The Detroit times., 1917-08-10
We Are Giving You No
Opinion Here; What We Are
Giving You Is FACTS.

Congress has at last passed the food
conservation bill.
Nothing now remains but the sigma
lures Of Speaker Clark and President
Wilson TO make the measure a law.
The bill as finally passed is the kind OF
an instrument demanded by President
Wilson.
1t gives him practically unlimited
power to deal with food hogs, fuel hogs
spectators and MASTERS
For IT'S efficient enforcement, without
which the best measure ever devised
would be but Prussian scrap OF paper
the public looks forward with confidence
to Herbert Hoover, whose record ~
caring for the needs Of the Belgian
the best indication Of what he may be
able to do for Americans.
But the people have been robbed OF a
portion of the fruits Of their victory oy
the persistent opposition Of handful OF
men in the senate who have toughi the
measure at every turn.
While they have been Grating. the
spectators have been busy with the re-
suit that large portion Of the food
supply is already in their hands.
Because of the efforts of these sena-
tors, the path of Mr.. Hoover and his as
sociates has been made just so much
more difficult.
The manner in which congress has
played into the hands Of the food pirates
by its dilatory tactics, multiplying, in part,
the effect of the measure passed. VIII 90
down in history as one of the scandals
of the war.
1t is charged that the country is filed
with slackers.
The charge is borne out in large meas
ure by failure of drafted men TO report,
and by the great percentage OF exemp-
tion claims.
In this situation there is aid and COM
fort for the enemy and FOR this stu
alton congress is most to blame.
There certainly has not been much in
the attitude Of congress to encourage or
reassure the man who is asked to pick Up
a gun and do HIS bit. and further
fact presents itself in that connection.
For long months after the European
war broke out, we were being told that
it would be impossible for the United
States to keep out of it.
The probability of the United States
finding itself embroiled was responsible
for the preparedness campaign over the
country.
That campaign, however, took account
only of men and ships ana powder and
shells-and thereby fell far short of the
most needed preparation.
Our place in the war is now a fact. and
being fact, we are aware it would have
been better to PREPARE the people.
Would it not have been better. as a
matter Of fact. TO have passed the food
bill and THEN to have declared war?
The man who comes in touch with pub
lie sentiment knows that there would
have been no doubt in that event Of
united United States. and will note the
benefit that would have been derived
from its moral effect on Germany
To have passed the food bill; to have
passed the fuel regulations; to have leg
islated for conservation and for enough
of both and fuel for rich and poor alike:
to have banished ALL booze TO have
granted to women the right to vote; to
have taken these steps before il became
necessary TO declare war; to have first
put our house in order, we would have
entered the fray with the pro-Gernan
propagandists in this country already
routed without talking point and with
out a leg to stand on
We would have entered the war
against FEARFUL Germany, convinc-
ed of our common ground and solidarity
in a common cause
There was plenty Of reason before we
entered the war for congress TO pass the
law il has just passed.
There was absolutely no reason after
we entered the war for not passing the
law Immediately