The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-12-07

! was absent from the house. Her sec
/ rotary reported Miss Rankin i'll, but
/ the general belief among congress-
men was that she had "sldestepped'
| the vote 1t was said she would be
| in her seat tomorrow.
| Attempts of Representative Flood
| IN the house to- obtain an agreement
| for final vote at s ?. M, failed when
several members. including Uncle
Joe" Cannon, appeared anxious TO
| crate.
Representative Cooper. Wisconsin
/ pacifist. who voted for the resolution
| in committee, was prepared lot
| two hour address.
\ Representative London, New York
! City socialist, had speech in readi-
ness, upholding the philosophy OF
/ international socialism," against the
| war declaration.
His opposition was merely matter
| Of record.
/ Chairman Stones report, accom-
panying the senate committees reso-
! luton declared:
| 1T is manifestly impossible that
the United States and Austria-Hun-
gary should be at peace while Ger
/ many ana lAe CAieou oSo
war.
The United States is supporting
italy as well as England and France,
and these countries are supporting
the United States in the war they all
Iare waging against Germany" Stone
i continued.
| ~ cannot see that 1t could make any
difference where American, British,
French or Italian troops might be Tor
the moment located. If all of them
| are cooperating in one general move
ment against common enemy, these
groups may be shifted to meet the ex-
igencies of war"
| This clearly intfmated what the
house committee also reported that
/ American troops may be soon nghtlng
in Italy.
in the circumstances it is impos-
sible that amicable relations should be
continued with Austria" he said.
The Railroad Problem.
/ WASHINGTON. Dec. Govern
ment operation of railroads hung in
the balance today. On President Will
| son depended whether the govern
ment should loan the railways one
billion dollars, or put them under a
! federal dictator to end the war
] freight jam.
| Some congressman looked for the
president to seize control of the rail-
ways before Christmas. They pre-
| dicted that legislation for unifcation
| of the lines would mean a long de-
I lay The president desires immediate
relief from railroad congestion. Under
authority he already possesses he
i could place every mile of track under
| federal control by penis stroke.
! The four railroad brotherhoods are
| united with the railway executives
| against government control. Presi-
! dent Wilson is understood to have
been told this when the labor leaders
I saw him recently regarding their
wage demands. The brotherhoods
| favor financial and legislative aid to
| the carriers to enable them to unity
their operations as suggested by the
! interstate comm cree commission
under direction Of the war board.
The railway executives were prepar-
| ing estimates of amounts needed for
1918 to place the lines on war
basis. These estimates will be sub
mitted to Senator Newlands for
presentation to the president by him
on Monday The president shortly
afterward is expected to make known
message to congress. The senate is
expected to accept the presidents
recommendations.
One senator, labor sponsor, even
said he would vote for an anti-strike
bill IL the president wished 1t, al
though in the senator's opinion such
legislation might precipitate labor
revolution"
Acting Chairman Sims of the house
interstate commerce committee,
favors immediate action by the presi-
dent to seize the railways.
"Then he could come to congress
for supplemental legislation to guar
antee railway securities or whatever
measures advisable" said Sims. 'It
would take six months to take the
interstate commerce commissions
recommendations for unifcation un-
der the railroads own control"
Attorney Generals Report.
UNITED Press Leased Wire Service. ] !
WASHINGTON, Dec. steps |
further to purge this country of |
spies and traitors, based on Presi- |
dent Wilson's recommendations to |
congress, were taken by Attorney |
General Gregory in his annual report |
today
Gregory recomm ended laws to !
hobble the entrance and exit Of |
aliens, to make violation Of the presi- |
dents alien enemy regulations a |
prison at hard labor" offense in. |
stead Of an "internment camp and a |
nice soft berth affair" !
The vast extent and completeness |
of the spy and traitor traps the de- |
partment of justice has built up in |
this country since war was declared |
was revealed in the report for the !
first time. Gregory disclosed that |
hundreds of eynerf sacret ooant, |