar with political con
ditions in that county that I readily recognize
tho saloon and its influence and vote a3 the
oloment that could and did do the things neces
sary to produce the result above mentioned.
"(2) In a letter from a democratic ex-mem-bcr
of the California Legislature the writer in
formed me that shortly before the election ho
traveled through San Joaquin, Stanislaus,
Merced and Madera Counties and in his letter
Ib contained this sentence: Every bartender,
rounder, ex-bartender, etc., was flying Rolph's
banner.
- "(3) I was informed by a prominent resident
of Yolo County that tho river towns of that
county, which are known as wet strongholds,
gave heavy democratic majorities to Rolph. I
was informed by a prominent citizen in southern
California that two saloon men whom he met
casually told him they were republicans; that
thoy had registered as democrats to- vote for
Rolph in the primaries and that their organiza
tion throughout the stato had Instructions to
do what they had done.
"(4) A prominent Federal official in southern
California told me of one liquor precinct where,
as he recalled it, 183 republican electors
changed their registration . to democratic within
tho last couplo of days within which such
transfer could be made under the law, it being
generally uuderstood that they transferred to
democratic registration to vote for Rolph.
"(5. Tho publisher of one of tho daily news
papers in Stockton told me that in three pre
cincts in tho tenderloin in that city, Rolph's
democratic, as well as republican, vote was prac
tically unanimous.
"Further evidence might'be submitted on this
question but it seems to me that the above is
sufficient to indicate that I was not extravagant
in my statement that 'In the result the work
or the saloon is written large.' "
In eighteen months more the saloon will bo
Possible SUCh P0litical debaucliery will be ini-
GOVERNOH. OSBORNE'S CANDIDACY
Governor Osborne, democratic candidate for
Uio Mini5tCB 8e!lat0P from Wyomingreceived
PrUS w1l8eonn:rSement acv
"August 22, 1918. The Whitfi TTnnCrt -nr i
ington.- My Dear Gov nor OsboJne" 6T Sp"
nghtfui association here in wShinTton prompt
mo to send you a word of sincere congratulation
on your nomination by the democrats i o ' wl?
ming for the. Senate. I am foCwing your for"
tunes with the greatest interest ? CofdiaHv Zl
sincerely yours, WOODROW WILSON "
GoSno; OBbo??e.emnt f ' ,8SU
" thG COmi
two warring prh c pies of ,J 6Ct sM
Wilson idea? nvg
the reactionary ideal wfehna i ueai Tlia
pose as in vioiThmi0?1 to
not be allowed to c oak the wido flwal SbUld
tween the two. do (1Ifference be-
the man who seekre-election tn n VhlCed that
your hands this year does not SGnate at
It is necessary to cite only -some seven im
portant measures. having direct bearing
war to show the cleavage between Sen "LnJk
ren ana myseir.
between Benutor wt
TirnnnsPfl thin IPirlaloH -wui.nt
roi i 7". .!.. ve.".ft great in,w
"(1)- Eight Hour Law. President i
oposed this legislation in nvorf ! "ent . wsoa
trial calamity and to assort, nmi ,.-. ,l I:
.i ;., . . rr '"'"an a erM
in iiv,jio iiiuujiiiiuK Liin wnririTifTtv..,-
Warren voted against the Adaroaon EiKSot
Law. 1 would have voted for if 'suwiou
"(2) Special War Tax Law. tn m i.
ord.nary expense of preparedness. prPSS
Wilson with that cautious fores-gut wS ?l
characterized his splendid statesmanship 5?
lieved that the best way to prevent war ,.'
to prepare for war. He therefore asked for S
clal war tax legislation. Senator Warren VL
against this important national defence meaZ
I would have supported it. sure'
"(3) War Revenue Law. Late in the mom
of February, 1917, when it was inevitable Z
this country would be drawn into the war p
sident Wilson asked Congress to pass a
revenue measure to cover the increased appro
priations for the army and navy and the exten.
sion for fortifications. Senator Warren voted
against this important war measure. I would
have supported it.
"(4) Merchant Marine Bill. This measure
was planned to stimulate our ship-building and
would have gone a long way toward supplying
those "ships, ships, ships," which are the crying
need of the present. Senator Warren opposed
luu-uuimniutrauon oy opposing the bill. I would
have voted for it.
"(.5) Government Armor Plate Factory. -This
bill was one of the great preparedness mea
sures of the administration. Senator Warren
voted, against it. It would have upheld the
hands of the president
"(6) Prohibition. President Wilson asked
that the prohibition issue be submitted to the
people. Senator -Warren voted against that re
quest! Had I been in the Senate, I would Ime
voted for submission for two reasons; first, be
cause I believe that the people have the right
to express themselves on so vital an issue; and
second, because I believe that submission will
and should result in the adoption of prohibition,
which I heartily favor.
"(7) The Federal Reserve Act. This fur
nished the real foundation of the war program
of the president, and witjhout it, this nation
would have been, incapable of becoming the
financial backbone of the allies. Senator Warren
voted againBt the administration by voting
against the bill. Had I been your Senator, I
would have supported Mr. Wilson.
"Thus we see that on the great issues of
finance, preparedness and prohibition, Senator
Warren voted against the president at several
crucial moments.
"Furthermore, if the full fruits of that victory
to which wo all look are to be secured, we must
have men in the senate who will support Pre
sident Wilson in making his ideal the basis of
the world settlement, for treaties require the
approval of two-thirds of the Senate.
"Senator Warren, by his past record and his
associations, is opposed to President Wilson.
While President Wilson has fought before the
world for progressive and ever-widening demo
cracy. Senator Warren x has worked constantly
for reactionary men and principles.
"If for twenty-five years Senator Warren has
represented those very principles against which
President Wilson has so splendidly fought, will
the- people return him to tho Senate where he
would be in apposition to oppose the Wilson
ideal in the great settlement which may come
with in one or two years, and certainly within
the next Senate term?
"When we and our associates in arms win the
war (and win it we must), if the Wilson ideal
prevails in the settlement, the world will move
swiftly into a better and brighter day a jw
which will compensate for all those trial
through which free men aro now passing.
"It is because I, from the bottom of my bean.
believe in the Wilson ideal and all that ii meanj
to freedom, and because my opponent's wnoie
record shows him opposed to that ideal, thai j
now come before you, the people of Wyomw
and ask of you, by your votes, add me to w
none-too-large list of Senators who can
counted to go All the Way with Wilson.
(Signed) "JOHN E. OSBORNE.
The Kaiser hasn't furnished the press Ijjtejr
with a copy of his menu card, but it is a J'
safe bet that crow is getting to be a rather
quent visitor thereon.