The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-04-07
COUNTRY PREPARING FOR WAR
UNITED STATES is GATHERING
RESOURCES TO DELIVER
FORCEEUL BLOW.
Plans are Being Rushed, SO That Ac-
ton May Speedily Follow Deciara-
ton of War Against Germany
Campaign Will be Aggressive One
All Departments Being Made Ready


were rushed forward today by the ad-
branch of the govern
ment and only await action by con-
gress on a war resolution to be put
into execution.
Enactment of the resolution not
later than Thursday was confidently
forecast at the capitol after a delay
or "a hours had been caused in the
senate by Senator La Follette's OBJ
lection to immediate consideration.
Debate will begin in both houses to-
morrow with action before adjourn
ment probable. Sentiment in favor
OF the resolution is almost unanimous
and the only question is how much
time shall be devoted to speech MAX
ing.
President Wilson and his cabinet
went over the war plans at a two
hour session and previously the ma
tional defense council with it's civil
ian advisory committee and several
subsidiary organizations developed
policies and details of momentous
consequence to the nation.
Already the navy has taken steps
to insure cooperation between the
American fleet and those of the en-
tente allies, to become effective upon
the formal entry of the United States
into the war. The most important
plans under preparation by the ad-
ministration include:
Enlistment by sclective conscription
of young men for national army, in
addition to the regular establishments
and National Guard, in increments O!
100000 until enough have been train
ed to make certain the defeat of Ger
many;
Organization of the nations COM
mercial interests for economical and
effective distribution of commodities
among the civilian populations;
Rapid provision of adequate means
OF combating the submarine menace;
The raising of very large sum OF
money, as much as possible to be
obtained by taxation and the definite
amount of the first budget not to be
fixed until the exact needs of the
army and navy and of the entente
| allies are ascertained;
Purchase of supplies and eouip-
ment of all kinds for the army under
a provision of law which allows the
secretary Of war to fix a reasonable
price"
Division of the young men of the
country into service classes, those
needed more in industries than i'm the
army and navy to receive insignia
showing they are performing duty
equivalent to fighting.
Most Of these plans will require the
authorization of congress but from
opinions expressed at the capitol it is
believed that once the war resolution
is adopted further legislation to en-
power the executive branch to go full
speed ahead will follow quickly.
The council of national defense
composed of Secretaries Baker, Lane
Daniels, Wilson. Houston and Redfield
following conference with it's ad
visOry commission, decided to name
soon commercial economy board to
organize the commercial interests of
the nation fo: ective distribution OF
all necessary commodities among the
people generally.
The council, all of whose members
later attended the cabinet meetings
decided to confer every day this week
with the possible exception OF tomor-
row.
tentative ways in which the great
sums of money needed by the govern
ment may be raised are in course of
preparation and were gone over thor
oughly in the cabinet meeting. The
revenue making power, however. lies
entirely with congress and the execu-
tives can only advise.
In line with the presidents sugges-
ton to- congress in his address that
the present generation bear as much
OF the financial burden as possible, the
ways of providing money under con-
sideration today included increasing
the excess profits tax. lowering the
minimum for exemptions and increas-
ing the super tax under the income
tax law, increasing the internal reNe-
nues taxes on some articles and plac-
ing stamp taxes on some articles not
now included. The general idea - 10
place taxation most heavily on those
hest able to pay.
1t is realized, however, that some of