Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-01-01
WAR N A ANNALS
(New York Post)

wv A1ND IL
(New York Post)
AS the year of the outbreak of what
will prove, perhaps, the greatest wal
among men, 1914 will be writ large
and red in the worlds history. Com
ing as it did upon the heels of a veal
whose outstanding accomplishment ap
peared to be the advancement of world
peace by arbitration treaties and in
innate INSTRUMENTATION in many
fields of industry and art, it's uttel
submersion of all these ibulwarks
against armed strife must claim the
chief interest of the future historian
Its predecessor was recorded as a
year of unusual 5uneventfulness by
contemporary chroniclers, and in such
a review as this, most of an intro.
ductOry column was taken up in de-
failing the influences at work to JUS
tify the statement that the year 1918
was a triumph of peace and had led
the nations toward a f~orgetfulness OF
past differences and a common point
of view. The futflity Of such esti.
mates and the uncertainty of such
agencies as International conferences
and arbitration conventions is ruth.
lessly demonstrated by what the year
1914 has brought forth.
BY comparison with the European
war and the ever-present danger fac
ing the United States Of a conflict II
Mexico, most of the occurrences OF
the year fade into insignificance. In
deed, there is reason to say that, ex.
cept in this country, where vigorous
legislation held the lpublic's attention,
the first six months of 1914 were no
tably fiat and -uneveltful. Europe, to
all outward appearances, passed
through a calm before the storm.
Americas Big Events.
In America it was otherwise. what
! with the momentous achievements OF
President Wilson and his long-lived
Congress, and the commercial, politi-
cal, and economic Developments which
We're only indirectly traceable to the
war in Europe, the year 1914 was
| crammed with material for the future
American history. The, Inauguration
of the Federal reserve banks, the adj
justment of rate questions raised by
the railroads., and the opening of the
Panama Canal to ocean traffic were on
ly a few of 1918 contributions to the
country's welfare
The regular session Of the Sixty.
third Congress, which was prolonged
out of the extra session, remained at
work throughout pfacticallysthe whole
Of the year and r~eSGonvened on Decem.
Der Z. It's accomplishments were far
reaching.
On March 5 hesPresident appealed
( to Congress for a repeal of the tolls
provision of the Panama act, and at
ter a hard fight in both houses, ne
was sustained, although for the first
| time a serious break threatened be-
tween him AID his party. There was
then passed the Alaska Railroad law,
providing not to exceed $4,000, 900
for the constructi6l "by the Govern.
ment of 1000 miles of railroad line
| and telegraph in Alaska.
Another bill passed imposed a tax
of two cents a pound on sales OF
cotton for future delivery.
The conditions caused by the war
made necessary the passage of a war
revenue law, which, by i~nternal.rev'
enue taxation, is expected to make
| good the deficits on customs revenue
to the extent of about 500, 100000 an
nually. Other emergency legislation
of Importance was, the amendment OF
the Panama Canal Act, admitting to
American registry, foreign-built ships
of American ownership; au emergen-
cy Currency act, the creation of a
Bureau of War Risk Insurance in the
Treasury Department, and a%ppropria'
lions for the help of Americans
stranded in Europe when war broke
out. q, 4 r.
Arbitration Treaties Signed.
The Clayton Antitrust bill was
passed and signed by the President
in the middle of October. And a bill
was passed which provided for leas-
ing of coal lands in Alaska, thus ter
minatiag a state of affairs which had
been Alaska's undoing for eight years,
and beginning the conservation poll
cies advocated by Franklin K. Lane,
Secretary of the Interior. General ar.
! filtration treaties were ratified with
twelve foreign nations.
In the regular session of Congress
which began in December, 1914, Ell.
forts were made to exploit the "un'
preparedness of the United States
for war in the interests of those ia.
voring a largely increased army and
navy. President Wilson took a firm
stand against a sensational inquiry in
to the nations wal resources, and
thoughtful men in Congress and
throughout the nation supported him,
holding that overzealous preparation
might draw us into difficulties and
would impair our usefulness as a
peacemaker with the nations at war,
UNITED STATES SENDS
ARMED FORCE TO MEXICO
The Mexican problem occupied first
place in the country's interest, until
shelved by the outbreak of hostilities
In Europe. Early in the year, armed
Intervention by the United States ap.
peared to have become inevitable.
IN Aor31 On tho DroSi6ont made the