Evening star., 1917-05-25
Ths Exsaing Star NswxpapeT COMPANY
i1fh St. an1-Psunayivnnia AvanuA
Neither "Slackers" Nor Puppets.

is not happy one.
He is denounced as the Presidents
"puppet" or rubber stamp" if he legis-
lates hastily without thinking. He is
savagely criticised as Stacker" if he
delays legislation by stopping to think.
However, if he were not even unrea-
sonably abused for slowness of action by
us irresponsibles he would not move so
quickly to right decision in matters of
vital national importance. Thus is our
prodding of the congressman, whether
reasonable or unreasonable, justified by
results and we become by indirection
genuine national benefaetors.
In these days a keen and freshly
vitalized patriotism, an exalted and
blood-stirring spirit of American ma
tionality characterizes all sorts and con-
ditions of men in America. Nearly all
are ready for universal selective service
in sacrifice Of blood or treasure or in
devoted self-sacrifcing labors.
Congress, representing the people,
feels and responds to this thrilling i'm
pulse among the people.
There was never so much accomplished
in so short time in radical, drastic,
revolutionary legislation, vast in scope,
as is being accomplished by the Ameri-
can Congress.
It is easier to depose czar than to
overturn national habit and tradition in
this republic.
If last year any one had predicted that
in 1917 America would raise a vast army
by conscription on the basis of univer-
sal service and not primarily through
volunteering; that in defiance of the ira
ditional warnings against entangling al
iances we should in that year raise bill
lions to arm and feed our allies; that
without an enemy actually battering at
our gates our heavy national taxes Of
more than tripled; that nearly billion
dollars would be expended upon our
hitherto neglected merchant marine;
and that before real fighting had begun
Congress would appropriate in a single
deficiency war bill more money than was
expended in the whole civil war-how
we all would have hooted the crazy
prophet!
Whether because of or in spite Of or
without reference to criticisms, denun-
Citations and proddings Congress is ac-
compfshing with reasonable promptness
these tradition -shattering changes.
Shall we not wisely discriminate in our
hurry calls to Congress between those
measures in respect to which haste is
vital and those in respect to which
thoughtful consideration is more essen
tial than speedf
The law to create great army by
eonscription was an immediate, urgent
necessity. It was better that the legis-
lation should display imperfections and
inconsistencies than that it should be
delayed. Money in vast sums was
needed at once for our army and navy,
for military preparedness in all its de-
tails, and to feed and arm our allies.
The sale of liberty bonds supplied and
is supplying this money. It was better
that there should be minor defects in
the bond legislation than that it should
be delayed.
But what need is there Of the haste
that discards wisdom and Justice in
respect to the war tax bills The taz
money raised through this measure il
not for immediate use. It will be ap.
piled by the nation, collectively, in pay.
ment on account Of or to reduce the
initial amount Of the loans to it by
the nation, individually, through the
purchase of liberty bonds.
The loans to our. allies of the pro
eeeds of bond sales will be repaid by ou,
allies. The loans by ourselves to our
selves through bond sales will be re-
paid in installments covering the nexi
fifteen to thirty years. Through bond
sales we can raise the needed war money
whether the bonded war debt is paid
from taxes rapidly or slowly.
Why should there be frantic haste
in utter disregard Of equity, to fix in !.
moment at an appalling figure the in
stailment to be paid in reduction of tn.
war debt by this years national tax
payerss
Why should we stigmatize as xslack
ers" thoughtful legislators who take tn,
time tovattempt to apportion the burde,
of this taxation equitably, or with ap
proximate equity, among tax-payini
Americansi What vital need Of hast,
is there in respect to this particula
measure which justifes those response
BILE for it in confessing that to Pas
it at q certain hour they shut their eye
to its deformities and close their nostril
to its stencil Of injusticef