The daily Alaskan., 1917-01-19
President Strongly Desires GGS-
 SatlOn Of European War.
MEASURE OF PROSPERITY
End of War Will Show Whether or Not Good Times Are Due to Conflict. Frank Statement of High Army Off, cers Cause Considerable Surprise.
By ARTHUR w. DUNN.


 of the Wilson administration to bring about peace in Europe. President Will son desires to be the great peace man, not only for himself personally, but because he is a peace man at heart, More than that, he was reelected as a peace president, and he wants to carry peace abroad as well as maintain it in this country.
 Some of those people who are not as optimistic as the real peace people are saying that 1t is to be hoped that in case peace is restored in Europe the same influences will be used to bring about peace on the American continent to stop the war in devastated Mex leo.
 VIII See About Predictions.
 One fact which peace iE Europe will determine Is whether or not the pros perity of this country has depended upon the European war. In politics and business 1t has often been assert ed that the prosperity which our peo- pie have been enjoying has been tem- porary and would come to an end when the war closed.
 Another thing which peace will mean Is a session of congress to meet with legislation any extraordinary condi- tions which might arise as a result of peace. However, the president may determine that he can handle every question which may Ue presented with out the aid of congress.
 The Independent Paper.
 q hope you will be able to accom- plish something for the country pub fisher" remarked veteran journalist, "for the country publisher is the only vestige of q free press that is left in this country"
 Then he went on to explain that he did not condemn all newspapers of the larger cities, but said that there were certain personal and political interests which controlled many of them, that connections controlled others, but that 1t was the country daily and weekly that remained absolutely Independent
 Bold Army Talk.
 It was surprising that army officers holding high Posj.ious-Gcneral Wood, who has been chief Of staff, and Gen. eral Scott, now chicf of staff-should talk out so boldly even to congres. sional committee about the danger of the United States from attack. Both referred to war with Japan and her ally, England. There was danger on our northern border and constant dan ger from Japan, it was said.
 Public utteranCes from officers of foreign nations of similar prominence would give our people deep concern. We might really think there would be war.
 After Big Game.
 As usual it is big game which mem bers of congress are after when they go gunning So it appears in the re- cent effort to increase the rate on sec Ond class mail, newspapers and peri odicals. They see quite a lot of big fellows apparently prosperous, some of them making lots of money and getting the one cent rate of postage. They want to hit those big fellows If they can. Meanwhile, however, it is found that they strike lot of little fellows, publishers of trade, fraternal, religious and other publications which would be wiped out of business by the increase.
 Canal In Danger.
 Again come our navy officers and tell congress that the Panama canal is in danger; that it could be taken by a hostile fleet. Let us keep steadily in mind that the main purpose of build ing the canal was to be an aid to the navy, to allow the transfer of the fleet back and forth from ocean to ocean to meet emergencies. Now we find that 1t will take a fleet at both ends to protect the canal in case of war. And no one says very much about what some fellow careless of his own life might do with q stick of dynamite at one of the big Panama ca nal locks.
 The Panama canal is proving a mighty big liability. The $4O0OO0,OOO it cost would prove a mighty help just now with this deficit they are talking about.
 Wanted to save Their Ballots.
 Senator Sutherland of Utah, who was defeated for reelection, going down with Hughes, explained how it hap pened that the head of the ticket when running well ahead carried other can didates with him. He first said that the women of the west and particular ly those in Utah voted for President Wilson on the issue that he kept us out of war. He then said that many women Republicans in his state told him that after marking their ballots Fo- 1,ros;dan+ tbnv did DOt dare at- |