The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1917-12-13

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have just addressed to your 1t is not.
II Is in fact the inevitable logic Of
what have said. Austria-Hungary is
for the time being not her Ov.l mis-
tress, but simply the Vassal Of the
German government. We must face
the facts as they are ana act upon
them without sentiment in this stern
business. The government Of Austria
Hungary is not acting upon Its own
initiative or IN response to the wishes
and feelings Of its own peoples hut 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 he successfully conducted
in no other way.
As to Turkey and Bulgaria.
''The same logic would lead also to
n declaration of war against Turkey
and Bulgaria. They also are the tools
of Germany. But they are mere tools
and do not yet stand in the direct path
Of our necessary action. We shall go
wherever the necessities Of this war
carry us, but II seems to me that we
should go only where immediate and
practical considerations land us and
not heed any others.
"The financial and military meas
ures which must be adopted will sug-
gest themselves as the war and its Un-
dertakings develop, but I will take the
liberty of proposing to you certain
other acts of legislation which seem
to me TO be needed for the support of
the war and for the release of our
whole force and energy.
at 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 very definite and
particular control over the entrance
and departure Of all persons into and
from the United States.
Legislation should be enacted de-
fining as criminal offense every willful
violation Of the presidential proclama-
dons relating to alien enemies prOmul-
gated under section 4067 of the Re
viSed Statutes and providing appropri-
ate puniShments; and women as we'll
as men, should be included under the
terms Of the acts placing restraints
upon 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 1t would be
the purpose Of legislation I have sug-
gested to ronflne offenders among
them in penltentiaries and other sim
ilar institutions where they could be
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 unrestrain-
ed SelfishneSs. While we have elm
mated profiteerlng in several branches
Of industry, it still runs impudently
rampant in others. The farmers, for
example, complain with a great deal of
justice, that while the regulation Of
food prices restricts their incomes, no
restraints are placed upon the prices
of most Of the things they must them
selves purchase, and similar iniquities
obtain on all sides.
1T Is imperatlvely necessary that the
consideration of the full use Of the
water power Of the country and also
the consideration Of the systematic
and yet economical development of
such Of the natural resources Of the
country as are still under the control
of the federal government should be
Immediately resumed and affirmatively
and cOnstructively dealt with at the
earliest possible moment. The press
ing need of such legislation is daily be-
coming more obvious.
A Word to the Lawmakers.
"The legislation proposed at the last
session with regard to regulated COM
binations among our exporters, in or
der to provide for our foreign trade q
more effective organization and meth
cd Of cooperation, ought by all means
to be completed at this session.
"And l beg that the members Of the
house Of representatives will permit
me to express the opinion that 1t will
be impossible to deal in any but very
wasteful and extravagant fashion with
the enormous appropriations Of the
public moneys which must continue to
be made, If the war is to be properly
sustained, unless the house will con-
sent to return to its former practice
Of initiating and preparing all appro-
priation bills through single commit
tee, in order that responsibility may
be centerec. expenditures standardized
and made uniform and waste and du-
plication as much as possible avoided
Additional legislation may also be-
come necessary before the present con-
gress again ad1ourns in order to effect
the most efficient coordination and op-
Grafton Of the railway and other trans
portatiOn systems Of the country; but
to that SHALL if circumstances should
demand, call the attention Of the con-
gress upon another occasion.
Concentrate on Winning War.
"If have overlooked anything that
ought to be done for the more effective
conduct Of the war, your own counsels
will supply the omission. What am
perfectly clear about is that in the
present session of the congress our
whole attention and energy should be
concentrated on the vigorous, rapid
and successful prosecution Of the great
task of winning the war.
1--WE can do this with all the greater