The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-12-07
WANTS DRY" DEMOCRACY.
Bryan Wants Party Committed to Pro-
hibition Policy.

Washington. D. c., Dec Reforms TO
which he hopes to commit the Democrat
ic party and to see accomplished within
the next four years were outlined last
night bv William Jennings Bryan at q
dinner given in his honor by admirers
among Democratic officials and members
of Congress. Nation wide prohibition he
urged as most important and other
causes on his list included woman sur
frage by federal amendment, election OF
the president by direct popular vote and
changes TO make the constitution more
easily smendable.
In addition to his program to be advo-
Gated, Mr. Bryan gave prominent place
TO two things he proposes to fight:
''The effort to give the federal govern
ment exclusive control over railroad reg
ulation" and "the menace of militarism|'
presented by proposals for universal mill
tary service.
Speeches lauding Mr.. Bryan and par
ticularly his work for the party during
the campaign just won were made by
many of the diners, and letter was
read from President Wilson. with whom
the former secretary and Mrs. Bryan had
lunched during the day. The president
wrote
"Will YOU not be kind enough to con
vey nv very cordial greetings to Mr.
BRYAN and to those who are assembled
to do him honor at the dinner on
Wednesday EVENING" In the recent cam
paigu no one rendered more unselfiesh
service than Mr.. Bryan and | am happy
to know that this dinner expresses the
genuine admiration of all Democrats for
him. Nav | not by this means convey
to him my warmest congratulations and
best wishes for his continued health and
happiness"
In reviewing at length the accomplish
ments of the Democratic administration,
Mr.. BRYAN said the work had been done
in one short term under the leadership
of great Democratic president, Loyalty
supported by Congress equally Demo
ratic."
Regarding railroad regulation and mill
tary service. he said:
"An effort is now being made by the
railroads to secure legislation and II nee
essarv a constitutional amendment, de
priving the states of all reguative power
over them and giving to Congress exclu-
sive control over railroad regulation.
The consolidation of all railroad legisla-
tion 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 super
vision. but it would bring a railroad in
Huence into the election OF every con-
gressman and every senator as well as
intensity the railroads interest in presi-
Dental campaigns.
aft would do more than that. It would
obliterate state lines. and lead to cen
traIigation which would threaten the
very existence OF our dual form OF gov
ernment.
1--WE cannot afford to shut our eyes to
the menace of militarism as It is now
presented in concrete form. A large in
crease i'm the numb of army and navy
officers drawing salaries for life, and
trained in a profession which teaches re-
lance upon the steel blade rather than
on the sword of truth. tends to substi-
tute false standards of honor for the
more peaceful standards that prevail
among the producers of wealth.
"Tt is not unnatural that the magnify
ing of the profession of arms should give
support to the proposal for universal
military service. system which Is not
only unnecessary. but the adoption OF
which could not fail to breed that mill |
tary spirit which has contributed so
largely to the encouragement of war in |
other lands"