Mexico weekly ledger., 1917-10-18
LOAN FAILURE MEANS.
HIGHER TAXES"
Speaker, in St. Louis for Day, Urges
Subscription to Second Lib
erty Loan
WOULD HANG ALL TRAITORS
Saws No Distinction Should Be Made
Between Men in Public and
Private Life

The scheme to tax excess war prof.
its on munitions at 60 to so per cent
is rapidly growing in favor, accord
ing to Speaker Champ Clark, of Bow
ling Green, Mo, who Sunday paused
for a few hours in St. Louis en- route
from Washington, to Fort Sill, Ok, to
visit his son, Lieut.. Col. Bennett
Champ Clark.
'The sale Of bonds, according to the
papers, is tagging" said the Speaker.
"Just why the 81 per cent bonds
went like hot cakes and the a per
cent issue is slow is a puzzle.
zone thing, however, is cock-sure,"
he asserted, Congress is going TO
raise money enough to carry on the
war. If the people will not buy bonds
then taxes will be increased-whien
is not a pleasant prospect"
Entering St. Louis at 8 O'Clock yes
terday afternoon, Speaker Clark, ac-
eompanied by his wife, was met at
the station by Guy Golterman, who
had charge of his St Louis headquar-
tiers in his race for President.
City Entertains Speaker
Weary from an arduous term at
Washington and still more so from a
three-mile walk over the cobble-
stones at Pittsburg, where he led a
Liberty bond parade Saturday, the
Speaker was taken to the Terminal
Hotel after a short automobile ride
about the city.
To Mr.. Golterman he spoke of the
delightful reception he was afforded
J in Pittsburg and his part in the great
Liberty bond demonstration
The Speaker was found in the lob
by of the Terminal Hotel seated with
a number of friends, chatting abou;
the doings ''down-State." On the
subject of his prediction of April "a
that the selective draft would neve.
pass Congress, he would say nothing
1t was his belief that the people
were opposed to the draft. Whether
this was still his belief he would no
say.
Silent Regarding Stone
When the names of Stone and Rec
were mentioned he drew himself up il
= his chair and preserved a Sphinx-lik
silence. When asked what should b
c done to a man who cast slurs upoi
: the flag or the President, or who ha
: committed acts opposing the prosecu
: ton Of the war, he replied:
ANY man found guilty of treaso
ought to be hanged"
n "Are not men now being foun
guilty of treason for acts that /
:. peace times would pass unnoticed?
i he was asked. as there an arbitra
n ry line separating duty and convit
Ic tom"
l. Absolutely not" said the Speaker
re "The Constitution of the Unite
10 States positively defines treason"
When asked if he would apply h
of rule to all men, whether they be
s. private or in political life, he answe
ii ed:
-y Absolutely not. No matter wi
+ the mar is, if he is guilty of treaso
}. he ought to be hanged"
a Further than this, the Speak
t, would not go. To all questions appl
is ing on CONSUMPTION and certain &C
of men in public life, he preserved
cautious silence.
Of his future activities he was qui
willing to speak.
IL 81 am here with Mrs. Clark
us route to Fort Sill, Ok, to see 0
only living son. We will not see h.
agin until the war is over-perha
o., we will never see him again - a
would never forgive ourselves if
5 did not go to see him now.
while there we will be the que
of Congressman Scott Ferris and
lly wife, both Missourians.
Yesterday l participated in a gr'
Liberty bond parade at Pittsburg W
i. 1000 people in line, ex-Goverl
Herrick of Ohio, and myself lead
the procession. At night we both
dressed a great mass meeting.
81 have had scores of telegra
asking me to make Liberty BIZ
speeches all over the country. !
only speeches / have promised
make are at Vernon, Texas, and
Oklahoma City. l may, howe,
make two or three others before
turning to Bowling Green.
en- | want TO rest a week or t,
The extra session of Congress '
not only important, but very WEI
some. l want to get back to Wa
- ington TO look after the business
uch my constituents, touching the v
and there is much of it."
The Speaker and his wife left
|. Louis for Fort Sill at $50 o'clock
nzAUK IT'D