New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-07
Prohibition, Suffrage, Di-
rect National Elections
Urged by Him
AGAINST MILITARISM
AND r. r. DOMINATION
Tells Democratic Hosts
They Must Act During
Next -Four Years

Washington, Dee. 6.-Reforms to
which he hopes to commit the Demo-
cratic party and TO see accomplished
within the next four years were out
lined tonight By William Jennings
Bryan at dinner given in his honor
by admirers among Democratic officials
and members Of Congress. He will
fight for:
Nationwide prohibition.
Woman suffrage by Federal amend
ment.
Election OF the President by direct
popular vote.
Changes to make the Constitution
more easily smendable.
Nh Bryan also said he proposes TO
fight against the effort to give the Fed
eral government exclusive control over
railroad regulation, and "the menace
Of militarism." presented by proposals
for universal military service.
Speeches lsuding Mr.. Bryan and his
work during the recent campaign were
ter was read from President Wilson,
with whom the former Secretary and
Mrs. Bryan had lupched during the
day.
Bryan Lauds Wilson
In reviewing at length the accom-
plishments of the Democratic Admin
istration Mr.. Bryan said that the work
had been done IN one short term
under the leadership of a great Dem
ocratic President. Loyalty supported by
a Congress equally Democratic" Con-
tinuing, he said:
IAN effort is now being made by the
railroads 10 secure legislation, and, II
necessary, a constitutional amendment,
depriving the states OF all regulative
power over them, and giving to Con-
gress exclusive control over railroad
regulation. The Consolidation Of all
railroad legislation at Washington
would not only transfer TO the national
capital an amount Of work which would
overwhelm the national authorities. and
therefore decrease the efficiency Of
Federal supervision, but il would bring
a railroad influence into the election
Of every Congressman and every Sen
ator, as well as intensity the railroads
interest in Presidential campaigns.
at would do more than that. II
would practically obliterate state lines
and lead to Capitalization which
would threaten the very existence of
our dual form Of government.
eve cannot afford TO shut our eyes
to the menace Of militsrism as IL is
now presented in concrete form. A
large increase in the number of army
and navy officers drawing salaries for
life and trained in profession which
teaches reliance upon the steel blade
rather than on the sword Of truth
tends TO substitute false standards Of
honor for the more peaceful standards
that prevail among the producers Of
wealth.
81 venture TO suggest that the rule
Of the people would be made more Sc
cure by constitutional amendment
permitting a change in our organic law
when a majority Of both houses in two
successive Congresses submit an amend
ment and that amendment Is ratified by
"a majority of the states. provided the
amendment also receives a majority Of
ell the votes cast on that proposition in
all the states.
Suffrage and Prohibition
Equal suffrage was the one question
upon which all parties were agreed in
the last campaign, their differences re-
lating only to the method Of securing
the reform. While the Democratic and
Republican parties failed to commit
themselves to a national amendment,
We might as well recognize the fact
that & national amendment will come
when the reform is adopted in a suffi-
cient number Of states to make its
adoption by the nation probable.
81 have saved for the last the reform
which will involve the fiercest contest,
and which will. when ACCOMPLISHED.
bring the largest beneft--namely, aboli-
ton Of the saloon. The Democratic