New-York tribune., 1917-12-03
The New Session

Az the laSL StcelbA NSaAE 80 +ee'i'N'NN-
out roughly a programme Of war legisla-
ton It acted haltingly and often reluct-
antly. Il did only what the pressure Of
events and Of public opinion drove 1t to
do. That was natural, perhaps. Having
so long neglected 10 prepare for war
whose coming was inevitable, Congress
was in no mental condition to think out
' che problems Of the war when 1t arrived.
Della. and confusion resulted while the
two houses were trying 70 adjust them
selves 70 the revolutionary changes in
military. economic and administrative
policy which an effective prosecution Of
the war compelled.
Without much choice on It's part Con
press followed the path taken by the other
bellicerents. 1t vested enormous powers
IN the President It centralized authority
Is authority had never before been cen
tralized in this country. Lincoln eXer-
cised military power in the same unhmlt-
Cd degree. But in Civil War days the
Government never dreamed Of economic
conscription, Of taking over the railroads
in their entirety, Of regulating war pro
duction. fixing food prices and limiting
the profits Of distributors Of food, fuel
and other nccessarjes Of life.
We have made o good start on war
time organization Of government Now
Congress is TO take up the work Of en-
larging and completing that organization,
making every ounce of national energy
tell for the purposes Of the war. long
continued effort Will be necessary. Ihls
Congress will probably be compelled to SIT
without interruption until March 4, 1912
Last April we declared war on Ger
many. But we refrained from declaring
war .on Austia-Hungary, Bulgaria and
Tu~Ecv. That left ms in an anomalous
nor;tion. Tor all military purposes these
three countries are as much part Of the
German Empire as Bavaria or SaXony Is.
All their resources are at Germany's com
rnand. Berlin compelled them TO break
IF diplomatic relations with Us after we
declared war on Germany. We have
seized the A-strc-Hunyar.al vessels lying
IN our ports Our government has ad-
,anced money TO Italy, France, Great
Britain. Serbia and Rumania, which are
Conducting war against Aus.ria-Hungary
Bulgaria and Turkey. Taa. Itself was
ln ac. of war ON our part
Moreover, by preserving the fiction OF @
state of peace with these three powers we
are obliged to distinguish, in our treat
rnent Of enemy aliens in this country, be
tween Germans and the subjects Of Ger
many's allies. Il is a dangerous discrimi-
nation % make, because Austro-Hmga-
rians. Bulgarians and Turks have en-
gaged with Germans in espionage and IN
plots 10 destroy property here and to in
ferfere with our military operations Our
international comm .tncuts and CUR OWE
safety alike require us 20 treat Austria
HUNGARY. BULGARIA. and Turkey as open
enemies. Their interests have been en-
+irelv consolidated with those OF the brutal
German autocracy which we pledged our
selves to destroy in order 20 safeguard
our own future.
At the last session Congress authorized
the raising Of two national armies, each
100000 strong. These, added to the regu-
lar army and the former National Guard
organizations. constitute our first fighting
line But that first line VIII have TO be
reinforced Congress win therefore have
to authorize the creation Of more national
armies through the use Of the selective
draft in new legislation for that pur-
pose il would be wise 20 correct some Of
the INEQUALITIES Of the first draft Enc
my aliens German subjects) and enemy
ally aliens were included in the registra-
ton figures on which the state quotas for
the first two national armies were based.
SO were neutral aliens and the subjects Of
Allied governments The first three
classes ought 70 be excluded in arranging
the quotas for the second draft Treaties
with our allies have been negotiated which
win take care Of the fourth class, proba-
bly, excluding il also from our military
population. These exclusions would re-
lieye the states on which an excess burden
was thrown in the first draft II would
be only fair in the new law TO credit this
excess TO the oyercharged states. If there
IS 10 be anything like an industrial draft
to secure workers in the shipyards or
on the farms-the conscription age limit
may have 20 be raised. At any rate, the
men who have reached twenty-one since
June last ought 20 be added TO those
eligible for military service.
Congress lodged for years the duty Of
Matchmaking Federal railroad regulations,
lust as il lodged the duty Of military
preparation. Something must be done
now 70 relieve the carriers and TO make
the railroads a more efficient war instru-