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The Commoner
'APRIL, WW
VS'IISI
3
People Will Indorse
LSague of Nations
MR. BRYAN INTERVIEWED
By Harry B. Hunt
Washington, March 18. Either the League
of Nations will be ratified by the United States
senate in the form in which it 1s brought back
from Paris by President Wilson, or the cam
paign of 1920 will center around that one great
ssuo and the people of the United States bo
given an opportunity to settle the question
directly by their votes.
That is the opinion of William J. Bryan,
democratic leader and former secretary of state.
Bryan does not believe, howevgr, that the issue
will have to go to the people for sottloment,
republican senatorial round-robins notwith
standing. He believes that certain changes in
the league constitution are desirable, chiefly in
the interest of clarity, and he believes that some
amendments will be made. These amendments,
he thinks, will provide a loophole through which
the republican senators pledged against the
original draft can logically support it, and that
most of them will do so.
If they do not if the senate which meets
this summer refuses to ratify the league plan
as it will be presented that will not mean the
end of the treaty. It will, inste.ad, merely mark
the beginning of the fight for its ratification;
and that fight will be carried directly to the
people in the campaign of 1920.
"The republican senators who seem so con
fident that they will be able to get one more
than one-third of the senate on their side and
thus be able to prevent ratification of the league
of nations treaty, seem to be laboring under the
delusion that the minority can" rule in this
country," said Bryan. r"But they are greatly
mistaken. In this country a majority rules.
"Under the constitution, one more than one
third can prevent ratification, of a treaty. But
that isn't the end; it is just the beginning.
"A minority cannot declare the policy of the
country. It cannot instruct the President what
kind of a treaty to make. It can only obstruct
or stay action until the next election.
"One-third of the senate will be elected in
1920. And when the people vote they can at
that one electionsubstitute new senators for the
objectors whose terms expire, and they can scare
the others to death.
"For another one-third will be elected In "
another two years, and a senator is almost as
J -ich Inclined to keep an ear to the ground as
a member of congress, and some of them would
keep both ears to the ground if they could.
"You can't look far ahead in politics, and
there never was a time when things were more
chaotic than now. There is a great deal of scat
tering talk at present and naturally so, because
tne issue is not yet presented in concrete shape,
in, a largG majority of the people would
iiKe to see amendments made to the league con
eutution as originally drawn. Some emphasize
n0f?mf.ndment some anther, but when the
consutut on of the league is finally drafted and
wl , comPleted form the people will
till0 ?0BQ between the league as it then is
th L ? plan tnat nas written the history of
the world in characters of blood.
tim liS wl then havo t0 decide whether to take
fr7 that, come with the league or the risks
W i,2ne wl,th ting it. I have no doubt
how the people will decide. -
irreRVRH!iea?Hon aSainst war is swelling into an
a l P1, ?leJiid- A man wno stands out against
imposhil 5li',like thl3 one' almost makes war
SSS, ' wl? soon be engulfed. For' the
1 uSYaS I pe?ple wlll lf they can- make thls
e last war to redden the earth with blood.
wobm Jnmember " Ia very 1Ikely that the
SKiX11 VQte n 192; an woe to the man
throuiS 5 war t0 the women who have passed
"I LXe ansuish of thQ last two years!
amendmpnTV?, aha11 securo some important
is flnanv Sr ! ihe leaeue constitution before it
AmM' Bu make no mistake: tfhe
lions." p e wm endrse the league of
toore TK011 ,f gettin tne lQe proposition
SU
mi(
n a rfifWo.!. . . www uuiob
wuum woum resign- their seats
7. "" people m some aort.nf roformirhiTTi
t, mllSrIL Bfyan' This, lt was pointed
ingnnnL. don.e directly if senators insist-
P?atform It ?hiet;"0n,0n Btra,Bht ""-league
Son tn t'ii i h0 POOP1? aDnrovod their opposi
w i 1 lcsm undoubtedly they would bo
reelected to succeed thomsolves. If, Instead thoy
were defeat0d, it might be well argued that the
people were for the league.
Tm bnfliSIe iS th referondnni," Bryan said,
fm nfc afTra!d to trust the people on any ques
tion. But I would much rather havo a rofor-
nnUm a PJotion than a referendum on
a man. First, because the peoplo can understand
a proposition better than thoy can a man;
second, because a proposition can't chango after
the election and i wan sometimes doos. But
whether wo havo u direct referendum on tho
proposition, or an indirect referendum on tho
candidates, the people will vote on this question
In 1920 unless it is settled before then."
During the period in which the leaguo of na
tions issue has been developing, Bryan has been
ill at the home of a Washington friond. Ho is
just now recovering, and although ho has not
yet re ined his strength ho is able to bo out
of bed and about. It was in his" bedroom, how
over, in skull-cap and dressing gown, that ho
received his interviewer.
During his period of onforced confinement
Bryan has been able to give close study to tho
proposed peace covenant and to analyzo it in all
its details. This study has convinced him that
certain changes ought to be made not changes
in actual provisioLs, so mujh as changes in word,
inc that would clear up and make specific cer
tain situations now left open to differing constructions.
BIRTHDAY CONGRATULATIONS
The lower house of the Nebraska legislature,
composed of eighty-five republicans and fifteen
democrats, unanimously passed a resolution con
gratulating Mr. Bryan on his fifty-ninth birth
day and transmitted it to him by telegraph at
Baltimore, Md. The resolution follows:
RESOLUTION
March 19, 1919.
Mr. Speaker:
Whereas, For over twenty years Honorable
WIlll..m J. Bryan has by reason of his promin
ence as a presidential candidate contributed in
no small way in keeping Nebraska in the lime
light of tho entire western continent, and
Whereas, William J. Bryan, by his example
and efforts, has always stood for the bettor
things of life,
Whereas, William J. Bryan has today reached
the fifty-ninth milestone in his eventful life,
thereforo be it
Resolved, By the House of Representatives
that the Chief Clerk be directed to send the
, following telegram:
TELEGRAM OF CONGRATULATIONS
House of Representatives,
Lincoln, Nebr., March 19, 1919.
Hon. W. J. Bryan,
Baltimore, Md.
"The Houre of Representatives now In session
extends its hearty congratulations and best
wishes to you in this your fifty-ninth birthday."
Presented by Davis and Tracewoll.
Unani- as consent was asked to consider the
resolation at once, which was granted, and on
motion of Mr. Davis tho resolution was adopted
unanimously.
MR. BRYAN'S ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Mr. Bryan sent the following letter to Chief
Clerk Hitchcock of the Nebraska House of
T presentatives acknowledging the receipt of
the congratulatory telegram and expressing hifl
appreciation of same:
Baltimore, Md., March 22, 1919.
Mr. Will F. Hitchcock, .
Chief Clerk of House of Representatives,
Lincoln, Nebr.
My dear Mr. Hitchcock:
I am in rec.ipt of your telegram and beg you
to convey to the members of the legislature my
profound appreciation of their congratulatory
resolution. It was a generous expression of good
will for which I am very grateful.
With best wishes for each of the members,
I am. Very truly yours,
1 am' W. J. BRYANT.
- t
If the republicans had not spent so much tima
finding fault with- the league of nations they
would not find it so embarrassing climbing on
tho band wagon.
Insulting the Soldiers
Somo of tho wet editors contlnuo to insult
tho roturnlng soldlora by declaring that they will
opposo tho enforcement of tho prohibition
amendment.
Thoso wot editors forgot thrco things: (1st)
that in November 1916, flvo months boforo tho
United Statos entered tho war, these soldiers
holpod to oloct tho congress that submitted pro
hibition by more than a two-thirds vote; (2nd)
that thoso soldiers helped to mako twonty-ojght
statos dry boforo thoy ontorod tho army. Aro
thoy coming back to undo what thoy helped to
do? And, it may bo added, relatives of these
soldlors holpod to elect tho forty-flvo legis
latures that ratified tho amondmont; (3rd)
ovory soldlor took an oath to support tho con
stitution (tho wot editors did not).. Will thoso
soldlors, who. wore willing to support tho con
stitution with their llvos, corao back and help
breweries, distillers and liquor dealers violate
tho constitution?
A few moro weeks and this flhamoloas cam
paign of slander and defamation will bo over;
tho brewery, tho distillery and tho saloon will La
things of tho past, and tho peoplo, redeemed
from an ago-long evil, will movo forward with
accelerated pace. BIlYAN.
GOOD TIME FOR ROAD BUILDING
Following is an Associated Press dispatch:
"Harrisburg, Pa., March 22. -Approximately
35,000 men will bo employed during tho present
year on road building In Pennsylvania. Accord
ing to plans of tho State Highway Department,
G00 miles of road will bo built. It is ostimatod
that within tho next two months contractors
will havo to go into the labor market and em
ploy at least 10,000 men in addition to their
regular forces. Tho State Employment Service
will be rolled upon in obtaining tho men.
Approximately $100,000,000 will bo spent In
road building in tho next four years. A bill
authorizing tho state to issue bonds up to
$50,000,000 Is going through tho legislature.
In addition, tho state will receive fodoral aid
and tho counties aro expectod to expond many
millions of dollars for roads."
. Pennsylvania is wise. This is a good time to
build roads. It gives work to tho unemployed
and benefits the stato.
VASHTI VINDICATED
Poor Vashtl, how she wo.P, if alive today,
rejoice over the death of John Barleycorn. She
was on- of tho first women in hist ry to raise
her volco against intoxicants. (See 'first chapter
of Esther.) It cost her her crown to defy her
drunken husband when ho wanted to exhibit
her tea.ty to his wiro-&lr-d companions at a
seven day feast, but there it no record of her
pleading for reinstatement. She lost a palace
but retained her self-re&pect. Let us "raise our
glass" of jrape juice to Vashti one of tho
early martyrs to tho cause of temperance.
ROOT FOR BEEIt
Mr. Elihu Root has been retained as ono of
tho lawyers to destroy tho effect of tho War
Prohibition Act. He is quoted in the newspapers
that in his opinion two and three-fourths per
cent alcohol can be sold under war prohibition
and that tho regulations promulgated by the
revenue department aro unconstitutional. Mr,
Root has been rather unfortunate in his proph
ecy about tho legality of prohibition laws. Ho
was sure that tho Wobb-Kenyon Act was un
constitutional and made a lengthy speech in the
senate against it, but tho supreme court did not
agree with him. He voted against tho Webb
Kenyon Act. Ho voted for tho personal use
amendment to the bill and then voted against
passing tho bill over the President's veto. Ho
did not vote for the Jones-Works Liquor Regu
lation law for the District of Columbia. Ho op
posed tho District prohibition bill by voting with
the enemies that the bill required a two-thirds
vote for a rule to consider tho measure. His
record has been consistent against legislation
which further controlled or prohibited the liquor
traffic. It is Interesting now that ho is opposing
national prohibition, to read one part of his
speech in which he advocates national prohibi
tion at a time when It was so remote that there
was nfc danger,, seemingly, of its passage.
. W. J. BRYAN.
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