The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1917-08-07
RFPUDIATION OF THE
spORE- BILL


At a time when the Treasury De
partment of the United States is con
templating the issue Of another great
war loan. when the raising Of sufh-
Gent revenues 10 meet the ~extraoTdi-
nary financial demands upon the gov
eminent constitutes one Of the most
serious and pressing Of the nations
problems; when the resources of the
country are being combed with the
view OF discovering hitherto IN
touched taxable values-on the ' Of
another campaign for popular bond
subscriptions-the majority in Con-
gress offers a rivers and harbors bill
carrying appropriations amounting to
s27. 900. and demands that it be
put up 10 the President"
Every well-informed person in the
United States knows perfectly well
what President Wilson thinks about
pork" but every well-informed per
son knows equally we'll that the
pork" hunters have him at a disad-
vantage at this time. He might tell
them that, while he is willing to put
his signature 70 measures granting
billions for defense. he is unwilling 70
be a party to the granting Of one
penny for tribute; but the effect Of
this would be lost upon the under
standing and the conscience of Con
gressmen who are bent upon taking
something home" to their districts.
Moreover, opposition would only de-
lay other legislation of incomparably
greater Importance.
Public opinion will approve Repuo-
lican antagonism to the pork" bill.
The fact that the Republicans in Con-
gress are solidly against the measure
will be remembered to the party's
advantage. The best opinion of the
country, regardless of party, repudi-
ates pork" legislation, views it 1T
the present juncture as little short
Of reasonable TO the nations inter
ests; but there are other things, and
especially one other thing, to be re-
membered. The rivers and harbors
bill is not all pork" 1t contains GER
tain perfectly honest items. 1t pro-
vides for certain perfectly legitimate
Improvements. Otherwise it could not
escape a veto. But the main point is
that it stands in the way of essential,
even vital, legislation.
The nation has a war on its hands,
and the winning of that war is the
overshadowing duty of the hour. To
win it, national and political as well
as individual sacrifices must be made.
Nothing must be permitted to stand
in the way of victory, not even the
protection of the treasury against
those who express their patriotism in
terms Of pork" A settlement with
these gentry must be left to the flu
ture. For the present, the nation
must meet the holdup as best it may
1t would be unfair to the President
who is striving daily and nightly tc
hasten legislation to increase his diff
dculties, to multiply his vexations and
embarrassments. by asking him e
withhold his signature from the
pork" bill, even though it be dis
graceful. If signing is unavoidable, he
must pay this price for support, as
Lincoln was compelled to pay it. for
getting the minor considerations in
order to win the al Speedy victory
over autocracy is the one end he must
ever keep in view.
But he need not, and it is reason
able to suppose that he will not, wher
the fight is won, forget how and by
whom he was forced, in the most try.
ing hours of the struggle. to approve
a measure which was, in great part
obnoxious to him. Nor will time erase
the memory of it from the thought o
the people.-[Christian Science Moni
tor.
800 REWARD, 500