Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-10-06
EVENTS OF THE WEEK

As these lines are written congress is preparing for
adjournment after the most momentous session held ny
ony congress in the United States since the Civil War,
and, ii judged by the magnitude of the events with which
1T had to deal, the most momentous in the history of the
nation. '- BE-.
This congress, at the extra session now in its clos
ing hours. has declared the existence Of a s,a.- " war
with Germany and authorized the president to use the
entire naval and military forces of the nation in the
prosecution of that war; has adopted a naval program
under which the United States is fast reaching the status
of the first naval power in the world; has adopted the
principle of selective CONSUMPTION in the organization of
a great army, and has arranged for drafting into the
service $4,000 men; has authorized the immediate issue
of bonds amounting to eight billion dollars; has prepar-
ed plans for war expenditures the cost of which will
reach some twenty billions, and has in one bill levied
direct taxes amounting to three billions. in round num-
bers. 1t has passed a bill for the control of food supply
and distribution. has fixed the prices of wheat, fuel and
some other commodities. and under the operation of
supervisory laws which have been enacted the govern
ment is exercising practical control over practically all
prices as fast as they can be reached.
=
Saturday was agreed on by the two houses as the
time for adjournment, but some uncertainty, has been
thrown around this by the developments in the move
ment for the expulsion of Senator LaFollette for the
sedftious utterances at the st. Paul meeting of some
two weeks ago. A senate committee to investigate the
case: has been named, and IaFolette has made known
his purpos to speak in the senate in his own defense.
Mr.. LaFonette has a penchant for delivering the closing
address. He hoped to do this at the time of the adjourn
ment OF 5the last congress, and he was shocked and
panied when the maneuvering of his opponents deprived
him Of the privilege of the last word. This time he has
kept his speech bottled up until the last day, but it has
been made known that after him others would speak in
reply, even If this course made it necessary to defer. ad-
journment until another time.
e = . y
The behavior of LaFollette and several of his im,-
tators. the draft riots in Oklahoma, the evidence that 1.
w. w. agitators in all parts of the country have been
engaged in a concerted movement for the obstruction of
the government in the war, and for the actual overthrow
OF all government the disclosures in the German corre-
spondence cases. and other facts which have come to
light within a short time have aroused many heretofore
indifferent Americans to a sense of the gravity of the
vigorous action on the part of all in authority for the
suppression of treason and sedition have been pouring
into washington from all over the land.
Big things have been taking place in the war
Blow after blow has been struck by the British at the
Gernaan lines IN Flanders, and, in spite of the efforts Of
the Germans to Withstand the force of the attacks. their
INES nave been pierced in many places, and they have
been forced to abandon points along an extended front.
The battle of Flanders is held by military critics to
be one Of the most important Of the war, and the victory,
gained by General Haig is described as one Of the great
est, ii not entirely the greatest of the more than three
years or hghtlng. The sector in which the British Of
tenslve has been centralized is between Lille and the sea,
and the serious impairment of the Grman strength there
endangers their possession Of Lille on the one hand. and
OF the Belgian coast on the other. The British success
has been complete, and they are now in possession of
the last high ground which has strengthened the German
defenses before the low, level country is reached The
attack has been important in the extent and character
OF the territory gained, in the advantage which the nos
session OF the heights gives to the advancing British in
the enormous number OF casualties inflicted on the Ger
mans, in the terror which has been inspired in the
German ranks, and In the demonstration that has been
given OF the fact that German skill at an occunation in
which they have specialized for forty years has been
overmatched by a people who have never made war their
trade but who, like ourselves, have merely accepted it
when it was forced upon them.
While the heaviest blows have thus been struck by
the British in Flanders. the allied forces in other Sec
lions have not been idle. but have been exerttnr pres
sure against the enemy to such an extent that II ba. bea,5
unsafe Tor him to move troops from one front to
d strengthen another. The Italians have resumed onera-