Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-12-09

lulo lo W ClllAtuhuips mcl uI4Hu
out Of great free stocks such as sup
piled some OF the best and strongest
elements OF that little, but how heroic,
nation that in a high day Of ole staked
its very life TO free itself FROM every
ENHANCEMENT that had darkeped the
fortunes of the older nations and set
up a new standard here-that men
Of such origins and such free choices
Of allegiance would ever turn in
malign reaction against the govern
ment and people who had welcomed
and nurtured them and geek to make
this proud country once more a hot
bed of European passion. A little
while ago such a thing would have
seemed incredible. Because it was
incredible we made no preparation
for it. We would have been almost
ashamed to prepare for it, as if we
were suspicious of ourselves, our
comrades and neighbors! But the
ugly and incredible thing has actual
ly come about and we are without
adequate federal laws to deal with it.
| urge you to enact such laws at the
earliest possible moment and feel that
in doing so l am urging you to do
nothing less than save the honor and
self-respect of the nation. Such crea-
lures of passion, d~isloyalty, and an
archy must be crushed out. They are
not many, but they are infinitely
malignant, and the hand of our power
should close over them at once. They
have formed plots to destroy property,
they have entered into conspiracies
against the neutrality Of the govern
ment, they have sought to pry into
every confidential transaction of the
government in order to serve interests
alien to our own. 1t is possible to
deal with these things very effectually.
l need not suggest the terms in which
they may be dealt with.
Are Disgrace to the Nation.
l wish that it could be said that
only a few men, misled by mistaken
sentiments of allegiance to the govern
ments under which they were born,
had been guilty of disturbing the self
possession and misrepresenting the
temper and principles of the country
during these days of terrible war,
when it would seem that every man
who was truly an American would
instinctively make it his duty and his
pride to keep the scales of judgment
even and prove himself a partisan Of
49, aoA;o, hI,4 1,io orr, D,,4 - -r,o
There are some men among us, and
many resident abroad who, though
born and bred in the United States
and calling themselves Americans,
have so forgotten themselves and
their honor as citizens as to put their
passionate sympathy with one or the
other side in the great European con-
tlict above their regard for the peace
and dignity of the United States. They
also preach and practice disloyalty.
No laws, l suppose, can reach cor
ruptions of the mind and heart; but /
should not speak of others without
also speaking of these and expressing
the even deeper humiliation and scorn
which every self-possessed and
thoughtfully patriotic American must
feel when he thinks of them and OF
the discredit they are daily bringing
upon us.
While we speak of the preparation
= of the nation to make ure of her
security and her effective power we
must not fall into the patent error OF
supposing that her real strength
i, comes from ornaments and mere safe
guards of written law.
What is more important is, that the
, industries and resources of the coun
try should be available and ready fol
: mobilization.
The transportation problem is ar
J exceedingly serious and pressing one
|, in this country. There has from
time to time of late been reason
to fear that our railroads would
+ not much longer be able to cope will
it successfully, as at present equipped
, and c~o-ordained. | suggest that |
would be wise to provide for a com
9 mission of inquiry to ascertain by
thorough canvass of the whole ques
, ton whether our laws as at 'presen
framed and administered are as serv
iceable as they might be in the solu
ton of the problem. 1t is obviously
problem that lies at the very founda
, ton of our efficiency as a people. Sucl
! an inquiry ought to draw out ever,
a circumstance and opinion worth con
a sidering and we need to know all side
7 of the matter il we mean to do any
2 thing in the field of federal legislation
Regulation of Railroads.
No one, | am sure, would wish t
! take any backward step. The regula
ton of the railways of the country b
federal commission has had admirabl
r results and has fully justified tn,
s hopes and expectations Of those b
S whom the policy of regulation wa
y originally proposed. The question /
not what should we undo? 1t IL
t whether there is anything else we ca
d do that would supply us with effectiv
r means, in the very process of regult
f ton, for lettering the conditions III
der which the railroads are operate
d and for making them more useful SER
n ants Of the country as a whole.
seems to me that it might be the PAL
d OF wisdom, therefore, before furthe
y legislation in this field is attempted, t
g look at the whole problem Of co-ordini
d ton and efficiency in the full light of
o fresh assessment of circumstance an
IS opinion, as a guide to dealing with tn
IF several parts Of it.
It For what we are seeking now, whs
n In NV mind ia the single Thought ,