Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-24

al Ivy VI plCreO yOOuS McA anu Will a
nation trained in military methods
France and England had to make
armies from civilian material. And 1t
is because of this fact, largely, that
Germany has been able to outlast the
limits set by critics in 1914, who in
sisted she could not continue to oppose
/, the combined armies of. the entente
allies.
These critics were wrong because
they failed to consider Germanys vast
program of military preparedness.
which has produced army after army
from the empire. Young men have
been followed by older men. and these,
in turn by men still older. Then have
come the beardless youths. and all
have had the advantage Of long and
systematic training for the titanic con-
test into which their kaiser plunged
them.
France and England have been COM
PEELED to summon men of middle age
and boys just out of school. and the
war today, as far as these three ma
tions are concerned, is being fought by
armies of the second or third rank.
The depletion of man power has struck
all three peoples alike, and the dead
lock in which their armies are strug-
Cling now is the natural result.
At this juncture America enters the
lists with an army which possesses all
the indomitable power of youth and
courage of patriotic enthusiasm. which
were given to the first armies the
European nations sent into the field.
The experience gained at awful price
in three years of combat is offered our
generals by the leaders of the crippled
British and French forces. We take
up the fight against weakened Ger
many-undefeated, logged. coura-
geous. veteran troops. to be sure, but
lacking that unquenchable quality OF
resilient combativeness which is given
only to youth and which cannot be
counterfeited nor opposed with sue
cess
The young men who are chosen for
the first big war army will play ma
ior part in the making of world his
tory. To them is given the opDortun.
ity to make complete the great work
started by their forefathers in 1776,
and to give the world the freedom
from oppression. tyranny and lust for
CONQUEST which Washington and his
armies gave to this nation.
They could conceive of no higher
purpose, no more sublime mission. And
as they 20 forth to meet the foe they
will be followed BY the prayers and
confident hopes Of Americas millions
prayers and hopes that thew may
turn back the devastating hordes OF
the war.mad kaiser and save for theif
homeland it's honor. it's integrity, its
freedom and its institutions prayers
and homes that they may return from
the field of conflict when peace is won.
to receive the homage OF grateful
nation.
WILSON WINS.
II is evident that when the senate
votes finally on the food control bill.
tomorrow. the measure will be adopted
by substantial majority In practical
" the form that President Wilson ap-
proved when it was introduced in the
house several weeks ago by Congress
man Lever.
Instead OF a single food controller
there will be board which will divide
the powers and responsibilities OF the
controller. which were to have been
conferred in single man. This, at any
rate. seems to be the attitude Of the
majority Of the senate at this time. An
effort to substitute single commits
sioner for the control board proposed
in the amended bill was defeated by
vote OF e3 to 10 yesterday. and the
vote affords some means Of estimating
the senate's opinion of Mr. Hoover and
A. Soh nd
some more OF the majority members
WELD with their fellows.
Mr.. Hoover's greatest offense seems
to be his ASSUMPTION Of the powers and
authorities Of the food controller with
out authority from congress throuoh
the adoption Of the proposed bill.
While there have been evidences OF
high handedness In some of his acts.
there also are annie reasons for con-
Guiding that. in the main. the end
sought justified the means. and there
is much in the present situation in
America to warrant the US" OF heroic
moa sures to achieve reforms.
Mr.. Hoover forfeited the good will
of many senator's when he wrote
rather testv letter to the president. OBJ
yiously designed for the wide publicity
which was given it, In this letter he
took the senate to task for its policy
of delay and declared the people Of
the United States were being robbed
by food gamblers while the means for
aiding them lay neglected on the secre-
tary's desk or suffered emasculation
at the hands OF heartless committee
members.
Senator Reed of Missouri bided his
time and when the amended bill was
ready to spring on the senate. remov-
ing from Mr. Hoover the power OF
food dictator. the Missourian attacked
the controller with veritable barrage
of invective.
Senator Kenyon has not Jared AS
well as has Senator Reed. The lowan
chose to attack the council Of national
defense. but the McKeller amendment.
through which Mr.. Kenyon and some
others hoped to deliver resounding
Sian on the heads of number Of big
business men. was side-tracked in the
senate Wednesday for the Pomerene
substitute.