The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923, April 01, 1921, Page 9, Image 9
TV w( 'r-dJ t'"; -".yijw !M3rB Iff-., The Commoner LAPRIL, 1921 indorse Definite Program of for Party s: ra&ar Sentiment Fast Developing Among Democrats for Rehabilitation of Party Around Program for Benefit of the Masses The Commoner continues to receive hundreds of letters from all sections 01 me country indorsing us pians ror tne reorganization and re habilitation of the Democratic party. A few of these letters are reproduced below. It is the unanimous opinion of the writers that the Demo cratic party's future success lies not in waiting to capitalize vthe mistakes of the Republican party, but in placing before the people a program of '41-rwrf- pr?W f' Action "H &. if . A. ,i m : ftieilulie UCtlUU ill uuuuii uj. ihb uiaaaco. I The Commoner reproduces its National Legislative Program, as first published in its February issue. This program Is intended to bring fobout world peace, curb the profiteer, prevent extravagance and waste in governmental affairs, and to restore "people's rule." The Demo- ' ....... . ...i. ...mi.i.j tit. -t i U.. .. in,..ww)lt1.. .. ... .. 4. . crate party must DESERVE TO WIN If It is to be successiuny renaDinuueu. wg ueairu iu uuur iiunjuuiuiuiy uum uvuryono who approves mis legislative program, and will assist in crystallizing public opinion to write it into the law of the land. Editor The Commoner. A National Legislative Program P. n vt OfA.nii.JJnlrlnni nnmnnratlp lcrlftln.tlVG DTO- 5rSm prepared with the advice and approval of tudents of governmental needs, and represents the 'consensus of opinion or progressive uemocraw throughout the country. The program is not com- miaie. ana win oe auueu iu u,o iguana " "- iffe with other questipns are worked out. The leg- lfciative remeaies are oniy oriuiiy uuuiucu, . v apu, mure cmuujtticu oct " ".v v....- . ,$jter. The program as thus far developed Is as 'irfioiJowH; PEACE PROGRAM tA leaeue of nations or an association of na- ??-., nnMtt.v try ovhJfrntinn nf all diSDUteS Iftat can be arbitrated and an investigation of all gSiiers as provided for in the plan of ,the thirty S&ace treaties, each nation reserving the right raccept or reject tne nnaings. DISARMAMENT . , . JEhe United States should immediately en-S-irni. tn flBRomhlo the reDresentatives- of the !l55aing nations of the world Jn a sincere effort to bring about disarmament. A REFERENDUM ON WAR We favor a pational referendum on war before iianioratinn nf war can be made by congress, (unless the country is. invaded by a foreign foe. LIMIT TERM OP PRESD3ENT !Wn, nrooiiiont of thft United States should be ' mited to one term of not more than six years RmflVinr him tnpUcrihlft for re-election, and the nwffrnvoinn'nf tho. president and the assembling Bm the new congress should be set for January OliOWlIlB Hl livcmu. ..w. a MAJORITY SHOULD RATD7Y wo fnvnr an amendment to the federal consti- Sution permitting a majority of the United States senate to rauiy a ireuty. , PROHIBITION mT,n -noHrmai. nrnhihltinn amendment . should Be enforced by the national, state and municipal facers without tear or favor. MILITARY TRAINING Wfl nrfi onnosed to universal compulsory mili- E&ry training in time of peace. ' PROFITEERING The Democratic party pledges the nation to firid it of the pronteer ana to ihubu iub uuui ftgainst his return. It win enaeavor 10 eiirawaie all unncessary middlemen by the encouragement te.a I'oaHnna nmnne: nroducers that will bring fthose who produce and those who use nearer to gether. It will enact and enforce laws that will effectively prevent excessive charges by such mid tei oo nr. nfip.P.RKarv. To this end it will te ,i loo-i'Qiotinn subiectinc to the penalties of -CiSahe criminal law all corporate officers and em- JaBp . . . ; . onvfv riif iriatnmHnnR' that result in extortion; it will make it unlawful for anyone engaged m mtersiaie cummervu iu luaivo the sale of one article dependent upon the pur chase of another article, and it will require such corporation to disclose to cusiuuiwa me U1"CI.; 1 vTOno MKt nrice and selling price or limit tlie profit that can be legally charged as the rate of interest is now limited. RECOGNIZE THE SOLDIERS AND SAILORS We favor a liberal policy in providing for sol diers and sailors who made sacrifices In the world war. A NATIONAL BULLETIN We favor a national bulletin, not a newspaper, ...i. iniiwin. fanned hv the federal government. .-under the fair and equitable control of the two leading parties, such bulletin' to .furnish infor mation as to the political issues of the campaign. ARBITRATE DISPUTES In the settlement of disputes between capital and labor we favor a board of conciliation pat terned after the tribunal created by the thirty peace treaties, the board to have power to investi gate all disputes but no power to bind the parties. PROHIBIT GAMBLING Gambling in food stuffs should be prohibited by national enactment. BANK DEPOSITS We favor national and state legislation guar anteeing the people's deposits in national and state banks against loss through bank failures. LIBERTY BONDS We favor federal action that will maintain the price of liberty bonds at par. FEDERAL RESERVE BANK SYSTEM We favor the federal reserve banking law but insist that it must not be used to squeeze the debtor by deflation processes. FARM LOAN BANK The farm loan bank law should be maintained and- strengthened to extend credit to the farmers and t(fc protect them from high interest rates MONOPOLIES ,.A private monopoly is indefensible and intol erable. All necessary monopolies should be taken over by the government, national, state and mu nicipal. v ECONOMY AND EFFICIENCY . We favor the reorganization of the administra tive and executive departments of the federal government on an economy and-efficiency basis, including the establishing of a budget system and a reduction in the number, of departmental em ployes to the minimum needs of the government. EXCESS PROFITS We are opposed to the repeal of the excess profits tax law, and are opposed to the enactment of a sales tax law. REDUCE TAXES For the purpote of lightening the - people's burdens we favor an immediate return to a peace footing basi to bring about a reduction in taxes, and that In reducing taxes consideration should be shown to those least able to pay. VOTING BY MAIL We favor a legislative provision for voting by mail for voters away from home and for col lecting ballots in order to accommodate women andmen who are disabled or distant from the polls. NATIONAL PRIMARY LAW We favor a national primary election law. ever, which t.L believe has as yet -not been con sidered. My plan is to permit every voter to express his own individual opinion as to who should be the candidate. In other words, let the names of all the contestants bo printed on the ballot to bo voted for as first, second and third, etc., choice, as the case may be; and also let there be a space loft blank in which each voter can write in the name of his own personal choice. The law should provide that all such Totes should bo counted ana, if the individual choice votes should outnumber the others, then the man so voted for should bo the candidate. In my opinion such a law would give the people a real opportunity to select their own candidates and their own officials. The same provision should apply to general oloctions and not be confined to the primaries. Letters From the People Thomas G. Campbell, Indiana. I heartily en dorse Mr. Bryan's legislative program and his efforts to reorganize the party in the interest of the people and along progressive Democratic lines. I'd like to make one suggestion in con nection with the proposed national presidential primary law. A general primary law is cer tainly needed and such a law should have the first, second and third choice feature, in order that the actual wishes and desires of the peo 4"ple can be determined and' made effective. I won't "to suggest an additional provision, how- H. ii. Ramsey, Kentucky. I greatly appre ciate your efforts to reorganize and rehabilitate life in the dear old party, and I hope I can in some way help. It seems to me that Jt would be a good idea to raise a fund and appeal to the best men in each ward and precinct, say six or more to get together, not politicians (except those like yourself who bear a record of always working unselfishly for the best interests of the long suffering iriasses), and select or recommend the candidates for the municipality and county, likewise a certain number from each voting ward or precinct meet at the court house and select the county officers and their' state repre sentatives, and also recommend a good man for congress. The main idea Is to induce, strictly not self-seek4ng, but honorable citizens, a great many of whom try to avoid politics, to arouse themselves and get busy in order to wrest the party from the hands of professional ring poli ticians. It seems to me also that unselfish men should not only recommend but put the candidate on honor; let him s?gn up as to what laws they want or do not want. In this way they might more successfully get what they want. Also, some law to terminate political treason without spending thousands of dollars to impeach an officer who might bo false to his -promises. Sup pose a banker had to spend thousandsbf dollars in order to discharge a traitor or thief from his pay rolls. It seems to me our laws should be so amended that when a candidate refuses to do that which he promised he would do (and I be lieve that he shoult be compelled to sign his name in the presence of two witnesses relative to laws which he would or would not vote for), then if he voted otherwise without a majority of his constituents petitioning him to change, that his tenure of office should automatically termin ate and a specal election called immediately to select a man to take his place. The patriotic masses would subscribe liberally to a National Bulletin such as you have already suggested, and it would be of great assistance to the voter. Long livd our beloved leader. H. H. Stallard, Washington. I have just read the press reports of Mr. Bryan's plan for the re organization of the Democratic party. I sup ported the Democratic party up to and Including the 1908 campaign, since that I have had no use for the party as I felt like- it had left all the landmarks of Jefferson, the great commoner. I can heartily indorse the proposed principles, and will help reorganize the party along these lines. The state of Washington can be carried in 1922 on a platform such as outlined by Mr. Bryan. Anything I can do to aid will be done. W. J. Rodgers, Missouri. I am glad to know W. J. Bryan intends to take an active part in Helping 'to reorganize. the Democratic party. He took it over after ft was demolished at St. Louis V l . & "jj iAw ':ia. f!Of rur .I." it. - tl&-ctt v.fo fftUMtim L. i . - V ' - .-uuiULlu .i..."JifciA. -