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tr"4 Tfc ' Vi?- The Commoner VOL.?!, $0.1 7 (H M r. . ' fc. ' v K. i' - ' V' M$ President-elect Harding My conference with Prosldont-olect Harding confirmed tho opinion that I formed during the campaign, namely, that he would stand for inter national cooperation in tho interest of World Poaco. That was pledged in tho Republican platform and tho pledge was renewed by Mr. Harding both during tho campaign and after tho election. Tho detUls are immaterial. An over whelming majo itj of the people want some form of cooperation. The majority against the Democratic plan and in favor of the Republican plan was unprecedented if tho election can be regarded as a referendum on tho that issuo but it must not bo forgotton that tho Republican convention doclarod for an Association of Na tions. Tho two parties are, therefore, united in' purpose though separated in plan. Thb coorcion of events will bring them together but, to avoid auy future deadlock, congress should submit somo such amendment as that introduced by Congressman Ayors fo Kansas permitting a majority of tho Senate to ratify a treaty. But' Prosldont-olect Harding wttf havo many problems to solvo and I do not hesitate to ex press the belief that ho will approach them hon estly, conscientiously, and with slngloness of purpose. He is singularly free from tho obliga tions that sometimes hamper a president. His nomination came unexpectedly as tho result of a combination of circumstances that no one could forsee and his majority at the polls waH so largo that no one person or group can claim special credit for it. Ho feels, as any sincere man must, the grave responsibilities imposed upon him and ho will try to moot the expectations of the people. ' Ho will not bo able to please everybody; he may not please anybody all of the time, but ho is entitled to tho confidence of all and to such en.couragomont as each can give. He occupies the highest position in tho world and holds it as tho express choice of more human beings than ever before entrusted governmental authority to mortal man. Tho' Commoner will be happy to support him as far as it can: it will differ with him with regret if it becomes necessary to dif fer from him on any subject. Here's hoping that' his administration will prove a blessing to the nation and tho world and thus give him a high Place in history. W. J. BRYAN. SENATOR ASHURST'S AMENDMENT Senator Ashurst of Arizona has introduced a very important constitutional amendment which "will be found on another page, together with his remarks introducing it and a report on a similar resolution in 1914, Tho Asliurst amendment proposes that the presidential term shall begin on tho third Mon day in January and that congress shall meet in regular session on the first Monday in January each year. The proposed amendment shortens .by about six weeks the interim between tho time when the president is elected and the date of in auguration, and it shortens by eleven months tho period between the election of a congress and the convening of the ftrst regular session. It also does away with the after the election session that we now have and gives the voters an op portunity tr sit in judgment on the completed work of the congressmen who are candidates for N reelection. The amendment is badly needed: it is to be hoped that it will be submitted at once 30 that the state legislatures that meet this winter can ratify now. Such an amendment will be adopted "eventually why not now?" W. J. BRYAN. TIME FOR ECONOMY President-elect Harding has correctly sensed the demand of the people for rigid economy in government -expenditures by his action in ' re questing the abandonment of tho plans for an inaugural colebration and reducing the expenses of the inaugural ceremonies. Congress was dis posed to grant a liberal appropriation, but Sena tor Harding's action will set a good example and act as a warning to our representatives that the appropriation of public money must now be limited to actual necessities of tho government The groat producing classes of tho country, who must pay their taxes with 40 cent corn and 10 cent pork, will heartily indorse President-elect Harding's action. RESPONSD3ILITIES OF CITIZENSHIP December 29th, 1920. Mr. Bryan N. Railsback, Howard Motors Co., Kansas City, Mo. My dear Mr, Railsback: Answering your inquiry, I beg to say that Christian men MUST take an interest in politics. In theory our government derives its just pow ers from tho consent of the governed but in practice it represents the consent only of 'those who take part in its control. It is only as good as thoy are. Plato said .that 12 tho good citizens do not take an interest in the government they are punished by having to live under tho rule of worse people than themselves. But are there any worse citi zens than those who donot feel interested in their own government? Is the man who tries to vote twice any more dangerous than the man who is not interested enough to vote once? The ballot brings responsibility as well as privilege. We are responsible for the wrong wo permit as well as what we actually advocate. The Christian must live his religion in politics and in business as well as at home. Yours truly, W. J. BRYAN. BE SPECD7IC No Democrat should delude himself with the idea that tho Democratic party can make any headway in this day and age by appealing for support with mere promises of adherence to its "historic" principles. The "historic" principles of the party, are, of course, all right, even though they are, un fortunately, not understood by the people except in a vague way, and even though 'the average politician, if driven into a corner, would be hard-pressed to define them. They sound good in platforms and aro always tenderly referred to by platform writers, but, of themselves, they mean nothing. What the public is interested in is the cor rect application of these "well known" prin ciples. This can only be secured when they .are embodied in some concrete, definite measures that show HOW and WHERE the party stands, and just WHAT it proposes to do. The Democratic party can mako no progress by adopting and reiterating platforms that mean nothing. They spell defeat in this day of pro gressiveism and independent action. Success lies in the direction of being able to give tho people what they want, and future party plaK forms must correctly interpret and voice the needs, aspirations and desires of the American people. - .. No man or woman should aspire to be a can didate for public office unless they have some definite program to put into action that .will be of ben fit to the public-. STOCK "DIVIDENDS AGAIN If you want to understand the gross injustice of the stock dividend decision read the follow ing: . v, "McKeesport, Pa., Dec. 21. The McKeesport TinpUte Co. has declared a stock dividend of $7, 000,000. President E. R. Crawford issued this announcement: This company has today in creased its capital stock from $3,000,000 to $10 000,000 making a stock dividend of $7,000,000 This has been done to take care of extensions and improvements made to the plant and prop erty covering the last 10 years and which had not previously been represented by capital stock. Stock is to be issued to shareholders of record Dec. 23, 1920. The McKeesport Tinplate plant is the largest in the world, McKeesport busi ness men started it and still own about all the Will congress put these excess profits corpora, tions on a par with others or will it confess itq partiality to big business? tS FEDERAL PRIMARY m?EZ Joh?SOIof California h$s announced his intention of urging a federal primary law He is to be commended for his eff6rts to further extend the benefits of the primary system to tho selection of presidential candidates for all parties. Nearly a million votes were cast for Debs tho socialist candidate for president, who wag" in jail during the campaign and is still there Which causes us to-remark how, under the cir cumstances, he could be said to'We been run ning for tho. office. " en lln While We Wait Those responsible for the fact that we are not yet taking a part in the call it league or asso ciation of nations for the promotion o world peace will find little consolation in reviewing what id happening while we wait. The normal status of Europe can not be re stored until wo take part. Plans for tho future can not be made until our voice is heard. WHILE WE WAIT armaments are increasing !n Europe, Asia and the United States each continent blaming the other. Nono o the great nations are willing to commence reducing alone, or even, to stand still. Tho military and naval load in creases WHILE WE WAIT. Democracy is losing ground and monarchy ia regaining its strength WHILE WE WAIT, Greece has recalled her king. Hungary is slip ping back toward a throne and a Kaiser party in Germany is clamoring for the emporer's return WHILE WE WAIT. Every day's delay makes it harder for ns to do our part in putting an end to war. Possibly conditions will be so bad by March 4 that our na tion will be coerced-into IMMEDIATE action in order to make amends for inexcusable delay. W. J. BRYAN. . PUBLIC PARKS (Extract from address of William" Jennings Bryan before. the Miami Real Estate Board, De cember, 1920.) ' ' " The park is a Democratic institution; it is i people's play ground. It is economical, too; , for. it costs less for many to use a park .than for each one to have a park -of hi3 own. The smill park Js.better than a large park because many sections can "be supplied with, small parks for what one large park would cost. For h. number of. years I have, been trying to Interest, the several states In plan, which wtfl secure to growing citlep all ttie park space needed without expense to the coWr munity. It is as follows; Whepever acre prop erty is platted and divided int.o lots, the owner should be required to dedicate a certain percent age of it to the public for parks as' he ndW gives a certain part for streets. The Increase in value that comes to the owner of property adjacent to a growing city is largely an unearned: increment and thore is no injustice in appropriating for a public purpose a part of the value that the city cireates. The city might without injustice collect a part of the increase in the form of a tax, as a part of the increase in the value Of rdal estate is now taken by the income tax levied by the Federal government, but tin dedicatitin of a part-to park's, would so increase the value of the remainder that tho net loss to the ownei would be 'little or nothing. Some far seeing land owners voluntarily set apart a portion for parks and this practice should be encouraged, but in this case th,e claims of the public rest upon such' a substantial basis that it should not be left entirely to volition; 'it ought to be required fcy law. WALSH RESOLUTION GOQD The passage of the Borah resolution shouJd, not prevent the passage of the resolution offered by Senator Walsh of Montana authorizing the President to send a representative to discuss duBartma.ment with th0 Allies- Both resolutions should be adopted. We can not have too much in the direction of disarmament or act too quickly. At the last election the voters of Nebraska, by a referendum, rejected a law passed by the leg islature which proposed lo restore the conven tion system of nomination of nine-tenths of tho state officers. The adverse vote was four to one. In his annual message the- governor said that because a majority of those voting at the elec tion did not express an opinion on the primary, he regards it as the wish of the people that the convention system be employed; Tis queer what reasons a man can conjure up f6r doinff what he wants to do. s V T?YfN.T R NEW PROGRAM in the last issue of his paper Mr. Bryan sava he will formulate a party legislative program representing as nearly as possible th desires 5 people and will then call on progressive Demo cratto rally to its support. Inasmuch as Mr sac assr- "':&&& "t'jfcaiw'iuwrvauuit'vm," . ' mt -AHJfcJL-. aiMirV WttfcJlAf lllMgi)WilWilWlll I At tfvSf'" ' 4 lfe..fkJLa M-