The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-04-04

Fred Williams, the great commoner
was defeated last fall by the gold Dem
ocrats. In several other states the old
line Democrats are solidly entrenched,
but in the west, the new Democracy
is still popular with the Democrats.
Any attempt to compromise on the
principles Inundated at Chicago and
Kansas City will be met with rebuke
by the element Of the party who were
in the majority in 1896, and who are
in the majority now, although they
may have lost some control of the ma
chinery of the party.
Some of the Eastern papers in COM
menting on w. J. Bryan's recent visit
to cities on the Atlantic sea board, find
much pleasure In the fact that very
little interest was manifested among
the people. Ex-president Cleveland
will travel west soon and will deliver
a speech in St. Louis. but his presence
in the west will attract less attention
than is expected. The attempt of
eastern Democrats to belittle Mr..
Bryan shows that they exercise very
poor judgement as politicians. That
Mr.. Bryan will continue to be a lead
ing factor in the party is acknowledged
by even his far seeing western oppon-
ents. It would then seem that those
eastern Democrats who talk harmony
and reorganization are obviously un-
wise in antagonizing the Bryan ele-
ment. They must be contended with,
and Mr.. Bryan holds the key. When
ever 1t becomes necessary for party
harmony he must be consulted with.
They must not forget this.
England is enacting some very
stringent drink legislation for the de-
preston of drunkenness. Getting
drunk has been made unlawful, and the
drunken are blacklisted. A gradual
and careful restriction is being made in
the granting Of liscenses to sell liquor
On the other hand France and Belgium
have ceased opposing drunkenness, and
are now directing their attention to
alcoholism. It seems that in these
countries the patrons Of alcohol do not
get drunk 50 much, but they manage
to consume such an unconscionable
amount Of spirits in the course of day
without loosing control Of their fac
ulties. The endeavor is to decrease the
use Of spirits; Of Holland gin IN Bel
guim in the hope that the gin drinkers
will take to drinking beer. In France
a merry war is on between the govern
ment officials and the liquor interests.
Leading chemists are paid fabulous
sums for: an expression2 as to the merits
ofSalcohol5a Is food, ia.
81 s5 s*sx,sfS,
ten littIe
sbook xplalnink d lly 5S sold iers " desert
from sthe lJnit "a ss,t ates army. He has
,been5a soldier he says, and he knows
that improper feeding and inconsiderate
treatment are the trouble. On tn
strength Of experience CLEANED in the
Spanish war, he accuses the Commiss.
ary Department Of ''criminal in
competency infinitely more horrible
than physical torture" and he de-
clares that our army organization has
remedies for all the armys
troubles. His list includes more pay;
trained cooks; no rations, but all SOL
dier wants to eat: like food and quar-
ters for officers and men; recognition
Of the right OF all soldiers Of what
ever position to engage in criticism and
in free speech at all times and under
al, circumstances; and "abolition Of
military salutes and all other imbecile
and servile practices" These are in
teresting suggestions and show a fine
democratic spirit, though it will be
questioned whether Elwood will ever
be able to get that spirit inculcated in
our army.
On March 10 the voters Of New
Hampshire recorded their will as to
eight proposed amendments to their
State Constitution. They accepted four
amendments and rejected six They
agreed that voters and office holders
in their state must hereafter know how
to read and write, but they rejected
woman suffrage by a heavy majority.
Being invited to permit the substitution
of "Christian" for protestant" in that
portion Of their bill Of rights which
authorizes towns to appropriate money
for religious societies, they failed to
give the proposal the necessary two
thirds vote, though the majority of
votes were for it. New Hampshire is
progressive, but its progress is not
headlong. The steps it takes, however,
are. probably permanent. It shows
Eastern conservation about woman
suffrage, but they seem to be no nearer
its adoption then they were twenty
five years ago. It will evidently be
tested in the c0educatfonal West ho