New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-27
Knox Urges P assage Of Food Bill
AS Means to Defeat Germany
We Are at War to Save America, Says Senator, am
the Means Must Be Proportional
to the End

Of the American people. the moral, the
vital, the unacceptable issues OF this war
were vivid enough even from is open
ing weeks, 10 one who wished TO en-
visage them. Clear enough was the
need TO prepare then. The truth was
as true then as now. But We are con-
cerned here and now with the burning
problem Of to-day, not with what Is
past.
an such a struggle economic and
political pressure upon neutrals IS not
10 be overlooked as a weapon. By such
means and by the righteousness OF our
lust cause We with our allies may so
consolidate the opinion and the moral
sense Of mankind that Prussianism
must inevitably bow before the true
springs Of civilization.
The food bin should be passed. and
passed quickly. We shall then have ar
ranged 10 keep war necessities from
/ foreign use against our own purposes,
at the same time giving the President
diplomatic and economic weapon
which We cen az any time still further
sharpen, # need be. by the direct appli-
cations of the tariff We shall have
arranged to give war necessities the
right Of way in domestic transporta-
| ton. And we shall have arranged TO
J ave the maximum Of that first neces-
| sity Of war or peace food food for
the war and food, without eXtortion,
for the American public.
I'VE are committed by necessity and
By laws already enacted 10 the princi-
pie of extreme concentration and CEN
traliZation of authority for conduct OF
war Upon constitutional grounds
there need be no qualms The Consti-
tuition imposed no limitations upon the
power Of self-preservation. If We now
delay in another application OF the
same principle. al time when every
day is OF tragic Importance. why shall
, we do so p"
Mr.. Knox then commented upon the
objection that the President might
exercise these vast powers through IN
dividuals unfortunately chosen. He
pointed TO the Advisory Council Of Ma
tional Defence in praise, and then
pointed out that consultation of mem
bers Of Congress as 10 the conduct Of
the war must necessarily be like the
consultation of these business men.
Not all could be consulted. or the con-
sultation would be unwieldy.
I'VE need not be afraid Of Prussan-
ling the United States. Not forms
and names, but results. are the cri-
terra of human institutions. II is not
it's efficiency. but it's intolerable pur-
pose. its cynical and brutal material
ism, its medieval sophistries that have
made the name Of Prussianism abb
horred.
stand Together or Perish"
America is in this war TO defend
it's honor, its liberty and its life. once
aid for all times, from menace by the
Germanic power.
"Unbounjed hostile design and I'M
bounded power leave no room in the
world for freemen. The peoples who
stand for a civilization Of freedom. OF
/ Justice ard of law must stand together
r ow. or perish one by one. Should Ger
many triumph. the Western Hemisphere
and the United States itself would be
/ her next victim Whatever forms Of
government other people may prefer.
.he American people are AZ war 70
make the world safe for this partic-
ular democracy lying between Canada
ard Mexico in North America. We are
at war 20 save America. and the means
employed must be proportioned TO the
fnd "