Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-10-06

ing to the Government auCOCTdLlc pow :
ers during a temporary cessation of
Progressive legislation in order 70
meet efficient autocracy in Germany,
Senator Frederick Hale of Maine to-
day made a speech in the United
States Senate which was afterwards
highly complimented in an address by
Senator James Hamilton Lewis OF
Illinois, as clear and forceful expo
sition of the situation.
Senator Hale said that in granting
this authority TO the government Con-
gress acted not for the political al
vantage of any party or the progress
sive or conservative faction of any
party. but with the sole aim to cope
with the autocracy of the Imperial
German government.
Text of Senator Haie's Speech
Senator Hales speech was as fol-
lows: Home people seem to have the
impression that the revenue bill which
we have just enacted is a victory FOR
the conservative element in Congress
that the progressive or radical wing
has been turned down and that the
old stand pat element in both parties
victory has been won by the great
business interests at the expense OF
the people. This idea was engendered
by some of the speeches. that have
been made here recently. while the bill
was before the Senate, and is so utter
ly unfair and shows such an utter in
comprehension of the facts and of the
whole national situation that | cam
not forbear saying a few words about
it here on the floor Of the Senate. 1t
is not that | have been criticized my
self or that criticism which ! have
heard We're hostile to the action TAX
en- by the Senate. They We're not.
The general impression seems To he
that We have done we'll. But it is
this idea that we are split into radi-
cal and conservative camps and arc
sparring for petty political advantages
for this Or that in this most critical
time in the life of our na.ion that sur
priscs mo. Some time ago attended
gathering where there were many
public mon present. Some one took
1t unon himself to question a dozen
or moe of these men as to their roa :
sons for our being in the war. There
We're nearly as many different renIies
as there We're men questioned. That
vas several months ago believe
that there is now much more uni
f0'nl sentiment about orr reasons for
f1ghtin~ tina" tNe~e was then. hut nvon
vet J do not feel that tho country a (
large. in spite of its fino response tn
the coll TO arms. has fully craSred the
incoming Of the Great VA.
Own Democracy at Stake
We have been told that We are IN this
var to bring democracy to the world
We have not been sutficientiy tolu that
our own democracy is at sake and that
l. is not SO much for the rest If the
world as Ior OF own selves that We are
making ting great sacrifices We are called
to the Congress, his reply to the POPE
were great world messages and their eff
feet on the world at large has ID, en- lar
reaching, but the mother who sees her
son go across the sea to tight, perha D
never to return, wants a more immediate
reason to Justify his sacrifice than the
insuring of the democracy of the ma
tons Of Europe.
AT the commencement 0f jhe great war
we ind Germany thoroughly prepared
after more than 40 years of intensive mil
itary training, to put to d decisive test
the results of her system of government
The two great ideals of the govern.
ment were military and commercial su.
premacy. Individualism. except insofar
as it aided the state. had no chance in
Germany. The ideals Of the state were
established by the government and every
thing vas made subordinate to those
ideals The German military establish
ment, IS has since been proved, was far
and away more powerful and better or
sanized than that of any other country
in the world. Her commercial power was
increasing by leaps and bounds. Hal
she not declared war, it is not too much
to say that within 10 or % wears she
would have controlled the business OF
the world. But along with this CONNER.
cial ascendency went on overwhelming
confidence in her military supremacy and
her power to accomplish by a short cut
what years Of waiting would inevitably
bring about Against this powerful ma
terial combination most of the nations OF
Europe found themselves pitted in the
summer of 1914 For one reason or an
other England, France, Russia. Italy
Japan and the other Allies entered the
war, not for conquest but for self pres
ervation, and finally we ourselves have
been drawn in.
Much has been said about our
fight for democracy. We are fighting
for democracy because our govern
ment is democratic form Of govern
ment and because we are fighting foi
the right to live under that form o,
government. The autocratic German
government is by far more efficient
form of government, if material as+
cendancy Is all that is required and
if the rights Of the individuals are tc
be ignored but thank God that tina,
is not the form Of government which
our forefathers established and which
we are proud to live under in this free
country. When it comes, however. to 4
commercial competition Of the ma
tons. the stronger and more efficient
nation must win out. especially if
backed by a military power ,that will
disregard and override tho rights OF
other people This war Is a combina
ton Of the freer governments Of the
world against the iron alltOcracy NJ