Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1916-05-10

ton. He believes that the govern
ment should so shape itself as to be
prepared for any emergency that
may present itself at the close of the
present European war. He is opposed
to war, but stands for adequate pre-
paration with minimum of mill
tarism and reasonable eXenditure. He
contends that in the present appro-
priations the same results could be
obtained with a saving of $500, 0O0,-
600 a year to the government, and
that the proper expenditure of $780,
100000 will be enough to furnish an
adequate increase in the navy and
coast defences. His National Guard
experience has convinced him that
the young men of the nation can be
trained in the arts of war without
becoming professional soldiers. He
believes, primarily, in the policy that
the United States should attend to its
own business, at the same time devel-
oping the patriotic spirit which will
lead the youth of the country to rally
to its colors when the country calls
for the defense of its homes, its peo-
pie and its honor.
On the subject of the protective
tariff, his view is that with the close
of the present European war, pro,
tective tariff will be particularly nee
essary, this necessity being further
emphasized by our growing CONNER
cial activities in the Orient. His be-
lief is in the historic fiscal policy of
the government, save when it has been
interrupted by the application of the
free trade theory, that the revenues
should be raised by duties on imports.
SO laid as to lead to the development
of the commerce and resources of the
United States as against the world,
and internally, so regulated as to
preserve the rights of individual citi.
zens.
In American national finance Gen.
Dupont is an advocate of annual de-
partmental budgets instead of the
present haphazard system of appro-
priating sums from the money in the
treasury mot otherwise appropriat-
ed" He believes that the per capita
cost of government is too high, that
the attention of the individual citi-
zen should be brought to the cost of
government to himself and to the
members of his family as a concrete
fact, and that the budget system, by
providing at one complete view, a
comparative exhibit of the cost Of
government and of it's approximate
per capital cost, is step in the di-
rection of an educated public inter-
est in the cost of administration.
He is chairman of the Board of Ma
tional Councillors of the Natioanl
Highways Association. In order 20
give demonstration of practical
bodybuilding he built 10 miles of
good roads in accordance with mod
ern approved engineering principles
in the state of Delaware, paid for it
himself and gave it to his home
state, Delaware. The entire expense
was borne by himself. re did this
with view to having it serve as an
example of practical good road-build-
ing, not only to his home state but 10
the entire nation.
He has given to many worthy
causes, but has never permitted the
use of his name as philanthropist
His philanthropical work has extend.
led to educational, charitable and 9th
Ter activities with view to benefitins
humanity along social, agricultural
stock breeding, horticultural, mental
moral and unitarian lines. His
work of this kind resembles that oil
George Washington and Thomas JEFF
fersOn in their interests in the early
days of the nation for the betterment
of transportation facilities, agricul
tural, commercial and other matter.
of public interest. All of these &C
Invites has been in cooperation with
various organizations formed for i'm
provement in the different fields witt
which they were identified.
So at least, the desire for a bust
ness mems candidate for the Presi