- J& H :r'.o. NOVEMBER, 1920 occupant of jthe White House he is entitled to, and of course desires, all the light possible be fore deciding on any question. "Congress can by law impose upon the Vice President the duty of giving such assistance to his chief, or the President can of his own volition establish the precedent, and it would, in all probability, be observed by his successors. 'Many public men havo avoided the second place on the ticket for fear It would relegate thein to obscurity; some of Colonel Roosevelt's friends objected to his nomination on that ground. A, cabinet position has generally been considered more desirable than the Vice-Presidency, but the latter in dignity and importance Is, in factj.only second to the presidency, and the occupant deserves the prominence and pres tige which Avould come from more intimate of ficial association with the Executive' t BRYAN'S SUGGESTION Bryan's suggestion that Wilson resign, -that Vice President Marshall appoint Harding secre tary of state", and then that Marshall resign also, automatically making Harding president at once, is not only a remarkable suggestion, but a sound, constructive, wholesome one. At one Stroke Bryan's idea, If followed out, would get rid of the harmful rigidity of the American presidential election system, without any necessity of making troublesome changes in the constitution. As Mr. Bryan says, the people have turned the administration down flat and cold, so why shouldn't5, the administration fold its tents, arid get out of the way as soon as possible? In Eng land, if a mere majoriy of parliament wills it, the executive steps down and out. Well, we've t had an anti-administration congress for two years now; and now, at last, we'yjo got a thump ing big verdict from the people themselves, di rectly on the issue of the presidency. And yet, unless Wilson and Marshall follow Bryan's suggestion and the chances are a hun dred to pne they won't follow It we'll drag along for four months with an administration that has no popular support back of it. President Wilson could achieve a great stroke of statesmanship, could set a splendid .and Jong needed precedent, 'if he were to step out how. His party could then even demand, If the con gressional elections go democratic two years from now, that Harding step out and let a democrat step in. We would then be rid of the anomalous" and absurd situation with which we are so often confronted, that of an executive and a legislative department deadlocked, and doing nothing but vituperating one another and Wast ing time and money. Bryan has made a mighty sound proposal, and no one should think of it as jUBt a piece of froakishness. And coming as it floes from a democrat,-it has added force, even though Bryan Is not 'exactly a "Wilson democrat." San Jose, Calif.. Newt. ' VICTORY IN OHIO COMPLETE The Akti-Saloon League, through James A. White, Its Ohio atate superintendent, announces the result" of ihe Ohio contest on prohibition as follows: ' , . . "We have had a glorious victory in Ohio for the dry cauo, ,Our Prohibition Enforcement Code, which was held up to a referendum vote by the wete, has been approved by the voters by 275,000. v , , , 10n "At our first .statewide vote in Ohio in 1814, We lost by. 85,000; in 1915 we lost by 55,000, in 1917 we.fost by 1,137. In 1918 we won by 25,759. The wets undertook to repeal our Pro hibition Amendment and reinstate license, we defeated them br 42,000. This year our voters approved the Enforcement Code by Z7o,uou. We now .havean., opportunity to clean up on ne "legal traffic in Ohio. Watch our smoke. "In additions we have gained four dry con gressman, making 20-out of 22 congressmen who will refuservto;;woaken the Volstead Act in any "Governom Willis was elected United States Senator bynmore than 850,000 and he is an outspoken, dryJ advocate. Senator Pmerene, our other senator, has voted tent n ";: measures since the state adopted Prohibition. Wo have elected the dryost legislature we have had tor years, and will be able to pass emer gency legislation;" We are tremendously grati fied over theseresults in behalf of the cause. "We giyefage part If this credit to the splendid women, who helped us very effectively. The Commoner An Interview MR, BRYAN SUPPORTS LEAGUE OP NATIONS BUT SUGGESTS CERTAIN AMENDMENTS (An interview by Mr. Bryan which appeared in The Commoner of March, 1919.) the league of nations is the greatest stop toward peace in a thousand years. The idea of substituting reason for force in the settlement of international disputes is in Itself an -epock-making advance. The constitution of.tho league, as announced, provides for three things which constitute in themselves an advantage, the im portance of which can scarcely ue estimated. First, deliberation before war the investiga tion of all disputes of every kind and charactor before hostilities begin. This almost ends war. The idea is taken from the thirty treaties nego tiated by the United States with three-quarters of the world. Our nation, therefore, gives to the peace league its greate8tfpieco of machinery. Second, the reduction of armaments will make it impossible for a nation to preparo for war without notifying the world of its intentions. Third, the abolition of secret treaties, which will do much to prevent the combinations which lead to war. If the league of nations did nothing more than provide these three things, our nation wojild be justified in supporting it to the ut most, i It is not to bo expected that so great an idea as the league of nations would be made perfect in detail in so short a time. There are defects that should be corrected, and the fullest dis cussion of proposed amendments should be in vited. The newspapers of Great Britain, France and Italy are not backward in the expression of their views as to changes that should bo made. Why should the American people be silent? Ours is the nation most infuontial in the league, and most powerful because most disinterested. Its people should help by free and frank discussion to perfect the league. The President has done the best he could, but he "will be aided by intelligent criticism from those friendly to the idea. I venture to point out certain amendments that should in my judgment be made in the in terest of a stronger and better league, FIRST, THE BASIS OF REPRESENTATION IS NOT FAIR TO THE UNITED STATES. A COM PARISON OF VOTING STRENGTH WILL SHOW THAT WHILE OUR NATION IS THE MOST POWERFUL IN THE COMBINATION, WHETHER MEASURED BY POPULATION, WEALTH OR MORAL INFLUENCE, IT HAS NO LARGER VOTE THAN NATIONS MUCH INFERIOR IN POPULATION, WEALTH AND INFLUENCE. This inequality ought, if pos sible, to be corrected, for justice Is the only foundation upon which any Institution can rest in permanent security. Second, the terms of admission to, nations that may desire to join hereafter are not fair. TO REQUIRE A TWO-THIRDS VOTE TO AD MIT A NEW NATION SUGGESTS THE SOCIAL CLUB WHERE A FEW BLACK BALLS MAY KEEP OUT AN UNCONGENIAL APPLICANT. THIS WORLD LEAGUE IS FOR THE WORLD. The President has well said that our nation Is not interested in a league unless all nations are in it The qualifications for admission ought to be fixed, and then it ought to be made as easy as possible for those who are qualified to gain admission. Under no circumstances should the cogent of more than a majority be required tlv the admission of any qualifying nation. The faults of the constitution are to be found Vo inriflflniteness rather than in things ?Rm?7to assist in the settlement of European permitted wPrVit ouent not to be asked disputes, and, &e in the west- to give "JrrasTcondition precedent to its orn hemisphere as a coiu" 0 IT IS N0T . entry into ttiSaWIBSS STATED tJtteSUSbER IS NOT RE THAT A LEAGUE ' MDMBWJ Jt QUIRED TOfifByMBtated that a nation asked ought to be definitely bum a i & to become a f WT,885ouLD BE MADE SLfiS LEAGUE IS NOT TO IN- v , 25PJFF 1N THB INTERNAL AFFAIRS QT THE NATIONS BELONGING TO THB LEAGUE, rho loaguo is for the settlement of International disputes, not for the adjustment of difference botweon a nation and Us own people. ,.AKTHER MATTER THAT SHOULD BR MADE CLEARAND NOTHING CAN BH MORE IMPORTANT THAN THIS 18 THAT EACH NATION HAS A RIGHT TO DECIPB FOR ITSELF WHETHER IT WILL UNDER TAKE THE THINGS ADVISED BY THE GEN ERAL COUNCIL. The language of tno constitu tion, while not definite, wduld socm.to Indicate that no nation Is required to furnish force to back up a decision of tho council. But no doubt should bo loft on this subject. This nation can not afford to allow a council in which it has so small a voice to carry it Into war agalnat its will. Our people will have as much sense when tho time comes to act as they havo now and thoy, will havo more light to guido thorn. When the emergency arises and they understand all the circumstances and conditions, thoy may bo will ing to assist by force, but thoy cannot decide in advanco or allow a council to decido for them. Tho constitution of tho loaguo, would seem to imply the right of tho council' to compol tho declaration of an economic boycott by tho mem bers of tho loaguo. This is not quite so soriouw as tho declaration of war, but oconomic boycott is likely to dovelop into a war and an economic boycott may bo pecuniarily advantageous to tho nations that want to declare it. Our intoresU may not bo Identical in this respect, and we ought to havo a right to say at the timo whether we would declare such a boycott. I venture to suggest that the scope of tho league's work might well bo oxended beyond what is now contemplated. A substitute for war must be able to deal with over situation thnt can he come a causo of war. One of tho most fruitful causes of war has been tho necessity for ex pansion. Growing nations, fooling the necessity for more room, have often gone to war on Home clumsy pretext when the roal purpose has been to secure territory for an increasing population, Tho right to live is one of the inalienable right. It Is a primal right that must be recognized in nations as well as individuals. Nations exercise the right of taking unused land and distributing it to those who need it. So, if the league of nations is to substitute reason for war, it must be able to deal with claims that are made for the waste places of tho earth. A nation feeling a need for more territory should bo ablo to go before the league and present its claims, and point out tho territory which it can uso to ad vantage. The council should consider the claim and advise upon it, and the force of public opinion should be used to securo such an ad justment of equities as would afford a peace able means of securing needed territory. Such adjustments could be made the easier if the league endorsed the proposition that any natfoft extending Its sovereignty over now territory should stand ready to purchase tho property C residents who do not desire to remala ner the new sovereignty. The resident does not g with the land. He has rights independent and superior to the right to the land. If, against hi will, ho is brought under new sovereignty, he ought to bo able to sell his property without loss, and choose a sovereignty of his own like. I have suggested what seemed to me desirable changes, some being modifications, some being merely more explicit statements. I conclude as I began, that while we should endeavor to make the league as nearly perfect as possible, we should not allow its Imperfections to lead to its rejection. We must take risks, no matter whether we accopt the league or reject it. The rlsks thtft we take in accepting it are less thaa. . the risks we take if we reject it and turn back to the old ways of blood and slaughter, God grant that those who are entrusted with the launching of this great work may have the wis dom to so purge it of selfishness and greed, and bo infuse into it tho spirit of the Prince of Peace as to-make it the end of war. LEFT NO TRACE The old schoolboy declamation: "The boy stood on the burning deck, Whenne all but he bad fled, The flames that lit the battle wreck, Shown round him o'er the dead" ntlcht be appropriate for post-election use fiut for,tbo fact that even the hero seems to hav$ been lost in the wreck. Wl " ffl - m i $ 4 i.t. A " i rfl jiSV-Ai: