Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-12-07
oTTUMWA sEM1WEEKLY COURIER FRIDAY, DECEMBER q 1917

that have kept the German people il
! the dark and the poison has been ad
ministered by the very same hands
The only possible antidote is tn
truth. 1t cannot be uttered to-
plainly or too often.
From every point of view, there
fore, it has seemed to be my duty tt
speak these declarations of purpose
to add these specific interpretations
to what took the liberty of saying
to the senate in January. Our en-
trance into the war has not altered
our attitude towards the settlement
that must come when it is over.
! When l said in January that thu
nations of the world were entitled no
only to free pathways upon the sea
but also to assured and unmolestet
access to those pathways, I was think
ing, and am thinking now, not O.
the smaller and weaker nations alone
which need our counsel and support
but also Of the great and powerful
nations, and of our present enemie:
as we'll as our present associates ir
the war. I was thinking, and an
thinking now Of Austria herself
among the rest, as well as of Serbia
and of Poland.
MUST FIGHT AS UNIT.
"Justiee and equality Of rights car
be, had only at great price. w
are seeking permanent, not Temporal,
foundations for the peace Of the
world and must seek them candidl)
and fearIessIy. As always the right
will prove to be the expedient
what shall we do. then, to push
this great war of freedom and justice
to its righteous conclusion? We mus
clear away with a thorough hand all
jmpediments to success and we must
make every adjustment Of law that
will facilitate the full and free use OF
our whole capacity and force as a
fighting unit
URGES WAR ON AUSTRIA.
Zone very embarrassing obstacle
that stands in our way is that we are
at war with Germany but not with
her allies.
81, therefore, very earnestly recon.
mend that the congress Immediately
declare the United States in state
Of war with Austria-Hurgary.
Austria iss for the time
being not her own mistress but simply
the vassal of the German government.
We must face the facts as they are
and act upon them without sentiment
in this stern business. The govern
ment of Austria Hungary is not act
ing upon its own initiative or in re-
Spouse to the wishes and feelings Of
its own peoples but as the instrument
of another nation.
1--WE must meet its force with our
own and regard tho central powers
as but one. The war can be success.
fully conducted in no other way.
OTHERS MERE TOOLS.
"The same logic would lead also to
a 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 di-
rect path Of our necessary action. We
shall go wherever the necessities OF
this war carry us, but it seems to me
that we should go only where imme-
date and practical considerations
lead 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
undertakings develop, but I will take
the liberty of proposing to you GER
tain other acts of legislation which
seem to me to be needed for the sup
port Of the war and for the release
Of our whole force and energy.
TO WATCH ALIENS.
1T will be necessary to extend in
certain particulars the legislation Of
the last session with regard to alien
enemies; and also necessary, I be-
lieve to create a very strong and par
ticular control Of the entrance and
departure OF all persons into and from
the United States
Legislation should be enacted max.
ing 1t criminal offense for every will
full violation Of the presidential procla-
relating to alien enemies pro-
under section 4067 of the re.
vised statutes and providing appropri
ate punishments; women as well as
men should be included under the
terms of the acts placing restraints
upon alien enemies.
ut 10 likely that as 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 It would be the purpose Of the leg
isiation | have suggested to confine Of
tenders In penitentiaries and other sim
liar institutions where they could be
made to work as other criminals do.
PRoFlTEERING MUST STOP.
Recent experiences have convinced
me that the congress must go further
in authorizing the government to set
limits to prices. The law of supply
and demand, I am sorry to say, has
been replaced by the law Of unrestrain-
ed selnshness. While we have elimi-
mated profiteering in several branches
Of industry it still runs impudently
in others. The farmers, for
example, complain with 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 purcsase;. and similar iniquities
obtain on all sides.
at is imperatively 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