The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-12-05

ing that If they had been made plain
, enthusiasm of the Russian people
might have been once for all enlisted
on the side of the allies, suspicion and
distrust swept away, and a real and
lasting union Of purpose effected. Had
they believed these things at the very
moment of their revolution and had
they been confirmed in that belief
since, the sad reverses which have re-
Gently marked the progress Of their
affairs towards an ordered and stable
government of freemen might have
been avoided.
"The Russian people have been
poisoned by the very same falsehoods
that have kept the German people in
the dark, and the poison has been ad-
ministered by the very same hands.
The only possible antidote is the truth
1t cannot be uttered too plainly or too
often.
Freedom of the Seas.
"From every point Of view, there
fore, it has seemed to be my duty to
speak these declarations Of purpose, to
add these specific interpretations to
what took the liberty Of saying to the
senate in January. Our entrance into
the war has not altered our attitude
towards the settlement that must come
when it is over When | said in Janu-
ary that the nations of the world were
entitled not only to free pathways up
on the sea but also to assured and un-
molested access to those pathways /
was thinking, and I am thinking now,
not of the smaller and weaker nations
alone, which need our countenance and
support, but also of the great and pow
erful nations, and of our present enc
mics as well as our present associates
in the war. I was thinking, and am
thinking now, of Austria herself,
among the rest. as well as of Serbia
and Of Holland. Justice and equality
Of rights can be had only at a great
price. We are seeking permanent, not
temporary. foundations for the peace
of the world and must seek this can
didly and fearlessly, As always, the
right will prove to be expedient
Declare War on Austria.
what shall we do. then to push
this great war of freedom and just to
it's righteous conclusion? We must
clear away with a thorough hand all
impediments to success and we must
make every adjustment of law that
will facilitate the full and free use Of
our whole capacity and force as a
fighting unit.
zone very embarrassing obstacle
that stands in our way Is that we are
at war with Germany but not with her
allies. l. therefore, N1- earnestly rec
ommend that the congress Immediately
declare the United States ina state Of
war with Austria-IIungary. Does 1t
seem strange to you that this should
be the conclusion of the argument
have just addressed to you? 1t is not.
1t is in fact the inevitable logic Of
what | have said. AuStria-Hungary is
tress, but simply the vassal of the
German government. We must face
the facts as they are and act upon
them without sentiment in this stern
business. The government of Austria
Hungary is not acting upon it's own
initiative or in Rsponse to the wishes
and feelings of it's own peoples, but as
the instrument of another nation We
must meet its force with our own and
regard the central powers as but one.
The war can be successfully conducted
in no other way.
AS to Turkey and Bulgaria.
"The same logic would lead also to
declaration Of war against Turkey
and Bulgaria. They also are the tools
Of Germany. But they are mere tools
and do not yet stand in the direct path
of our necessary action. We shall go
wherever the necessities Of this war
carry us, but it seems to me that we
should go only where immediate and
practical considerations land us and
not heed any others.
"The financial and military meas
ures which must be adopted will sug-
gest themselves as the war and its un-
dertakings develop, but 1 will take the
liberty of proposing to you certain
other acts Of legislation which seem
to me to be needed for the support of
the war and for the release of our
whole force and energy.
"It will be necessary to extend in
certain particulars the legislation of
the last session with regard to alien
enemies and also necessary, I be-
lieve, to create a very definite and
particular control over the entrance
and departure Of all persons into and
| from the United States.
Legislation should be enacted de-
| fining as criminal Offense every willful
violation Of the presidential proclama-
tions relating to alien enemies promul-
gated under section 4067 Of the Re-
vised Statutes and providing appropri-
| ate punishments and women as well
as men, should be included under the
| terms of the acts placing restraints
upon alien enemies. 1t is likely that
as time goes on many alien enemies
| will be willing to be fed and housed
| at the expense Of the government in
| the detention camps, and it would be
| the purpose of legislation 1 have sug-
| gested to confine offenders among
F, them in penitentiaries and other sim
| liar institutions where they could be
made to work as other criminals do.
Go Further In Fixing Prices.
| Recent experience has convinced
|