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The Commoner vi
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CONSTRUCTIVE PROGRAM
The termination of the war makes it necessary for the nation to
enter immediately upon a comprehensive constructive program that
will protect the people in their social, economic and political rights,
and promote the general welfare of the country. The following
propositions are submitted to the readers of The Commoner for their
consideration:
AN ENDURING PEACE
1. Universal peace built' upon a treaty so just that it will ,
forever prevent war.
DEMOBILIZATION OP ARMYVOCATIONAL TRAIN
INGLAND GRANTS AND EMPLOYMENT
CONTINUE INSURANCE
2. The American soldiers and sailors have proven them
selves to be the" best in the world; they are, on return to civil life,
entitled to the best treatment that a grateful nation can give.
Demobilization should be completed at the earliest possible moment
consistent with conditions and our obligations. Provision should be
made for vocational training for those permanently injured, for land
grants to those desiring to farm and. for the employment of others
on public works until they are absorbed by the industries of the
country. Soldiers' and sailors' insurance by the government at cost
should be continued after the war.
CANCELLATION OP UNNECESSARY WAR CONTRACTS
AND REDUCTION OF GOVERNMENT
EXPENSES TO PEACE BASIS
3. The expenses of the government should be reduced to a
peace basis as rapidly as possible and in the making of reductions
relief should be given first to those least able to bear the burden
of taxation. Special interests should not be permitted to shift the
burdens of the war upon the people by the restoration of high pro
tective tariffs. All unnecessary war contracts should be cancelled
immediately.
DEVELOPMENT OP PUBLIC HIGHWAYS AND ,WATER ' .
TRANSPORTATION RECLAMATION OP
ARID AND SWAMP LANDS '
4. A comprehensive system of highways should be planned
and built under the supervision and aid of the federal and state
governments. Provision should also be made for the development,
of water transportation, for the reclamation of arid lands and for
the draining of swamps.
GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP AND OPERATION OP
TELEGRAPH LINES -DUAL OWNERSHIP OP
RAILROADS AND TELEPHONE SYSTEMS
5. The issue between government ownership and private
monopoly demands immediate attention. In dealing with telegraph
lines, telephones and railroads the policy of the government should
conform to the principle that a private monopoly is indefensible
and intolerable. Whenever a monopoly is necessary, the benefits 'of
such monopoly should be enjoyed by the whole neople and not by a
few individuals. Profits arising from government ownership should
be given back to the people in the form of reduced rates and im
proved service.
Telegraph lines should b a government monopoly operated by
the postoffice department. Cables should be owned and operated
jointly by this government and the governments of the countries to
which they go.
Long-distance telephone lines should be owned and operated by
the federal government in connection with the postcvJBce department.
All local telephone exchanges should be owned and operated by
such governmental units (state, county or municipal) as the state
deems best, and state legislatures should immediately enact the legis- -lation
necessary for such public ownership.
The federal government should own and operate a system of
trunk line railroads reaching to every state and giving to each state
a government owned and controlled outlet for its products and inlet
for its importations.
The local network of railroads, including all lines not belonging
to the federal system, should be acquired by the state as rapidly as
public sentiment will permit. If any of the local lines are returned
to private ownership before the state enters upon government owner
ship, such line or lines should be subject to strict state control in
oi'der that the rights of both owners and shippers may have complete
Protection.
GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP AND OPERATION OP
a MERCHANT MARINE
o. Ownership by the federal government, arid operation as
iar as necessary of a merchant marine for the extension of commerce
and the establishing of new trade routes. No subsidies should h
given to private ship owners.
STOP PROFITEERING STATE TRADE COMMISSIONS
7. To reduce the high cost of living the power of the federal
trade commission should be extended and ample financial provisio
made to prevent greedy profiteers from charging more than a
reasonable profit. State governments should create state trade com
missions to supplement the work of the federal trade commission.
Speculation in foodstuffs and the necessaries of life should b
strictly prohibited. Public markets should be established and provi
sion made for co-operative buying and distribution. State govern-
monts should enact a general law empowering cities, towns and
villages to establish municipal markets to sell coal, provisions and
other necessaries of life when the people's interests require it.
The producers and consumers should be protcoted against the
packing house monopoly, the grain elevator trust and insurance com
bine, and similar combinations in restraint of trade.
NATIONAL INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM
8. A constitutional amendment should bo adopted by the
nation and in the several states providing for the initiative and
referendum so that the people may be in absolute control of the
government and be able to initiate or defeat any legislative action.
GUARANTEE DEPOSITS IN NATIONAL AND
STATE BANKS
9. Legislation should bo enacted by which the national banks
should bo required to establish a guarantee fund for the prompt
payment of depositors of any insolvent bank, under an equitable
system which shall be available to all state banking institutions
wishing to use it.
RESTORATION OP FREEDOM OP SPEECH AND PRESS
10. With the cessation of hostilities the nation .should again
enjoy freedom of speech and of the press rights sacred to thi
citizen and essential to popular government.
NO COMPULSORY MILITARY TRAINING PHYSICAL
BETTERMENT PLAN
11. Universal military training is inconsistent with our in
stitutions. The victory which we have won f ?t democracy would be
a failure and a defeat for our principles if it compelled us to .adopt
a military system which was deemed unnecessary before we entered
the war. Physical betterment should be secured through compulsory
courses in physical culture in our schools, colleges and universities,
which should include thorough physical examination, athletic exer
cises, games, contests, etc.
STRICT ENFORCEMENT OF NATIONAL PROHI
BITION LAWS
12. Prohibition will soon become the settled policy of the
country by the ratification of the national amendment. All officials
should be pledged to strict enforcement of the letter and spirit of
the amendment and the laws based upon it.
. RATIFICATION OP SUFFRAGE AMENDMENT
13. The woman's national suffrage amendment, soon to be sub
mitted, should be ratified by the states.
RULE OF PEOPLE
14. Every other measure, no matter by whom or by what
party proposed, having for its object the safe-guarding of the
rule of tne people at home or the extension of domooraoy abroad
should be cordially supported,
NATIONAL BULLETIN TO POST VOTERS
15. Our- government rests upon the consent of the governed
and that consent can be expressed intelligently only when the
voters understand the issues which they are to decide. In order
to insure the maximum of information the federal government
should issue a national bulletin under bi-partisan control such
bulletin to place before the people the important acts of administra
tion and legislation with space set apart for editorial comment, such
editorial space to be divided between the several parties and party
factions in proportion to voting strength in congress. The bulletin
should be published at such intervals as m&,j seem best and should
be furnished at not more than cost to such voters as desire to sub
scribe for it.
Mr. Bryan will from time to time elaborate the above legislative
program and present arguments, in-.support thereof. He desires to
hear from those vho favor the measures outlined, and who are will
ing to assist in the educationala-nd organisation work necessary ts
secure their adoption.
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