The Washington herald., 1917-12-05
Penitentiaries at Hard
Labor Would Be Lot
OF All Alien Enemies

but simply tne Vassai OF the German Government We
must face the facts as they are and act upon them
without sentiment in this stern business The
ment of AustriaHgary is not acting upon its own in
iative or in response to the wishes and feelings of
its own peoples but as the instrument Of another ma
tion. We must meet its force with own and regard
the Central Powers as but one. The war be sue
eessfully conducted in other way. The same logic
would lead also to declaration of war against Turkey
and Bulgaria. They also are the tools Of Germany.
But they tools and do not yet stand in the
direct path of our necessary action. We shall 90
wherever the necessities of this war carry u.s. but i,
seems to me that should go only where immediate
and practical considerations lead and not heed any
others
The financial and military measures which must be
adopted will suggest themselves the war and its un-
dertakngs develop but will take the liberty of pro-
posing 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 whole force and energy
II will be necessary to extend in certain particulars
the legislation of the last session with regard to alien
enemies; and also necessary, believe create very
definite and particular control the entrance and
departure of all persons into and from the United
States.
Legislation should be enacted defining as criminal
oense every wilful violation of the presidential proc
lamatons relating to alien enemies promulgated under
appropriate punishments; and women as well as men
should be included under the terms of the acts placing
restraints upon alien enemies 1t is 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 would be the purpose of the
legislation have suggested to confne offenders among
them in penitentaries and other similar institutions
where they could be made to work as other criminals
do.
Recent experience has convinced me that the Con-
gress 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am sorry to say has been replaced by the law Of un-
restrained selfshness. While have eliminated prof
iteering in several branches of industry it still runs
impudently rampant in others. The farmers for ex-
ample, complain with a great deal of justice that,
while the regulation of food prices restricts their in
comes restraints placed upon the prices of most
of the things they must themselves purchase; and
similar nequities obtain on all sides
1t is mperatively necessary that the consideration
of the full of the power of the country and
also the consideration of the systematic and vet eco
nomcal development of such of the natural resources
OF the country still under control of the federal
government should be immediately resumed and af-
ruavey and constructvely dealt with at the earliest
possible moment The pressing need of such legisIa-
tion is daily becoming obvious.
The legislation proposed at the last session with re-
gard to regulated combinations among our exporters
in order to provide for foreign trade more ef-
fecve organization and method of cooperation ought
by all means to be completed at this session
And beg that the members of the House of Repre-
sentatives will permit express the opinion that
ii will be impossible to deal in any but very waseful
and eNtravagant fashion with the enormous appropr-
aons of the public moneys which must continue to be
made if the to he
House will consent return its former practice OF
initiating and preparing all appropriation bills through
single committee, in order that sbilitv may be
centred, expenditures standardized and made uniform
and waste and duplication much as possible avoided
Additional legislation may also become necessary
before the present Congress again adjourns in order
effect the efficient coordination and operation
of the railway and other transportation systems of the
country; but to that shall if circumstances should
demand, call the attention of the Congress upon an
other occasion.
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 l am per-
fecy clear about is that in the present session of the
Congress Our whole attention and energy should be
concentrated the vigorous rapid and successful
prosecution of the great task OF winning the war
We can do this with all the greater zeal and en-
thusiasm because we know that for this is war
of high principle, debased by no selfish ambition OF
conquest spolation; because We know and all the
world knows, that have been forced into it 70 save
the very institutions live under from corruption and
destruction The purpose of the Central Powers strike
straight at the very heart of everything we believe in
their methods of warfare outrage every principle OF
humanity and of knightly honour their intrigue has
corrupted the very thought and spirit of many of our
people their sinister and secret diplomacy has sought
to take very territory away from US and disrupt
the Union Of the States. OEr safety would be at an
end honour forever sullied and brought into con-
tempt to permit their triumph They ar,
striking at the very existence of democracy and liberty
1t is because it is for of high disinterested
purpose in which all the free peoples of the world are
banded together for the vindication of right war
for the preservation of nation and of all that has
held dear of principle and of purpose, that we fec
ourselves douby constrained propose for its outcome
only that which is righteous and of irreproachabe IN.