The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1917-12-20


The war can be successfully conduct
ed in no other way. The same logic
would lead also to declaration OF
war against Turkey and Bulgaria
They also are the tools of Germany.
But they are mere tools and do not
yet 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 should
go only where immediate and practi-
cal consideration lead us and not heed
any others.
New War Measures Needed.
The financial and military meas
ures which must be adopted will
suggest themselves as the war and
its undertakings 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
1t will be necessary to extend in
tain particulars the legislation of the
last session with regard to alien enc
mics; and also necessary, l believe,
to create very definite and particu-
lar control over the entrance and de-
parture of all persons into and from
the United States.
Would Define Crimes.
Legislation should be enacted def1n-
ing as a criminal offense every wilful
violation of the Presidential proclama-
lions relating to alien enemies pro-
mulgated under section 4067 OF the
revised statutes and providing appro-
pirate punishments; and women as
well as men should be included under
the terms of the acts placing restraint
upon alien enemies
To Avoid Money Waste.
The legislation proposed at the last
session with regard to regulated COM
binations among our exporters, in or
der to provide for our foreign trade a
more effective organization and meth
cd of cooperation, ought by all means
to be completed at this session.
May Ask Rail Legislation.
come necessary before the present
Congress adjourns in order to effect
the most efficient coordination and
operation of the railway and other
transportation systems of the country
but to that / shall, if circumstances
should demand, call the attention OF
Congress upon another occasion.
If have overlooked anything that
ought to be done for the more effec-
tive conduct of the war, your own
counsels will supply the omission.
What am perfectly clear about is
that in the present session of the
Congress our whole attention and en-
ergy should be concentrated on the
vigorous and rapid and successful
prosecution of the great task of win
ming the war.
War of High Principle.
We can do this with all the greater
zeal and enthusiasm because we know
that for us this is war Of high prin-
ciple, debased by no selfish ambition
of conquest or spoilation, because we
know, and all the world knows, that
we have been forced into it to save
the very institutions we live under
from corruption and destruction. The
purposes of the central Powers strike
straight at the very heart of every
thing we believe in, their methods OF
warfare outrage every principle of hui
mainly and of knightly honor, their
intrigue has corrupted the very
thought and spirit of many Of our
people, their, sinister and secret di'
plomacy has sought to take our very
territory away from us and disrupt
the union of the states.
To Fight for Right Until Last Shot.
Our safety would be at an end. our
honor forever sullied and brought In
to contempt were we to permit their
triumph They are striking at the
very existence of democracy and liber-
ty. It is because it is for us war
of high, disinterested purpose, in
which all free peoples of the world
are banded together for the vindica-
ton of right, a war for the preserva-
ton of our nation and Of all that Is
held dear of principle and of purpose,
that we feel ourselves doubly con-
strained to propose for its outcome on
that which is righteous and of ir-
reproachable intention, for foes as
we'll as for our friends. The cause
being just and holy, the settlement
must be of like motive and quality.
For this we can fight, but for nothing
less noble or less worthy of our ira
ditions. For this cause we entered
the war and for this cause will we
battle until the last gun is fired.
Plain Words Necessary.
1 have spoken plainly because this
seems to me the time when it is most
necessary to speak plainly, in order
that all the world may know that even
in the heat and ardor of the struggle
and when our whole thought is OF
carrying the war through to its end
we have not forgotten any ideal or
principle for which the name of Amer
lea has been held among the nations
and for which it has been our glory
to contend in the great generations
that went before us. A supreme NOM
ent of history has come. The eyes of
the peoples have been opened and they
see the hand of God is laid upon the
nations. He will show them favor,
I devoutly believe, only if they rise
to the clear heights of his own justice
and mercy