The commoner. [volume], December 01, 1915, Page 3, Image 3

About The commoner. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923

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The Commoner
DBCBMBBE, 1915
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A National Bulletin
Needed
For a long time the government has been pub
lishing a Congressional Record which gives a
complete review of the action of the senate and
house, together with a full report of the speeches
made. A number of the departments also send
out bulletins covering their special work, but the
time has come for the government to enlarge its
activities in this direction. The Congressional
Hecord is limited in circulation and too bulky
for the average reader; and the department bul
letins only cover a part of the government work.
The public welfare demands the publication of a
digest of the government's work in the form of
a bulletin, published weekly, or at such other
intervals as may be found best, and sent free to
all postmasters, state, county and city executives,
libraries, colleges, high schools, newspapers, pe
riodicals, and other public centers of informa
tion. It should also be furnished at cost to such
individuals as may desire to subscribe for it, as
the Congressional Record now is.
Such a bulletin, under the control of a bi
partisan (not non-partisan) board, giving the
laws passed by congress, a digest of less import
ant things done by congress and by the various
departments of the government, reporting tho
important speeches delivered, and furnishing
voters with the information necessary to pass
intelligent judgment upon the acts of their pub
lic servants, would be of incalculable value.
Without attempting to go into detail it is sug
gested that a board of three, one appointed by
Hie President, one selected by the majority party
in the senate and house, acting jointly, and one
by the minority party in the senate and house,
acting jointly, would give assurance that both
sides would be properly represented in the con
trol of the paper.
Congress could from time to time direct what
MUST be put into the paper and what should be
left to the discretion of tho managing board.
To make the plan complete a certain amount
of space should be left for editorial comment,
and this space should be divided among the
parties represented in congress in proportion to
ach party's strength in congress. This would
enable the readers of the bulletin to know not
only what was being done, but why it was being
done, and at the same time have the benefit of
the views of tho opposition. Such a bulletin
n'ould be an authentic source of information, and
the voters of the country would find in it the best
arguments from the highest source on each side
of every disputed national question. The demo
cratic theory of government is that the people
THINK FOR THEMSELVES and select repre
sentatives to give expression to public opinion.
This Is the theory of our government, but the
masses find it impossible at present to secure
that reliable information to which they are en
titled. The local press has not tho space neces
sary to furnish the information needed, and the
metropolitan press is not always disposed to
furnish impartially the matters necessary for the
formation of an intelligent judgment.
This democratic congress could render no
greater or more lasting service to the country
than to establish, such a bulletin as is above out
lined. Once established it would remain, for no
party would dare to withdraw from the people
tho advantages of such a publication.
It would not interfere with any legitimate
newspaper enterprise; on the contrary, it would
give to the press of the country what every edi
tor ought to desire, namely, an unimpeachable
source of information, a reservoir from which to
draw facts that can not be controverted and ar
guments worthy to be considered.
W. J. BRYAN.
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A CHRISTMAS THOUGHT
At this Christmastide let America's
message to war-stricken Europe be the
message that came o'er Judea'o hills:
"Peace on earth, good will toward men."
This is not a time for war talk, but the
opportune time for our country to ex
tend the hand of fellowship to our
brothers across the sea.
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The adoption of the army and navy program
would increase the profits of the sugar trust and
also increase the cost of living for the masses, .
A MINISTER'S POINTED QUESTIONS
Dr. John E. White, pastor of tho Baptist
church at Anderson, S. C, and one of tho moat
prominent ministers in tho south, in introducing
Mr. Bryan at Anderson college, said: "There are
some questions which tho plain citizen does not
find answered in his newspapers at this timo."
Dr. White said:
"First Wo want to know what has become of
the fine enthusiasm of fifteen months ago, for
America, tho one great nation, which was to keep
itself cool in order to act nobly when the time
came in behalf of humanity, and so bo a peace
maker among the wrecked kingdoms of Europe?
What has happened to divest our country of this
moral mission and opportunity which we believed
belonged to us, only fifteen months ago?
"Second Wo want to know why tho obvious
lesson of tho European war, of horror for mil
itarism and military state craft is now turned
around and made to teach something exactly con
trary. Fifteen months ago Europe was a warn
ing, now we are to believe that Europe is an ex
ample to follow. How is that?
"Third Wo want to know where tho asser
tion that this republic is the most hated nation
in the world, originated. Did it originate in
London, Paris, Berlin, Petrograd, or is it an
American fabrication originating in tho neigh
borhood of New York? Is it a simple truth
which it is well for us to know, or is it a sinister
lie held necessary in order to generate fear and
distrust and to transform American sympathy
for the suffering people of Europe into suspicion
and enmity for a bellicose basis of big army and
big navy?
"Fourth Wo want to know, since the sparks
of the great conflagration across the Atlantic are
falling on this side, how we may best protect our
selves from catching fire and burning up along
with Europe? Shall we get out a billion dollars
worth of fresh inflammables and combustibles,
oil, gasoline and gunpowder and spread them in
full exposure on our roofs, or shall wo turn on
the hose, spread wet blankets and watch the
sparks vigilantly like sensible men?
"Fifth We want to know the truth about tho
clamor of 'Preparedness.' The word is smooth
enough and sounds extremely prudent, especial
ly to a man who is well scared, but we want to
know what 'Preparedness' means. What will it
mean twenty-flve years from now? Does it mean
the same thing in America it meant in Europe?
Is 'Preparedness' for war the slogan of an un
selfish patriotism that is willing to pay the price
0f it tho enormous prices or is It a slogan most
vociferated by those who live in the center
which will get the price when it Is paid?
"Sixth We want to know more than any
thing else how the military regime relates itself
to Christianity? This Is the issue that goes deep
est this is the challenge that la flung before the
door of every Christian church and conscience.
Is Christ a real conviction with a citizen or Just
a real convenience? Is He absolute or relative,
sovereign or subordinate? Is Christianity to be
crumpled up as easily in the fingers of statesmen
In this country as It was crumpled up in the
fingers of kings, kaisers and czars in Europe?
The unreliability of the sensational press la
well illustrated by the report that China was in
tending to enter the war. After numerous dis
patches affirming that this was under consider
ation eiving the reasons therefor, etc., word
comes from China that the Chinese government
Sad never considered the possibility of joinhi
the Allies or been requested to do so. Waat
fake will be sprung next?
WHAT'S IN A NAME?
rvhtk aflsociation of weta in tho city of Wash
n5nn declares that prohibition in tho District
Sd be tyranny, but when the wets fill them
sXes with booze and then go out to ruin men
and menace a community-they call it personal
liberty!
The Advocates of
Peace
Comparatively few of tho advocates of peace
can properly bo described as non-roslstnntfl, and
those who uso tho term as a term of derision
are, as a rule, too intelligent not to understand
that it is a misrepresentation of tho attitude of
thoso who favor the substitution of reason for
forco in the settlement of international disputes.
Tho question is not whother a nation will resist
an attack if it is actually attacked, and, of
course, no ono thinks that is tho quootlon at is
sue In tho United States today. The real ques
tion Is whether, under tho gulso of preparing for
dofensc, wo shall load ourselves down with un
necessary taxes, stir up a war spirit In tho coun
try, create a military class among us, ndopt false
standards of honor, swagger about and by
threats excite hatreds which lead to war. The
advocates of peace bollevo that tho philosophy
which preserves peace In a neighborhood Is the
best assurance of International peace, and they
seek to substitute the spirit of peace which acts
through friendship, for tho spirit of war, which
acts through ultimatums. W. J. BRYAN.
HELP FROM THE SOUTH
Tho south promises to render tho country sig
nal service in tho fight against preparedness. Ma
jority Leader Kitchln has already taken a strong
stand against tho proposed increase In tho ex
penditures of tho army and navy. Other southern
congressmen and senators havo also announced
their opposition to tho program. Tho south "Is
democratic, and it knows that militarism is un
democratic; tho south also known something of
.the horrors of war and docs not want to Invite
war by adopting tho policy of tho war-like na
tions. Here's to the south champion of peace and
of tho policy of good will. W. J. BRYAN.
WHY CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS
Why do the advocates of preparedness ask for
continuing appropriations, running five years?
Because they know that tho present frenzy win
subside when tho war is over and the exhausted
nations turn to peaceful pursuits. It is now or
never, and the men interested in spending the
money want a contract that will continue in spite
of the people. They would secure a perpotual
contract if they could. But will congress invite
the wrath of tho voters by tying the people's
hands by a five years' contract?
W. J. BRYAN.
STOP ADVERTISING LIQUORS
Georgia has followed the example of Alabama,
and prohibited liquor advertisements. Good.
All prohibition states should do the same. And
why should high license states allow tho liquor
sellers to subsidize tho papers of tho state?
HAS WON IMMUNITY
Tho fact that Sir Edward Carson scolds the
United States for not entering tho present war,
has pleased the jingoes and saved him from be
ing criticised for resigning from the cabinet
while his country was at war.
SUCCESS THROUGH SUFFERING
"Suffering and success are intimately .
related. If we succeed without suffer- -
ing, it is because some one suffered fee--
fore. If we suffer and do not succeed, 9
it is that some one later on may succeed."
0 Dr. Edward Judson. (B
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