The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-12-04
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Tested access TO tnoSe PdlhWayS,
J was thinking, and am thinkins
now, not of the smaller and weaker
nations alone which need our coun-
tenance and support, but also OF the
areat and powerful nations and OF
our present enemies as we'll as our
present associates in the war. was
thinking and am thinking now, OF
Austria herself, among the rest, as
/ we'll as of Serbia and Poland. JUS
tice and equality of rights can be
had only at great price. We are
seeking permanent, not temporary
foundations for the peace of the
world and must seek them candis/y
and fearIessly. AS always, the right
will prove to be the expedlent.
! "What shall we do, then, to push
1 this great war of freedom and JUS
tice to it's righteous conclusion? we
! must clear away with thorough
hand all impediments 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 fighting unit.
AUSTRIA is GERMANT'S VASSAL.
lone very embarrassing obstacle
that stands in our way is that we
are at war with Germany, but not
with her allies. J., therefore, VERY
earnestly recommend that the con-
gress Immediately declare the United
States in state Of war with Aus
tria-Hungary. Does it seem strange
to you that this should be the con-
ciusion of the argument ] have Just
addressed to the country? Ii is not.
1t is, in fact, the Inevitable logic of
what have said. Austria-Hungary
is for the time being not her own
mistress, but simply the vassni of
the German government. We must
face the facts as they are and act
upon them without sentiment in this
stern business. The government OF
Austria-Hunsary Is not acting upon
the wishes and feelings of its own
peoples, but as the instrument of
another nation. We must meet it's
force with our own and regard the
central powers as but one. The war
can be successfully conducted in no
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 are mere tools and dc not yet
stand in the direct path of our neces-
ssry action. We shall go wherever
the necessities of this war carry us,
but it seems to me that we should
go only where immediate and prae-
tieal considerations lead us and not
heed any others.
"The financial and military meas
ures which must be adopted Will
suggest themselves as the war and
its undertakings develop, but ! will
take the liberty of proposing to you
certain 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.
at will be necessary to extend In
certain particulars the legislation
last session in regard to alien enc
mics and also necessary, believe, to
create very definite and particular
control over the entrance and depar-
ture of all persons into and from the
United States.
Legislation should be enacted de-
filming as criminal offense every
wiIfuI violation Of the presidential
proclamations relating to alien enc
mics promulgated under section 4o67
OF the revised statutes, and provid-
ing appropriate punishsn rents and
women as we'll as men should be in
cluded under the terms Of the acts
placing restraints upon alien enc
mics. It is likely that as time goes
on many alien enemies will be WILL
Ing to be fed and housed at the ex-
pense of the government in the de-
tention camps and 1t would be the
purpose of the legislation ! have
suggested to confine offenders among
in
similar institutions where they could
be made to work as other criminals
do.
PRICE LIMITS FIXED.
Recent experience has Convinced
me that the congress must 90 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 unre-
strained seIflshness. While we have
eliminated profiteering in several
branches of Industry, it still runs
impudentIy rampant In others. The
farmers, for example, complain with
great deal Of justice that, while
the regulation of food prices re-
stricts their product, no restraint is
placed on prices of most things 4hey
must themselves purchase and SINH
lar inequities obtain on all Sides
at Is imperativeIy necessary that
the consideration of full use of water
power of the country and also Of
consideration of 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 imme-
diately resumed and affirmatiyeIy
and constructiveIy dealt with at the
earliest possible moment; The press
ing need Of such legislation is daily
becoming more obvious.
,"The legislation proposed at the
last session with regard to regulated
com binations among cur exporters in
order to provide for our foreign
trade a more effective organization
and method of cooperation ought by
all means to be completed at this
eeSeior