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Show BRYAN TELLS OF REFORMS RE W1LLAGV0GATE Will Urge National Prohibition, Prohibi-tion, Woman Suffrage and Election by Direct Popular Vote. IS HONOR GUEST AT DINNER OF ADMIRERS Lauds Work Accomplished by President Wilson and His Support by Congress. WASHINGTON, Dec. 6. Reforms to, which he hopes to commit the Democratic Demo-cratic party and which he hopes to sea accomplished within the next four years were outlined tonight to-night by William Jennings Bryan at a 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 suffrage suf-frage by federal amendment, election of the president by direct popular vote and changes to make the constitution more easily amendable. Mr. Bryan gave a prominent place to two things he proposes to fight: The effort to give the federal government exclusive control over railroad regulation regula-tion and "the menace of militarism" presented by proposals for universal military mil-itary service. Speeches lauding Mr. Bryan and his work during the campaign just won were made by many of the diners and a letter was read from President Wilson, with whom the former secretary and Mrs. Bryan had lunched during the day. Praised by Wilson. The president wrote: Will you not be kind enough to convey my very cordial greetings to Mr. Bryan and to those who are assembled as-sembled to do him honor at tlje dinner din-ner on Wednesday evening? In the recent campaign no one rendered more unselfish service than Mr. Bryan, and I am happy to know that this dinner expresses the genuine gen-uine admiration of all Democrats for him. May I not by this means convey to him my warmest congratulations congrat-ulations and best wishes for his continued con-tinued health and happiness? In reviewing at length the accomplishments accom-plishments of the Democratic administration, adminis-tration, Mr. Bryan said the work had been done in one short term ' 'under the leadership of a great Democratic president, loyally supported by a congress con-gress equally Democratic. " He continued: con-tinued: I shall take advantage of the opportunity op-portunity which this dinner affords to point out a few of the issues which seem to me within the ranse of ac-I ac-I compltshmeni during the next four years. ! Things to Avoid. But before taking up the things which should he secured. It is worth while to consider for a moment two things that should be prevented. An effort is now being- made by the railroads to secure legislation, and if necessary a constitutional amendment, amend-ment, depriving t lie states of all regulative reg-ulative power over them, and giving to congress exclusive control over railroad rail-road reflation. The consolidation of all -railroad legislation at Washington would not only transfer to the national capital an amount of work which would overwhelm over-whelm the national authorities and, therefore, decrease the efficiency of federal supervision, but it would bring a railroad influence into the election of every congressman and every senator sen-ator as well as Intensify the railroads' interests in presidential campaigns. It would do more than that. Tt would practically obliterate state lines hiii) lead to a centralization which would threaten the very existence of our dual form of government. Menace of Militarism. We can not afford to shut our eyes to the menace of militarism as it is now presented. A large increase In ihe number of army and navy officers drawing salaries for life and trained in a profession which teaches reliance upon the steel blade rather than upon the sword of truth, tends to substitute false standards of honor for the more peaceful standards that prevail among the producers of wealth. It is not unnatural that the magnifying magni-fying of the profession of arms should give support to the proposal for universal uni-versal military service, a system which is not only unnecessary, but the adoption of which would not fall to breed that military spirit which has contributed so largely to the encouragement encour-agement of war in other lands. To Inform the voters of questions under un-der consideration at an election Mr. Bryan proposed the publication of a government gov-ernment bulletin. with space divided among political parties according to voting vot-ing strength. Wants Newspaper Space. Ho alo suggested that newspapers, in return for t.eir mailing privileges, should be required to give certain spae for matter mat-ter the government desires published. "The election has shown us the clumsl- (Continued on Page Two.) ; REFORMS HE MS; (Continued from Page One.) ne- o' our electoral college and the dangers dan-gers uliirii attend this method of eieo tjo.'i," lie continuod. '::Iie the party electors are. all pledged to th'- saru -and:da t. the o;(- whi'-ii tiit-v ivcr-ii!; sonu-times varies a little. Li'''-ordinc; to the popularity popu-larity or unpopularity of the elector himself. Home plan should be devised de-vised by wli;-'ii Hie vote i s can vole diicoHv for Hie pi.-sideiit. ; A a or. her reform for whi; h it seems ' , to in'- we are ri.-:ui Is a chance in ! j Hie oonstitiitioii niakinq; it more easily ! i a iii'Mulablc. Ii is now necessary to have roii''urrinee of two-thirds of ! botii lio-jses and three-fourths of the I s:ai'S to sc'nre an amendment. That is an untair hurden to place upon I the progressive element of the conn- j try. 1 venture to su-c.et that the j rule of the people would be made j more secure by -a constitutional 1 amendment permuting a change in j oui- organic law when a majority of hot h houses in two consecutive con- j presses submit an a n'fiul :neut and j that amendment is ratified by a majority ma-jority of tho states, provided the j amendment also receives a majority of all the votes cast on that proposition proposi-tion In all the states. Wants Equal Suffrage. J"-;ual suffrage was the one ques-t ques-t ion upon which all parties were a erased in t he last campaign, their differences relating only to the nieth-cd nieth-cd of securing the reform. We mipht as well recognize the fact that a national na-tional amendment will come when the reform is adopted in a sufficient number num-ber of states to make its adoption by the nation probable. The Democratic party, whieh builds upon the doctrine of brotherhood, has more reason for welcoming the co-operation of women in I he work that lies before the party, and It has especial reason for , regard in woman suffrage with favor l at this time, since the influence of the women in the close plates was suffl- i.icnt to determine the result. j I have saved for the last the re-j re-j form which will involve the fiercest ! contest and which will brlna the j largest benefit, namely, abolition of j j the saloon. " ! National Prohibition. J The Democratic party ha vine won ! without the aid of the wet cities and 1 having- received the support of near-1 near-1 ly all the prohibition states and the stales in widen women vote. Is re-; re-; leased from any obligation to the ! liquor traffic it is free to take the moral ride of this prrea.t moral issue, ! and I have no doubt that it will live up to its opportunities and obligations. Tho argument that national prohibition prohibi-tion Is an assault upon the rUhts of the states has little weight in the states which have already adopted ! prohibition, and its weight In the na-j na-j tion will therefore diminish as the I number of prohibition states in-1 in-1 creases. ! Tho Democratic party is the party I nf the people and tho home is the j people's citadel. The fight against I the saloon is a fight for the home ; and for humanity. The .Democratic i party the re lore cannot diesita te to choose the home against '"the greatest great-est eneniv that has arisen to menace men-ace It. Mr. Bryan departed from the prepared text of his speech to advocate a referendum referen-dum on propose,! declarations of war. "This will not only he a safeguard to us, but it will be an example to the nations na-tions of Europe, where the right to declare de-clare waris vested in the executive instead in-stead of with the legislative body, aa here," he said |