Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1917-05-03

1t has long been the practice of the
Kaiser to pirate of his Divine right
to rule. 1t begins to look as though
some All Seeing Providence also
protected the United States.
Our experience rs u nation has
taught us that our form Of govern
ment is excellent for time of peace,
but cumbersome in time of war. The
business of warfare is such that there
must be Capitalization of effort. The
German government was able to reach
a maximum of efficiency in prepara-
ton for this war because all author
ity eminated from one man, and the
of government carried the
order to every part of the nation.
During the past few weeks we hive
seen how the same thing applies in
our country. The president is COM
mander to our armies and navy. He
is assisted by the war council COM
posed of highly trained and technical
ly efficient military and naval men.
On the other hand, we have Congress
recruited from the ranks Of civil life,
usually composed of preponderance
of men more adept at playing politics
than at getting the merits of the pro-
position set before them.
We have seen the commander Of
this nations forces go before Con-
gress and ask for resolution declar-
ing state of war. This man had
ragged and tangled with Germany
for more than two years before TAX
ing such vital step. In fact, only a
few months ago he had been reflect
ed by the slogan, "He kept US out O,
War" congress couldn't tact fast enough
to give him the needed support. How
ever, there were days of buster and
ffiibuster, and, for n time the people
trembled with fear of the result. Fin
ally, only little handful of "willful
men" stood in the way. At last, the
president received the support. The
country had taken the plunge. 1t
was numbered among the warning
nations. Common sense would indi-
cate that at that point, ut least, all
argument should cease, and that the
men in charge Of the military and ma
val end of the government should take
the center of the stage. They have,
at last, but only after days of anxiety
and waiting. The president and those
qualified to help him in the crisis
were again sustained. And now i!
seems that the United States is to
avoid the narrowing details of failure
and misfortune incident to improper
procedure in conducting a war on the
scale of the present one.
At last, the authorities have au-
thority. Where dozens of Senators
and congressman rallied and tore their
hair in their fight against the presi-
dent, when the final vote came, there
was but paltry eight in the senate
and twenty four in the house that
stood out. Prominent members OF
congress who had fought the bill al
the way voted for it. There can be
but one reason for their opposition
II they couldn't win, they did not pro.
pose to draw down the wrath of the
American people by negative vote
1t would seem that these men must
have known all the time what thu
people demanded of them.
On every hand We have heard thi.
conscription bill discussed. The gen
eral sentiment has been that if some
body must be called to the colors, LEI
all the citizens share and share alike
Whether he be rich or whether he b,
poor, let him take his turn with tn,
rest. Whether he be patriotic, OF
whether he be cowardly and disloyal
iet-it be ascertained that he could no
sneak. And, while the good Ameri
can citizen was in the service, let il
be sure that the avaricious Stacker
was not at home trying to profit b,
the absence of the true American
All any man can ask is that all b,
treated alike. That is democracy
And that is what the president asked
of congress. Not alone was it neces
sary to secure the best results for thi:
nation in the business in which it i.
engaged, but by such system tina,
all Americans will be treated fairl,
and impartially.
It gives one renowned faith il: sis
country and his government to know
that a few obstructionists were un.
abe to bring ruin and trouble to
their country.
1t looked for a while as though tn,
representation from Linton in the
government service would be small