Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-12-06

now of Austria, herself among the Iess'
as we'll as of Serbia and OF poisnu.
Justice and equality of rights can De nau
only at a great price. We are seehnns
permanent, not temporary foundat'ons
\ for the peace Of the world ana NUS.
seek them canddly and fearlessiy' Ae
allies, the right will prove to be INC
expedient.
What shall we do, then to push tn.s
great war Of freedom and justice 10 l'o
righteous conclusion? We must cloai
away with thorough hand all lmpeu.-
ments and we must make every aoJus.
| ment of law that will facilitate the tun
and free use of our whole capacity anu
force as fighting unit.
| One very embarrassing obstacle that
stands in our way is that we are at war
| with Germany. but not with her aines:
therefore very earnestly recommend
that the Congress Immediately deciare
the United States in a state OF war Win
IAustria-Hungary. Does 1t seem strange
to you that this should be the conclusion
of the argument I have just addressed
to you? Is 1t not? 1t Is in fact the IN
evitable logic Of what I have said. Aus.
tria Hungary is for the time being not
her own mistress, but simply the vassal
Of the German government. We mus'
face the facts as they are and act upon
them without sentiment In this sterr
business. The government OF Austria
Hungary is not acting upon It's owr
initiative or In response to the wishei
and the feelings Of its own peoples. but
as the instrument Of another nation. We
must meet its force with our own ant
regard the central powers as but one
The war can be successfully conducted
in no other way The same logic woult
lead also to a declaration of war agains
Turkey and Bulgaria. They also ar
the tools of Germany. But they ar
mere tools and do not yet stand In tn
direct path Of our necessary action. W.
shall go wherever the necessities Of thi
war carry us. but it seems to me tina
we should go only where immediate an
practical considerations lead us and no
heed any others.
The financial and military measure
which must be adopted will suggest them
selves as the war and its undertaking
develop, but I will take the liberty Q
proposing to you certain other acts o
legislation which seem to me to be needle
for the support of the war and for tn
release of our whole force and energ
necessary to extend in certain particular
the legislation of the last session wit
sary. I believe 1t necessary to Great
/ very definite and particular control owe
. the entrance and departure Of all person
r into and from the United States.
, ALIEN ENEMIES OF BOTH SEXES
: Legislation should be enacted definin
! as a criminal offense every willful viols
: ton of the presidential proclamation
relating to alien enemies promulgate
NJ. ho CT ~
= and providing appropriate punishment
! and women as we'll as men should
included under the terms of the &C
:, placing restraint upon all alien enemie
= 1t is likely that as time goes on mar
y alien enemies will be willing to be II
= and housed at the expense of the govern
u ment In the detention camps and 1t wou
be the purpose Of the legislation ha'
II suggested to conf1ne offenders amor
them in penitentiares and other simil'
), institutions where they could be made
u work as other criminals.
II MORE PRICE REGULATION.
j. Recent experience has convinced me tn
l. izing the government to set limits
\ prices. The law Of supply and demand.
!, am sorry to say, has been replaced
" the law of unrestrained selfishness. VIII
q we have eliminated profiteering in sever
!. branches of industry it still runs II
N pudently rampant in others. The farmel
for example, complain with a great de
n Of Justice that while the regulation
"a food prices restricts their incomes.
ID restraints are placed upon the prices
"a most of the things they must themselv
I. purchase; and similar inequalities obta
n on all sides.
1t is imperatively necessary that t
Y consideration of the full use of the wat
:. power of the country and also Of I
~ consideration of the systematic and J
pc economical development of such of I
% natural resources of the country as g
~ still under the control of the federal &c
~ eminent should be Immediately resum
40 and affirrnatvely and constructively de-
40 with at the earliest possible moment.
20 pressing need of such legislation is da
10 becoming more obvious.
y. The legislation proposed at the last s.
~ sion with regard to regulated combiI
tons among our exporters in order
~ provide for our foreign trade a m,
e. effective organization and method of I
81 operation ought by all means to be co
eo pleted at this session.
mr. Critics HOUSE PROCEDURE.
Ang 1 beg that the members Of
ng House of Representatives will permit