New Britain herald., 1917-12-08
Hen1y,Clews Weekly Letter
Especial to the Herald.)

Lens1Cy upon C0o war. EVenLS OH Ine front have not lately been of a stimu-
 lating character. owing to the break
 down of Russia and the consequent check upon the British at the Vest ern front, as well as upon the Italians
 in the South. The stoppage of the
 British is probably only temporary,
 and due chiefly to endorsements from the Russian front. There is no reason for discouragement. Tenn porary setbacks are inevitable; and
 the Allies are growing stronger each month, while the enemy becomes steadily weaker. This applies even
 more positively to morale than to physical superiority or the Allies. The German Government knows these facts, but fears to let the people learn any semblance of the truth. There is
 no doubt that the British and French will be able to hold the Germans
 until our army is ready to make it's
 initial drive and possibly they will
 make further gains. German generals
 are evidently alarmed at the ease with which defenses deemed lmpregnable
 have been shattered; and are prompt
 ly changing their tactics from trench warfare to fighting in the open, which will better suit the inclination of the Allies.
 As to peace prospects, there are no indications whatever of willing ness on the part of the Germans to assent to conditions which the Allies will surely impose. Unless Germany yields there will be no peace pos sible until the Allies win victory.
 President Wilson in his splendid
 opening address to congress plainly
 told Germany of our determination to
 win this war and to reject all peace
 proposals until Germany was ready
 to give ample justice and reparation.
 If his plain language, placing upon
 German rulers Responsibility for the
 terrible crimes of this war, could but
 reach the German people; and could
 they but learn the true aims of the
 Allies, and see how they have been
 deceived and misled by the brutal,
 selfish autocr:aCy which governs them,
 there would be some hope of q re-
 turn to reason in the mind of Ger
 many. MT. Wilson's message to
 Congress will consolidate and
 strengthen public opinion at home
 hearten those at the front and con- vince the world of our fixed deter
 mination to win the war by unre
 strained use of all our resources.
 I cannot speak in too high praise
 of the Presidents message. It is
 most clear in it's condemnation of the
 wrongs done hy the despotism of
 those who represent autocracy, but
 is equally clear in stating frankly OUT duty to our allied enemies when they are conquered. The President calls our attention also to our duty to our own government, and asks Congress for new powers so that the admins tratlon may cope with the situations as they have developed and will de- velop. especially situations that arc abnormal owing to the self1shness or
 greed of unpatriotic citizens of our
 own country. The whole message
 teens with patriotism and comm ol,
 sense and will rank as one of the
 greatest papers that ever emanated
 from the White House.
 Next to the war and the opening of congress. the most important event of the week was the report of the Inter- state Commerce commission. While merely suggestive, the report was un-
 expectedly liberal, although not satis-
 factory in all respects. It recom-
 mended that congress suspend the anti-pooling and antitrust laws ex-
 cept in cases of competing roads; ex-
 tend government loans to roads when
 needed, and to regulate security is-
 sues. The report was disappointing in
 that it failed to provide for increased
 rates, and suggested government oper-
 ation as an alternative. The whole
 question will be thrown into congress
 and will probably be the subject of
 more or less strenuous discussion. Un-
 questionably the best plan would be:
 unity of operation; pooling system: necessary loans with government
 guarantee, and such advances in rates as might be deemed necessary to al least partially offset increased ox- penses.
 For some time past this market has been suffering quite as much from fear as from facts. The war created a general feeling of depression which, | if not resisted. undermines confidence, checks buying power and renders it difficult to measure events at their real value. Literally the business world today is looking through blue l glasses There is no doubt that the l war means incalculable loss and sacri- i flee, which it is unWise and hazardous 1 to underestimate. Yet it is time to 1 realize that even pessimism may be 1 overdone, leading astray those who 1 yield to fear. The rate of fall in se- l curities here since we entered the war ! is greater than the rate of fall in 1 Great Britain for the entire three and
 half years during which she has 1 been actually fighting.
 There is a disposition also to forget | that this country as a whole is highly | prosperous; that we are much the
 most favorably situated of all the bel i ligerents; that we are practically safe l from attack: that all our great indus l tries, with few exceptions, are intense ! ly active; that our Western farmers
 and Southern planters are enjoying