Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1917-12-06

DC tHe CoiltiuSlOu VI llle dISuIlleul
have just addressed to you? 1t is not.
1t is in fact the inevitable logic Of
what | have said Austria-Hungary is
for the time being not her own mis-
tress, hut simply the vassal of the
German government. We must face
the facts as they are and act upon
them without sentiment in this stern
business. The government of Austria
Hungary is not acting upon it's own
initiative or in response to the wishes
and feelings of its own peoples, but as
the instrument of another nation. We
must meet its force With our own and
regard the central powers as but one.
The war can be successfully conducted
in no other way.
As to Turkey and Bulgaria.
'"rhe same logic would lead also to
Il declaration of war against Turkey
and Bulgaria. They also are the tools
of Germany. But they are mere tools
and do not yet stand i'm the direct path
of our necessary action. We shall go
wherever the necessities of this war
carry us, but it seems tn me that we
should go only where immediate and
practical considerations land us and
not heed any Others
"rhe financial and military meas
ures which must be adopted will sug-
gest themselves as the war and its un-
dertakings develop, but will take the
liberty of proposing to you certain
hpr vet nf 10, ioh
To me to be needed for the support of
the war and for the release of our
whole force and energy.
ut will be necessary to extend in
certain particulars the legislation Of
the last session with regard to alien
enemies; and also necessary, l be-
lieve, to create a very definite and
particular control over the entrance
and departure Of all persons into and
from the United States.
Legislation should be enacted de-
filming as a criminal offense every willful
violation of the presidential proclama7
tions relating to alien enemies promul-
gated under section 4O67 of the Re-
vised Statutes and providing appropii-
ate puniSlments; and women as Well
as men, should be included under the
terms of the acts placing restraints
7'pon alien enemies. 1t is likely that
rs time goes on many alien enemies
will be willing to be fed and housed
at the expense of the government in
the detention camps. and it would be
The purpose of legislation l have sug-
sested to contine offenders among
them in penitentiaries and other sim
ilar institutions where they could he
made to work as other criminals do.
Go Further In Fixing Prices.
Recent experience has convinced
me that the congress must go further
in authorizing the government to set
limits to prices. The law of supply
and demand am sorry to say. has
been replaced by the law of unrestrnill-
I'd selfishness. While we have elm
mated protileering In several branches
of industry, 1T still runs impildently
rampant in others. The farmers. fu,
example, complain with a great deal of
.lustire. li.at while the regulation of
sDod prices restricts their incomes, no
restraints are placed upon the PRICES
of most of the things they must Them
solves purchase. and similar iniqniies
ohtain on all sides.
at is imperatively necessary that tn,
consideration of the full use of the
water power of the country and ais,
the consideration of the systenlati,
and yet economical development OF
such of the natural resources of the
country as are still under the contro
of the federal government should b,
Immediately resumed and aflirmalivnlA
and constructively dealt with at The
earliest possible moment. The press
Ding need of such legislation is daily be
coming more obvious.
A Word to the Lawmakers.
1.-The legislation proposed at the las
session with regard to regulated com
binations among our exporters, In or
der to provide for our foreign trade /;
more effective organization and meth
cd of cooperation. ought by all mean:
to be completed at this session.
and beg that the members of thu
house of representatives will pern
me to express the opinion that 1t viii
be impossible to deal i'm any but a yer,
wasteful and extravngant fashion Will
! The enormous appropriations of tn
| public moneys which must continue t.
| be made, If the war is to be propcll,
| sustained, unless the house will con
| sent to return to It's former practic
| of initiating and preparing all uppro
| priation bills through single commit
tee, in order that responsibility ma
| be conferred, expenditures standarlizc,
| and made uniform and waste and di
| plication as much as possible avoided
additional legislation may also be
| fome necessary before the present cor
| gress again adjourns in order to effec
a,e most efficient coordination and OF
Grafton of the railway and other trans
portation systems of the country bl
i to that shall, If circumstances shoul
4 demand, call the attention of the cor
! gress upon another occasion.
Concentrate on Winning War.
/ IF have overlooked anything this
ought to be done for the more etfectiv
conduct Of the war, your own counsel
will supply the omission. What | III
/! perfectly clear about is that In I'll
present session of the congress OF
whole attention and energy should |
concentrated on the vigorous. rapi
and successful prosecution of the gre;
task of winning the war.
Eve can do this with all the greatc