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fVOL. 21, NO. 5
6
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The Commoner
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tone, tho untarnished character of its editor,
your great interest in Sunday school work, your
orthodox sermons against Darwinism and high
er criticism, your tenacious stand for prohibi
tion, your espousal for woman suffrage, your
unceasing labor for national world peace, your
opposition to profiteering, your intense interest
in moral reforms of various kinds, including
your contention for a National Bulletin, makes
you the grand champion of democracy, tho ideal
presidential candidate for 1924.
W. H. Holliday, Wyoming. Tho election of
President Harding, by such an overwhelming
majority and without any promise of sustaining
moral or reformatory legislation already the
law, is, in a manner, bewildering to many as to
tho real attitude of millions of citizens on such
important legislation; it is probable that the
pendulum has swung so far to one side that the
return will be more precipitate than the reac
tionary elements in politics now imagine.
Human nature seems to be so ordered that re
forms wilijilways be as necessary to constantly
fight for better conditions, morally and other
wise for the welfare of the people.
I know of no publication that appeals more
intelligently to the public mind on moral ques-
tlons and questions of public policy than The
Commoner under its present editorial management.
"WHEN BRYAN SPEAKS"
William Jennings Bryan is to speak in the city
this evening and all Bloomington w.ll be out to
hear him. Mr. Bryan's appearance always makes
it necessary to secure the biggest hall a town
possesses in order to accommodate the throngs
of people who desire to hear the world's premier
orator. The Second Presbyterian church has the
largest-auditorium in the county and Its capacity
will undoubtedly be taxed when Mr. Bryan steps
upon the platform tonight.
The subject of the address Is "Brute or
Brother" and it is .heralded as among the best
he has delivered in his long career. Some ven
ture to declare that it rivals the famous "Prince
of Peace." Be that as it may, in this lecture,
Mr. Bryan finds a convenient vehicle for making
observations on the principal questions of the
day. Whatever his subject, the people are al
ways glad to listen to William Jennings Bryan,
America's grand andf beloved Commoner.
It is now more than a quarter of a century
since Mr. Bryan sprang into national prominence
by winning a presidential nomination through the
power of his marvelous oratory. Since then he
has been the central figure of three campaigns
and has been a storm center in three Democratic
conventions. He has held the high office of Sec
tary of State. He has traveled around the globe.
In his own country he is the best known of all
our public men, and he has a larger personal
acquaintance throughout the nat on than any
other leader. He has addressed more human
beings than any other man that ever lived He
lives simply and this with his splendid physique
enables him to withstand the wear and tear of
constant speaking and- trrvelihg.
No man in public life has ever had more zeal
ous admirers on the one hand and implacable
opponents on the other. They called him a radi
cal firebrand in 1896, and yet he has lived to
see the triumph of many of his ideas. He has
seen the enactment into law of the measures
he advocated when it was unpopular to do so.
Direct election of senators, the income tax wo
man suffrage, and prohibition they are all
here. Mr. Bryan was too far in advance of the
movement to receive timely recognition by an
appreciative electorate.
fnrHfhn?lo!Si a pi?reer in-the peace movement
vJf I ii hen .Ihe cause nearest his heart.
Yet he did not hesitate to don the soldier's un -form
during the Spanish-American war Whila
in charge of the state department h's greatest
achievement for his country and the world was
the negotiation -of, thirty arbitration treaties
The underlying principles of these treaties win
be found incorporated in whatever final settle
ment emerges from the terrible struggle just
ended, whether it shall be known as a Wilson
league or a Harding association, o? by some
other name. aume
Mr. Bryan has survived ''all nolitionl rWo,
and is now firmly established in th Regard
his countrymen of every shade of opinion The?e
,are those who disagree with his judgments but
no one any longer questions his absolute sin
cerity. He is an acknowledged forcTfm. l i
.in the land. Seemingly tirel? I rg00d
year after year and season after seaRCntUUeS
out among the people wlthta ylJeJi
problems, and these audiences of plain, intelli
gent Americans count it a privilege to sit be
neath the spell of the Bryan eloquence and the
Bryan fervor. . i a
He is no longer the Bryan of '96, slim and
boyish looking with the wavy black hair. His
figure is more rotund, the face is lined, but the
old light gleams in the piercing eye. The black
alpaca coat, the fedora hat and the bow string
tie still form a iart of his raiment. Best of all
the voice that wonderful voice still rings
with its olden silvery peal. Bryan has becoma
an American institution and his visit Is always
an event in the community. Vachel Lindsay, the
Springfield poet has aptly described a typical
scene of this kind in his poem "When Bryan
Sreaks":
"When Bryan speaks the town's a hive
From miles around the autos drive,
The sparrow chirps. The rooster crows v
The place is kicking and alive.
WhenBryan speaks the sky is ours . .'
-The wheat, the forests, and the flowers
And who is here to say us nay?
,Fled are the ancient tyrant powers.
When Bryan speaks then I rejoice,
His is the strange, composite voice
Of many million singing souls.
Who makes world brotherhood their choice."
So we are honored today by the presence of
the plain old shoe, the champion of good things
always. The world feels his influence. America
holds him affectionately. And why put off say
ing it: A grateful posterity will perpetuate
his memory "in brass that breathes and struggles
and stone that seems to speak." Bloomington,
111., Bulletin
THE KILLING OP HUSBANDS
There seem tq be two acceptable methods of
obtaining a divorce in this country. One is by
way of the chancery court, the other by way of a
coroner's jury or criminal court.
The alternative is, of course, not for husbands
but for wives. If the husband is sufficiently disa
greeable or the wife sufficiently attractive, di
vorce for the latter through aid of a gun and a
sympathetic jury seems the more certain and
expeditious.
In the latest case the man seems to have been
an ingrate and a brute. If his wife's report of
their l.fe and of his character is reasonably fair
no one is likely to regret his departure.
But two questions present themselves from
this as from preceding cases of the kind. Is
the death penalty the proper punishment for
infidelity or abuse in marriage? And if it is
the proper penalty, is a wife entitled at her own
d scretion to execute it?
It seems that juries answer Doth these ques
tions m the affirmative. Legislatures in fixing
the death penalty for offenses have not yet
adopted their theory but have applied the ex
treme penalty only to murder in the first de
gree, to treason, and in some states to one or
two other offenses. Juries seem to approve its
informal application to marital infidelity to as
sault and battery of the domestic variety or
other masculine methods of making one's self a
nuisance about the house.
In the latest case the wife had put up with
neglect and abuse. The husband, if his story Is
complete, had done more than enough to forfe?
her respect and love. He had also given legal
mv?m r d IJCe' but the wife waf unwllltag
and ?t mi?hfVrom hec ills' HeV love remained
and it might be suspected that love desnised
Played its part in the final act of the drama
Surely her case was pitiful, .but it is wise to
put what amounts to the stamp of promnt
STRESS S,SSSS3sS
iS husbands has become an indoor snort a
Parte and bt'beomplaSan ?"
Doubtless this system is fnnno '
Perhaps in many cases this ideal is attaint
t would not be under the law All th. 1 as
wk",llVt Wiy WM-tt print!
nive life, does not work well in ihL , pnm
and progress has replaced Tt In ldr nnVOrag0'
ities by law and its forma litiM . t ommun
guards of human rttSZgffi SJ& "
FAVORITE ENTERTAINERS
In the death of Champ Clark a notable figura
disappears from the Chautauqua field. He had
become very popular there. His style of address
a little unconventional and off-hand hart
caught the fancy of Chautauqua audiences. They
responded to his everyday philosophies clothed
in everyday terms. Ho made his points in a way
that was immensely pleasing. Had he lived the
season now opening would probably have been
a prosperous one for him. Relieved of the cares
of a legislator, he couldhave concentrated on
the work of an entertainer.
Into the vacant place Thomas R. Marshall win
probably step. Indeed, he is already on tour
and reasonably certain to make a good impres'
sion. He is something on the Clark order
quick, unstudied and independent. He is both
fluent' and 'witty. He had his training as a
speaker on the stump in Indiana. Mr. Clar't
had his on the stump in Missouri. There is a
likeness between the Wabash country and the
Ozark country. They produce much the same
sort of men, and back their favorite son in tho
same hearty way.
But still at the head of the Chautauqua enter
tainers the star, the topliner standi William
J. Bryan. He established his supremacy years
ago, and has never lost it. Other very interest
ing men have entered the field and flourishea
but none has ever shone quite so brilliantly as
the orator of the Platte, Everything seems to be
in his line. He talks equally well at any rate,
equally entertainingly on -politics, religion,
sociology, the uplift, what you please. Name
your subject, and he is right there with the
goods.
And this thing has-been going on without a
seas6n's break for a quarter century. A remark
abe man! No wonder his friends swear by him
as lustily as his enemies swear at him. Wash
ington Star.
BIBLE CLASS ENDS
(From the Miami Herald, April 4.)
Delivering his last Bible class address of the
season yesterday morning at the Royal Palm
park, William 'Jennings Bryan spoke before an
audience which was so large that standing room
was at a premium for several feet behind the
benches. --
The ever interesting orator spoke from the
Golden Text, and on several occasions he was
forced to stop until the tremendous applause
subsided.
In closing Mr. Bryan stated that he was very
sorry to see the class come to a close as he knew
that the individuals who helped to make up the
large Sunday gathering were' very much inter
ested in the good work and benefit of the ser
mons. He wished the gathering a very happy
coming year and hoped that all would be pres
ent when the classes opend next season.
Next to the concerts by Pryor's band, the
Bible class has. been the finest attraction in
Miami during the past season. On accasions
there have been as many as five thousand per
sons present. The largest newspapers and many
of the magazines have printed pictures of the
class, saying that it was theinost remarkable
gathering in the country.
As an advertisement of Miami climate and
open air possibilities the Bible class probably
ranks ahead of the band concerts, as several
other Florida towns have bands and it is pretty
well understood that bands play in this state
thioughout the winter, but none has a distinc
tive meeting like the Sunday morning meetings
in Royal Palm park.
The gathering of several thousand persons on
a Sunday morning to listen to Bible teaching has
been widely commented upon by the press of the
country as being the most notable of all Florida
innovations.
No doubt the presence of Mr. Bryan has added
much to these occasions, and his widespread
popularity has also unquestionahly been the
means of attracting as much favorable publicity.
THE FARMERS AROUSED
4i, TA f0"wing press dispatch "would indicate
that the farmers are aroused:
Ton;,0l"ra1tl?11 ot the Farmers' Federal Ta
2fi8i America which will oppose the fed
E7 JStax,,was announced today by Eugene
th? yjJLf Argyle' In-. secretary and treasurer of
lim,fpS?ization- GeorSe Comings, former
th lilt E0rnor of Wisconsin, is pres'dent of
W nS?0'! PWGrl interests,' said Mr. Froy
au ,?arIn t0 8hIf fc f urther the burden of tax
orlnniT the, fa"mers and the farmers must
temnt M make felt their influence if this at
tempt is to be prevented.' "V- .
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