Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-07-24
A Days Great Work.

In the National Senate, Saturday was day of
deeds-deeds that will go far toward winning aud.
perhaps shortening the war. The passage of the
Food Control bill insures against deadly
menace at home The passage OF the Aviation bill
promises us the power to strike trulya decisive
blow on the battlefront. These measures together
with the completion of the draft of the army.
make up days work that well may hearten our
countrys friends and depress its foes.
Final action Food Control legislation awaits
the adjustment of certain differences between the
House and the Senate bills, but there should be
no prolonged delay over the points at issue. The
essential thing is to empower the Government to
protect itself and the people against robbery by
monopoists and spectators. The broad princi-
piles and methods by which that best be done
agreed upon by the majority of Congress;
wherefore, it would be unreasonable, unfair and,
at this juncture, highly, unpatriotic to sickle
details to insist upon provisions not strictly
relevant to the main objects in view.
Now that the enemies of this legislation have
been defeated decisvely to realize the futility
of further schemes Of obstruction we may take It's
enactment for granted. This means that the peo-
pie will not be left at the mercy Of avaricious and
really reasonable interests which If uncontrolled
would advance the prices of food and fuel to ex-
tortionate lengths. 1t means, moreover, that the
Governments far-reaching aid will be given to the
work of increasing and conserving food supplies
and of putting efficiency into their distribu-
ton. The nation thus will be strong and secure
where otherwise 1t would have been perilously
weak In this war economic forces are incalcula-
bly, important; and chief amongst economic prob
lens, both for the Allies and for the Central Pow
ers is that of food supply. In taking timely and
effective steps solve this basic problem for itself
and as far as possible, for the nations with whom
it is Joined in defense of freedom the United States
moves decisively toward winning the war.
The Aviation bill, now lacking only the Presi-
Gents signature to make it a law, opens the way
to the short cut to vctory-if short cut there
be. The measure carries an appropriation of six
hundred and forty million dollars. An ardent
advocate of the air navy has said that every hun
dred million dollars put into airplanes, and
put quickly will save three hundred thousand
Americans in killed and wounded. While this esti-
mate perhaps is over-heightened, 1t cannot be de-
MED that aeronautic supremacy will enable the
American-Anglo-F Eench forces to accomplish with
relatively light losses results which otherwise
would cost tremendously BY spending enough
munitions and men the Allies can push the enemy
back to the Rhine and at length win an incontesti-
able decision. But those great expenditures will
not be necessary and the long, grim way of trench
warfare will not be unacceptable If we muster
an air fleet strong enough to overwhelm that of
the Germans and carry a continual lombard
ment of their supply bases.
This at least is the carefully weighed opinion
of competent Observation-Disclosures we'll as
French and English army experts-who have stu
died the situation the western front 1t is upon
this dependable counsel that Congress has acted
in appropriating six hundred and forty million dol
lars for aviation purposes. The work of producing
the great fleet and its intrepid pilots will begin
forthwith and will be far advanced if not complete
by the time our army of Selectmen is ready for
service at the front. Then If ever may look
for a victory. sweeping and swift-a winged
victory.