The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-07-06

tuition. However, a serious doubt pre- vails that the constitutionality of this bill can be impeached, yet the imperative necessity for authority to administer the powers it confers is echoed and re- echoed from every section of the country.
 My boys and your boys, my grand sons and your grandsons have offered themselves, if the God of battle so or dains, that liberty and freedom may not perish and that the independence we have enjoyed may descend to our pos terity. They are stripped to the waist ready to follow the flag and defend it's honor and fame on the far-flung battle fields of France, there with Peshing and Sibert to die that liberty may live If they die on the battle field or a ships deck We will know they gave their lives that their country may live, and if they return with flag unfurled, we will well come them with open arms and the grat- itude of tn enation as patriots willing to die for their country. Let us do our part, let us protect and conserve our store houses that they may be best pre- pared and equipped for the supreme test, and let no man or set of men profit at the expenses of our national effi- ciency in time of war.
 WHY HESITATE
 That small speck out there on the ocean is our flag. It Is the Stars and Stripes, the emblem of liberty on its way to the battle fields of France. There at the front we hear the roar of the guns. Our battleships are engaged in the deadly conflict with German submarines. It is the universal rule of war, in the absence of other orders, to follow the flag. to march to the sound of the guns. Why do we hesitate and debate, while the cry is heard Come over and help us?" The world is on fire and we have been drawn into the conflagration. We have conn mandeered our young men, the flower of the land Our flesh and blood will soon be on the firing line Who will deny that we cannot commander the food. clothing, wheat and meat, shot and shell to enable our soldiers and our allies to win a glorious victory with the least possible suffering and sacrifice? Who will contend that the constitution or any thing else sholud prevent our comman- deering anything necessary to prevent suffering, both at home and with our soldiers at the front? Who will argue that 1t is not our duty to call into play all our powers, to resort to any extraor- dinary means to prosecute the war to 8 success. Does anyone think that when peace is restored, when the necessity is not present, that the people of this free and proud republic will permit the exer- else of any right personal or property, not essential to our national existence and supported by sound reasons of ex- pediency and constitutional warranty. or that the extraordinary power herein con ferred will be retained to crush or re- press our people or any class of our citi- zenship? On the other hand, where is there loyal citizen of this nation who is not willing to go to the extreme and temporarily surrender many of the rights and privileges he now enjoys for the gen. eral good of his country and it's preser- vation?
 FARMER CANNOT COMPLAIN
 The farmer and producer cannot com plain at the provisions of this bill. It is the merciless, greedy speculator and conspirator who will feel the lash that will be wielded by duly authorized agents of the government in the enforcement of this wise and beneficent legislation. I have no patience or respect for such miserable creatures who fatten and grow rich on the suffering and misery of their fellow citizens whose government is en- gagged in a desperate struggle for exist encc, upon which these criminals them selves must depend in the future. would be inclined to support measure that would direct their trial by drum head courtmartial and upon conviction hang them without benefit of clergy Congress should express it's determina- tion odestroy this evil in our political and industrial system with such voice that would be heard and observed from one end of the republic to the other. l would send wireless to the Kaiser that America with millions of men and bil- lions of money, with ships laden with wheat and meat, shot and shell, is on it's way to the front, backed by the unan- imous sentiment of an uncomfortable people to remain there until the war pc over.
 SHOULD VOTE NOW
 MT. President, before the sun sets to- day we should vote on this bill The time for action Is here, the hour for de- cis4on has arrived We have burned the bridges behind us and set ourselves to the task. Who among us dare to look back? If we falter or dicker, if we hesitate or waiver, and the German gov- ernment is enabled to dictate terms of peace, what can we expect? If, before the enemy feels the force of our weight and power and succeeds in overrunning England and France, how long before a Hindenburg would be thrown across the continent, and guns laundering at our seaports demanding tribute and in demnity?
 If any one sholud now inquire why our army Is in France. the answer is that we prefer the battle fields in Europe, where we have the cooperation of our allies than in America. When the hour arrives, I hope speedily, for peace ne- gotiations, we will be at the head of the table, where terms for disarmament will be imposed. a severe limitation on naval equipment and an enforceable contract that future disputes shall be arbitrated by tribunal with power to enforce it's decrees By such means and only by such means will the world have pro- gressed beyond that point when war will be impossible and the opportunity secured whereby all nations, great and small. may work out their own destiny in the glowing sunlight of a Christian civiliza- tion. The last threatening cloud of auto cratic power will have disappeared from the face of the earth and America will be free to pursue her high ideals of jus tice and humanity because of world democracy. God speed tho day.