The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1919-01-02
FOR H PEOPLE

The following letter sent out
by The Commoner, w. j. Bryan's
paper, shows the endorsement
this publication gives to the very
principles of the Nonpartisan
League:
You and / are now face to face
with the many important recon
struction problems that the ter
mination Of the war has forced
to the front. "A person cannot
more forcibly employ his time
than in the study and settlement
of the many important measures
that the American people will
have to Immediately consider.
Mr.. Bryan is preparing a con-
structive program which he will
advocate through the columns
of The Commoner, and he has
requested me to bring these is
sues to your attention and to ex-
press the hope that you may be
depended upon to cooperate
with him to the fullest extent in
protecting the interests of the
masses of the people against
those who may attempt to Sc
cure profit from the hardships
Of the people.
The Commoner will urge the
army and navy to a reasonable
peace footing.
The Commoner. believes that
as the war is over, all unnecess-
airy army and navy contracts
should be Immediately cancelled
to reduce taxes.
We believe that the national,
state and municipal governments
should Immediately undertake
public development Of the pub
lie highways and water courses
so as to give employment to re-
turning: soldiers, and by increas-
ing the transportation facilities,
reduce the present high freight
rates. .u..'
We believe that the federal,
state and municipal governments
should own and operate railroads
telegraphs, telephones, cables
and merchant marine and that
the profits from the govern
ment ownership and operation
of these public utilities should be
given to the people in the way of
reduced rates for service. s. :
We believe that the special in
terests should not again be per-
mitted shift the burdens of the
war upon the people in the form
of protective tariffs. -.
We believe that there should
be a national constitutional
amendment adopted providing
for the initiative and referend-
UNI SO that the people, when they
desire it, could initiate or defeat
anv national legislation or act.
We believe that the producers
of the country should be protect
ed against the packing house
combine, the insurance combines
and the other trusts and mono
poles to reduce the cost Of liv-
ing.
We believe that the federal,
state and municipal governments
should Immediately be given the
power to protect the consumers
against the profiteers. .
We believe with the final de-
struction of the liquor traffic in
sight and the success of woman's
suffrage almost assured that by
united effort the people can Sc
cure now the many domestic re-
forms that are so necessary to
their welfare. Mr.. Bryan eXs
poets to urge the consideration
Of these issues through The
Commoner and to call on the
people to organize to help pro-
mote peoples rule. He desires
your assistance and believes
that this work is SO important
that it cannot fail to interest you
and your neighbors if the mat
ter is brought to your attention.
Kindly let us know at once
how many Of these issues you
are in favor of and how many Of
them you will help to interest
your neighbor in Cannot you
take the lead in your community
and organize clubs and start pub
lie discussion? Will you not help
place The Commoner in the
hands Of your acquaintance at
our clubbing rate Of Is cents per
year so that we can help you pre-
sent these questions In making
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