The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1917-10-18
THE FIRST SIX MONTHS.

Precedent counts for naught and
tradition has been entirely relegated
out of thought in the course of the
war of this day. We have been in the
great adventure for six months and.
some astounding things have trans
pired. In an analysis of the first six
months the Duluth News Tribune
brings some pointed facts to the OBJ
servation of the reader.
President Wilson at last has con-
gress .off his hands," something for
which President Cleveland, his near
est democratic predecessor, so earn
estly wished. But who in those days
would have dreamed of any president
in this country ever being given the
power that now rests in Mr. Wilson?
Who would have dreamed of a $4O,-
l000,0O0,000 congress? Yet Mr.. Wilson
is the first American dictator and this
congress which has another year Of
life, has made the billion dollar con-
crosses, over which democracy has
such spasms of horror, look like dis
credited jitney.
Mr. Wilson, however, is dictator
from popular choice The people have
crowned him with an authoritv equal
to that of an autocrat The people
have given, the people can take away
He has nothing by heredity save his
own ability
1t was April that he sent his war
message. The recurrent resolution de-
claiming state Of war with Germany
passed the senate on April 4, by a vote
OF 50 to 8, and the house, on April s
by 1913 to 50. The United States there
fore entered the war April 6.
We entered it wholly unprepared,
without an army, without third rate
navy, without guns, airplanes, motors,
or any sort of military equipment. We
were safe because France and Great
Britain stood between us and our en-
envy as they had for two and one-half
years.
Today we have under arms an army
of 100000, or over, with near 700, 900
more in training camps. We have over
$4,000 young officers, and $4,000 re-
serve officers. The medical depart
ment has increased from $500 to 10000
Orders have been placed for 10000
airplanes Congress refused within
the year to give $l5,OOO,OOO for that
service. 1t has now voted $500. 0OO,-
600. Similar sums have been poured
out for every other purpose
so we have congress that at
single session voted $4,000, OOO, 900 for
war expenditure, and 100000 900 for
loans to our allies. 1t has added ST.
400, 100000 to national taxation.
such sums can not be spent in a |
day There is no Aladdins lamp of
military preparedness. What was not
done in three years, nor even begun.
can not come as a jack in -the-box 1t
viii be year before the full effect OF
all these funds and troop expansion
can be realized.
But by spring We should have over
l'ooo'ooo men on the French front and
by June 100000, fairly well eouipped
from here and fully so by the French
and British help. We will send the
big army with one gun each: thew :
must have three EACH We send them !
without artillery, but it will be pro- {
vided. 7
At the head Of this army and navy a
Is President Wilson. He also has all A
solute control of the food, feed and !
-uei resources of the country. of aha 6
exports, of rail and water transporta-
ion, and laws give him power to sun &
'ress dlsloyalty and sedition to con. G
foi the press, punish spies and trail +
ofs, to regulate trade and to enlarge "
he arm at Will a
All this is so because the American
eople have wished it to be so II
othing else was done in three wears
lesson was learned, so that in this
actor of all the machinery of pre- o,
aredness, we are starting at least two tn
ears ahead of any Of our allies Of m
urope. III
su