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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (April 1, 1921)
.!? ' 'TFtf The Commoner VOL21, N0.4 12 The Passing of Woodrow Wilson (From tho Washington Star.) Whon Gon. Smuts placed tho name of Wood row Wilson bosido that of Washington and Lin coln on tho roll of America's great, a large number of tho newspapers of the country agreed with him. Tho majority, however, seem to hold with tho Pittsburgh Dispatch (independent) that nolthor this "idealized estimate nor the de nunciatory criticism of his more rabid op ponents" will guage the retired President's true place in history. More Democratic than Repub lican papers, naturally, are vocal. Timo must olapso boforo cool justice can be done to this American President, whose work and alms aroused bo much of controversy and stirred such depths of partisan hatred. The contemporary mind must disappear, indeed, from tho earth before a true balance of judgment can bo reached concerning Woodrow Wilson. Springfield Republican (independent). Wo are glad to have had the use of his strength of egotism and will when it was needed. Wo are sorry for the tendencies he has strengthened in a nation badly composed to be subjected to them. Chicago Tribune (independ ent republican). Ho is one of the very small number of great men who in groat times have done great things, and in history of tho world war no figure will be inoro commanding than Woodrow Wilson. Philadelphia Record (independent democratic). As tho head of tho nation during a world war and as tho champion of an ideal of international peace to which the aspirations of tho world have rallied, Mr. Wilson has written a record of success. Ho can await the verdict of the fu ture with equanimity .--Now York Evening Post (independent). No other American has made so much world history as Woodrow Wilson. No other Ameri can has ever bulked so largo in the affairs of civilization or wielded so commanding and in fluence in Bhaping their ends. New York World (democratic). History may say that he was not a successful diplomat. But it was his rare privilege to put in words as 'tho aspiration of America a prin ciple which the world has accepted as its stand ard. Milwaukee Journal (independent). History will write Mr. Wilson down as one of tho outstanding world figures of all time. Houston Post (democratic). His experiences offer a much longer record of errors to be avoided than of examples to be emulated. 'But it is duo to him to say that he earnestly wished to make the world a better place to live in. Buffalo Express (independent republican). With the passing of the Wilson administration there goes the noxious theory that any man, how ever highly placed, can speak for all of us at all times and places. Thore disappears the idea that the President is somehow above and beyond the people, instead of being their temporary agent directly responsible to them.- Providence Journal (independent). He stands with tho most achieving of those who have served the world. Atlanta Journal (democratic) . Yet we have faith to believe that because he was tho idealist, because ho first stood before men as a champion of an internationalism that was simple Christianity. Woodrow Wilson's fame will grow with the succeeding years Chicago Post (independent). Ours has been no mean leader, but one whom far distant generations will acclaim as among the best and truest servitors of man. Omaha World-Herald (independent). vmauu, If Woodrow Wilson, like Lincoln, had died shortly after re-election, his name would have gone down into history as that of a groat and successful President. Baltimore Sun (independ ent democratic) . , Wilson will stand out in that long perspective as one who sought at least to raise men higher which is true greatness. Whether we like it or not, whether we like him or not, the namo of Woodrow Wilson will fill a largo place rtthl future.-St. Louis Globe-Democmt SbHcan) Any impartial study of the colossal Jon,,; will show that it was We almost wliol ly K fects in the character or tho tenmerimo S- S fv-phuaaeiphia Jrass too- The broad pages of tho achieva P i Woodrow Wilson has been aaSi tho United States great not only in spiritual purposes, but in practical accomplishment. Rochester Times-Union (independent). He ws always the leader and his leadership was invariably toward the right. His faults were never those of intention and will soon be for gotten. He becomes a citizen, but he will bo America's first citizen so long as he shall live. Nothing can wrest that distinction from him. Worchester Post (independent democratic). In creating this world-wido sentiment for brotherly international co-operation and point ing it toward a definite goal no other man has exerted an influence in any way comparable to that of Woodrow Wilson. Columbus pispatch (independent). History has a habit of pardoning faults in men who havO accomplished big things. Probably it will be kinder to Woodrow Wilson than most Americans of his own time expect it to be. Cincinnati Times-Star (republican). Whether Mr. Wilson will take his place among tho great presidents of the nation it is too early to tell. Our own-opinion is that he will, al though we do not believe that he will ever stand upon the same pedestal with Washington, Lin coln, or oven Roosevelt. Buffalo Commercial (independent). Possibly never in the history of the United States, certainly never since the days of James Buchanan, has any President retired from office so generally disliked and so thoroughly dis credited as Woodrow Wilson. Fort Wayne News and Sentinel (republican). Woodrow Wilson ranks with Lincoln and Web ster in the lofty utterance he gave to the soul of America. He expressed in words of glorious distinction its reality, as a land of dreams, of high purpose, of the brotherhood of man. Yet he lost the leadership of this nation more ut terly than any one-who ever possessed it In such measure. New York Mail (independent). He has laid his contribution into the exchequer of the common good and has passed straightway into immortality. Charlotte (N. C.) News (democratic) He determined to have his own way with the world and make it over, and the world, which has small patience with tyros, pushed him aside as in the end it always pushes aside those who get in its proper and natural pathway. Detroit Free Press (independent). Numbered with the mighty who wrought for mankind. Richmond (Va.) News-Leader (independent-democratic). It is highly probable that historians will be less interested in his statements of principles than in the extent to which those principles werl put into effect. When his achievements are SHn?'?? niT ,m ai U?mpr0misinS yardstick it is not at al likely that posterity will be over- ChSl 7ith fwe-TRoclie8ter Democrat and Chronicle (republican). His ideals live, and when history deals with Woodrow Wilson he will be given a place arrTon the great men, the country he loves so weo? the world, has produced: perhaps the creato J intellect the United States ever throned in the ffiKJK a"ginaw News-Si11 (t PUBLIO OPINION DIVIDES SHARPLY ON SALES TAXES fromaWaThTneSdDnr t0 ?e Phicag0 Tribe, sayThf mKat?d TnttyalZt It taxJliabePre?ectUhL?nhVb8 "" th SalQS means committee and by the hous?878 ?nd possibility, however that nYf? here is a added in the senate ' a salea tax may be by banking interests and bI?buBiM, ? tax burden to the consumer. DUSines3 to Pasa tho There is reason to believe that Q . former kaiser Wilhelm read lhat th he emperor Charles was on his lv t trf Cmer to demand back his crown he belan tn ol?Ungary notice things again Th 11 ? sit UP an which Charfes weHghtVS Tda? i again was scarcely equalled bvthlSdowi1 Played in his advance. BJPeed ho dis- WILLIAMS AGAIN OPAKES HIS PEN IN HAttn ON 'STEEL' u Tho Washington staff correspondent to the Chicago Tribune under date ot March 25, f01 lows: John Skelton Williams, former controller of tho currency, today released for publication a statement in which he replies to statements attributed to Elbert H. Gary, chairman of the U. S. Steel corporation, regarding the profits of that corporation. In the statement the former official seeks to answer the declaration that it would have been "Utopian" for the corporation to have charged figures less than authorized -by the price fixing committee dur'ny the war. Mr. Williams asserts that official figures indi cate that steel charges in excess of normal prof it were nearer $35 per ton than $30, and then quotes the annual report of the corporation in an effort to show that surplus accumulations after payment flf $380,000,000 in dividends ia creased over $400,000,000 since 1915. Mr. Williams also contends that high prices of steel and iron products "artificially main tained" are blocking the roaS to prosperity, and alleges that the "desperate condition of our rail roads is partly due to exorbitant prices of steel and iron materials, of which railroads are the biggest users." He asserted also that the cost of money required to buy a freight car is 500 per cent above the cost in 1914. Mr. Williams has written a letter to Mr. Gary replying to his defense of the price schedule. Having been advised by the corporation that his letter of March 16 to Mr. Gary would be held for the latter's return from Panama, a month hence, Mr. Williams explained that he had de cided to make public the statements contained in his letter. He charges that the excessive prices for steel and iron have now become an active cause of unemployment and of widespread suffering. He gives official quotations in an effort to show that steel and iron products, from ore to structural steel, are being maintained at prices 100 per cent above the pre-war basfs, while other metals, such as copper, lead, tin, etc., in the production of which, he says, tho United States Steel corporation does not have the same domin ating influence that it has in steel and iron, have returned to a pre-war basis or less. MR. BRYAN'S BIRTHDAY T, sol?e old-timers it seems impossible that William Jennings Bryan can be 61 today. Why, it seems no time at all since we were hailing him as the "Boy Orator of tho Piatte" and lying awake nights worrying for fear he should get into the white house and turn things upside down. There is no doubt as to the extent of the scare Mr. Bryan threw into the east in 1896. , After that first defeat and when it had become a?!a i of his t0 run for President the country f ?o? mre calmlv- Probably if he had won m 96 the responsibilities of tho office would niLeLSObT5d and, steaied him. Certainly in subsequent campaigns he became somewhat less i .tbough he always had in tow some fad orSof't"?? that did not aPPeal t0 e ma i n lus,fellow countrymen. "Free silver" nwSJS 0We? ?7 "-imperialism," public dlnSc P n ralroas and guarantee of bank l2o035rSofertuIly turnod down by thG Since the campaign of 1908 Mr. Bryan has I?.6 aPny ruinine for president, his favor Ch,H2o G?erC ?e heine swinging around the conSlfZ CirCUlt' wnere he has Proved a more fS?mfn!.nt drawlnS card than either the per ClnXifnH008 5r, tne Swlss bell-ringers from is fuUv dL111811!?,.0' "sIIver toneued orator" hte i fhn enre?'. Thero Is a Peculiar charm in enue 0Tknl'that Is essentially Bryaa has not alClntion of hIs Personality, also, tor of a ?i?f iniBh5d With the yeara- For a quar lowin wiUry,he. has held h,s enthusiastic fol toont m?H ?d,m fGrs nuer many of a dif E? foP litlcal falta' William 3. Bryan, they firm den3arTand BinCer6' a fa,r fler and a oPrtoiS9 rn ,s moral baclbone seems made nothing mi, S ?SS0 he has demonstrated that ten not iv !?B llke failure' HIs name Is wrlt" books 0f nLn ecro11 of fae, but in tho ?n w Un and BraJstroet. If his mental has never lnfCaTSVal,ly BliQ the past, ho Hocks ami hQ S balaUCe at the bank Q owns ntheLtM?uan St0cks and bonds' based whiter hnmd gid Btandai& a summer and a Mke Mr TSAanda statQsnTan's frock coat. We who Hk6fl Z?' SJf or the fashion of the dyspeptic and hoM hnn?18 that don'fc aeree with him ford ed?toHni T HV0 many morG rear to af Pntt ull days.-. .ja jd ? . ., ' ,' "llJL, ' h"T Sr JfcAMkW