The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1915-12-10

Of revenue which Gun Justly be resorted
to without ~hampeilng the industries Of
the country or putting any too great
charge upon individual expenditure. A
one per cent tax per gallon on gasoline
and naptha would yield. at the present
estimated production, $4,000 600; a tax of
so cents per horsepower OF automobiles
and internal explosion engines, SIS, 900;
a stamp tax on bank checks, probably
SIS, coz, 900; a tax Of Is cents per ton on
pig iron, SO, OOO,O 900; a tax Of so cents per
ton on fabricated iron and steel, proba-
bly, SO, 100000 In a country of great In
dustries like this 1t ought to be easy to
distribute the burdens Of taxation with
out making them anywhere bear too
heavily or too exclusively Upon any one
set of persons or undertakings. What Is
clear Is, that the industry OF this gener-
alton SHOULD pay the bills of this genera
ton.
The Danger Within.
I have spoken to you today. gentlemen,
upon a single theme, the thorough prep
aration of the nation to care for Its
own security and to make sure OF entire
freedom to play the impartial role In this
hemisphere and In the world which we
all believe to have been providentially
assigned to It. l have had in mind no
thought Of any immediate or particular
ScAAoN 49, ooA VA '" 49,
other nations. We are at peace with all
the nations Of the world, and there is
reason to hope that no question in con-
troversy between this and other govern
ments will lead to any serious breach OF
amicable relations. grave as some differ
ences OF attitude and policy have been
and may yet turn out to be. l am sorry
to say that the gravest threats against
our national peace and safety have been
uttered within our own borders. There are
citizens of the United States, l blush to
admit. born under other flags but welcomed
under our generous naturalization laws
to the full freedom and opportunity OF
America, who have poured the poison OF
disloyalty into the very arteries of our
national life; who have sought to bring
the authority and good name Of our gov
eminent into contempt, to destroy our In
dustries wherever they thought 1t effec-
tive for their vindictive purposes to strike
at them, and to debase our politics to the
uses of foreign intrigue. Their number
Is not great as compared with the whole
number of those sturdy hosts by which
our nation has been enriched in recent
generations out Of virile foreign stocks:
but 1t is great enough to have brought
deep disgrace upon us and to have made
1t necessary that we should promptly
make use of processes of law by which
we may be purged Of their corrupt dis
tempers. America never witnessed any
thing like this before. 1t never dreamed
1t possible that men sworn. into Its own
| citizenship, men drawn out of great free
stocks UGH as supplied some OF the best
an $trongest elements of that little, but
| hCR heroic, nation that In a high day of old
| staked it's very life to free itself from
every ENHANCEMENT that had darkened
the fortunes of the older nations and set
up a new standard here-that men OF such
origins and such free choices of allegi-
ance would ever turn in malign reaction
against the government and people who
had welcomed and nurtured them and
seek to make this proud country once
more a hotbed of European passion. A
little while ago such a thing would have
seemed Incredible. Because it was in
credible we made no preparation for 1t.
We would rave been almost ashamed to
prepare for it, as if VIZ were suspicious
of ourselves, our own comrades and
ncighbors! But the ugly and incredible
has actually come about and we are with
out adequate federal laws to deal with
it. ! urge you to enact such laws at
the earliest possible moment and feel that
in SO doing l am urging you to do moth
ing less than save the honor and self.
respect of the nation.
Must Be Crushed Out.
Such creatures Of passion, disloyalty
and anarchy must be crushed out. They
are not many, but they are infinitely ma
lignant, and the hand OF our powar should
close over them at once. They have
formed plots to destroy property, they
have entered into conspiracies against the
neutrality of the government, 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
e~ffectualiy. I need not suggest the terms
in which they may be dealt with.
/ wish that it could be said that only q
few men, misled by mistaken sentiments
Of allegiance to the governments unde1
which they We're born, had been guilty o.
disturbing the self-possession and misrep-
reSenting the temper and principles OF
the country during these days Of terrible
war, when 1t would seem that every mar
who was truly an American would in.
stinctively make 1t his duty and his pride
to keep the scales Of Judgment even ant
prove himself a partisan of no nation bu
his own. But 1t cannot There are some
men among us, and many resident abroad
who, though born and bred in the Unit
ed States and calling themselves Amer.
leans, have so forgotten themselves and
their honor as citizens as to put theil
passionate sympathy with one or the 9th,
er side III the great European conf1ic1
above their regard for the peace and dig
nifty Of the United States. They alst
preach and practice disloyalty. No laws
| suppose, can reach corruptions OF the
mind and heart; but I should not speak
of others without also speaking Of these
and expressing the even deeper humilia.
ton and scorn which every self possesses
and ~thoughtfully patriotic American mus
feel when he thinks OF them and OF tn.
discredit they are daily bringing upon us
Transportation Problem.
The transportation problem Is an ex.
ceedingly serious and pressing one in thi.
country. There has from time to tim
Of late been reason to fear that our rail
roads would not much longer be able Il
cope with it successfully as at presen'
equipped and co-ordinated. l suggesr
that it would be wise to provide for {
commission Of inquiry to ascertain by /
thorough canvass Of the whole question
whether our laws as at present framed
and administered are as serviceable q.
they might be in the solution OF the prob
lem. 1t is obviously a problem that liel
at the very foundation Of our efficiency
as a people. Such an inquiry ought t,