Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-12-04


thinking, and am thinking now, not
of the smaller and weaker nations alone
which need our countenance and support
but also of the great and powerful
nations and of our present enemies 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 Poland. JUS
tice and equality of rights can be had
only at a great price. We are seek
ing permanent, not temporary, foun-
dations for the peace of the world and
must seek them candidly and fearless
| ly. As always, the right will prove to
be the expedient.
War On Austria Hungary
What shall we do, then, to push this
great war of freedom and justice to
its righteous conclusion9 We must clear
away with thorough hand all impedi-
ments to success and we must make
every adjustment Of law that will facil-
itate the full and free use of our whole
capacity and force as fighting unit
| One very embarrassing obstacle that
stands in our way is that we are at
war with Germany, but not with her al
lies I, therefore, very earnestly recon-
mend that the congress Immediately de-
clare the United States in state of
war with Austria Hungary. Does it
seem strange to you that this should
be the conclusion of the argument l
have just addressed to the countryR 1t
is not. It is, in fact, the inevitable logic
Of what ] have said. Austria Hungary
is for the time being not her own mis-
tress, but simply the vassal of the eGr-
man government. We must face the
facts as they are and act upon them
without sentiment in this stern busi-
ness The government of Austria Hun
gary is not acting upon its own initla-
tive or in response 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. The same logic would lead
also to a declaration of war against
Turkey and Bulgaria. They are also the
tools of Germany. But they are mere
tools and do not yet stand in the d.
| rect path of our necessary action. we
shall 90 wherever the necessities OF this
war carry us, but it seems to me that
we should go only where immediate ana
practical considerations lead us and
not heed any others.
For Prosecuting War.
The financial and military measures
which must be adopted will suggest
themselves as the war and its under
takings develop, but I will take the lib
erty for proposing to you certain other
acts Of legislation which seem to be 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 to GER
tain particulars the legislation OF the
last session with regard to alien enemies
land also necessary, believe, to create
yery definite and particular control
over the entrance and departure Of all
persons into and from the Onlteu
States.
Legislation should be enacted defdn,
ing as a criminal offense every Wll1ul
violation Of thespresidential prociama1-
tions relating to alien enemies promul,
gated under section 4067 of the revised
Statutes, and providing appropriate pun
ishments; and women as well as men
should be included under the terms Oh
the acts placing restraints upon ahen
enemies. It is likely that as time goes
on many alien enemies will be Wiling
To he fed and housed at the expense OF
the Government in the detention camps
and It would be the purpose of the leg
/ islation | have suggested to contlne OF
tenders among them in penitentlarles
and other similar institutions where
thev could be made to work as other
criminals do.
Control of Food Prices.
Recent experience has convinced me
that the congress must go further IN
authorizing the government to set Inn
1 it's to prices The law of supply and de-
1 mand. | am sorry to say, has been re-
4 placed by the law Of unrestricted sell
fishness. While we have eliminated pro
fiteerinp in several branches OF indus
try, it still runs impudently rampant IN
others. The farmers, for example, com
plain with a great deal of justice thatI
while the regulation of food prices re-
striets their incomes, no restraints are
placed upon the prices of most OF the
things they must themselves purenase
and similar inequities obtain on all
sides.
Water Power Legislation.
1t is imperatively necessary that the
consideration of the full use of the
water power of the country and also OF
the consideration of the systematic and
vet economical development of such Oh
the natural resources of the country as
fare still under the control of the fed
eral government should be Immediately
resumed and affirmatively and CON
structively dealt with at the earliest
possible moment. The pressing need OF
such legislation is daily becoming more
obvious.
The legislation proposed at the last
session with regard to regulated eomoln-
ations among our exporters in order TO
provide for our foreign trade more
effective organization and method OF
cooperation ought by all means 10 DC
completed at this session.
To Prevent Waste.
And / beg that the members OF the
house of representatives will permit
me to express the opinion that 1t wlil
be impossible to deal in any but very
wasteful and extravagant fashion Win