The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1917-12-08
free use of our whole capacity and

One very embarrassing UOoe<ASi' e~'
stands in our way is that we e al
war with Germany but moi
allies. therefore very g
recommend that the con-
diately declare the United
state off war with A.
Does il seem strange to S~H Ill.,.
should be the conclusion Of the afsa' I
ment have just addresse@ 70 yQi
is not. 1t is in fact the inaE ae's
logic of what l have SAID A@s-t.a'
Hungary'is for the time being not nei
own mistress but simply the vassai
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 it's own initiative or In re-
Spouse to the wishes and feelings o
its own peoples, but as the mstru-
ment of another nation. We must meet
its force with our own and regard the
central powers as but one. The war
can be successfully conducted in no
ether way. The same logic would
lead to declaration Of war against
Turkey and Bulgaria.
They also are the tools of Germany.
But they are mere tools and do not
vet stand In the direct path OF our
necessary action. We shall go wher
ever the necessities of this war carry
us, but it seems to me that we sholid
go only where immediate and practf
cal considerations lead US and not
heed any others.
The financial and military measures
which must be adopted Will suggest
themselves as the war and its under
takings develop. but will take the
liberty of proposing 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 our
whole force and energy.
| II will be necessary to extend in
certain particulars the legislation OF
| the last session with regard to allen
enemies; and also necessary, believe
TO create a very definite and particu
lar control over the entrance and de
parture of all persons into and from
the United States.
Legislation should be enacted de
fning as a criminal offense every will
ful violation of the presidential proc
! lamation relating to alien enemies
| promulgated under section 4067 or tn
Revised Statutes and providing ap
propriate punishments; and women a
well as men should be included unde
the terms of the acts placing re
straints upon alien enemies. 1t i
likely that as time goes on many aliel
enemies will be willing to be fed ant
housed at the expense of the govern
ment in the detention camps and
would be the purpose Of the legisis
ton suggested to confine offender
among them in penitentiaries and otf
sr similar institutions where the
could be made to work as other GRIN
nails do.
Must Limit Prices.
Recent experience has convinced m
that the congress must go further |
authorizing the government to sc
limits to prices. The law of suppl
lad demand, | am sorry to say, ma
, oeen replaced by the law of unr'
!. stricted selfishness. While we hay
, eliminated profiteering in sever;
| branches of industry, it still ruEs in
! pudently rampant in others. TIL
, farmers, for example, complain wit
4 great deal of justice that. while tn
-eguiation of food prices restrict
, heir incomes, no restraints al
placed upon the prices of most of tt
; laings they must themselves pu
chase; and similar inequities obtal
I On all sides.
. 1t is imperatively necessary tn
1 the consideration of the full use
1 he water power of the country ar
1 $50 the consideration of the systel
4 tic and yet economical developme
' II such of the natural resources
/ ne country as are still under the co
I rol of the federal government shou
: De Immediately resumed and affirm
r lively and constructively dealt wi
@ at the earliest possible moment. n
Q pressing need of such legislation
e .aily becoming more obvious.
q The legislation proposed at the la
n session with regard to regulated CO.
$ binations among our exporters, in I
e der to provide for our foreign ira
IS more effective organization a
n method of cooperation ought by
means to be completed at this s.
O. sion.
n And / beg that the members OF t
n house of representatives will perm
70 me to express the opinion that 1t "
10 be impossible to deal in any but
% very wasteful and extravagant IA
i. ion with the enormous appropriate
81 of the public moneys which must c.
in tinue to be made. If the war is to
IA properly sustained, unless the hot
n will consent to return to its form