TaÌˆgliche Omaha tribuÌˆne. [volume] (Omaha, Nebr.) 1912-1926, 1917-05-10
WHY ARE WE AT WAR I?
n, Y. AMERICAN EXPECTS CONGRESS
TO STATE OUR WAR AIMS.
EXPECTS DECISION IN A few MONTHS.
I'm. Y. AMFRIcAN.l

"M. AINs Is &AAi
Fellow Americans, let US for a
few minutes talk business frankly
and freely between ourselves.
We have declared war and are
trying to get ready TO make war.
That is a big business undertaking,
and we ought TO have very clear
ideas OF what we to do and
of what we mean to accomplish by
Ghis war. Great efforts without any
definite object are simply great
waste.
First, let us take stock OF condi-
tions and state, as correctly as we
can, what the situation is now, and
will be Iater.....
The military situation is in the
main favorable to the Central EN-.
pires, We know that this is contrary
to common belief. but Il Is a fact,
nevertheless. We shall not argue
the matter, because explaining
military operations and probabilities
is about as useful as pointing out
the winning moves In a chess game
to persons who do not know even
the pieces by their names. We
must remain content with stating
the simple truth, that the Germans
have their pieces placed best in this
great game of war-chess, and can
force a draw II they cannot ad-
minister checkmate. We will leave
it to time to decide whether our
statement is mistaken or correct.
Economically, both alliances are
In a bad way-in a disastrously bad
way. They are both long since
bankrupt financially. and simply get
ting along by piling mountains of
debt upon mountains Of debt-which
will all be repudiated, no doubt,
when the coming revolutions have
overturned European governments
and all the old order Of things.
Both alliances are not only finan
cially bankrupt but are also bank
rupt in more pressing ways. They
r bankrupt in manufactures. bank
rupt in ships, bankrupt in productive
labor, bankrupt in clothing, fuel and
food.
EUROPE THREATENED BY
FAMINE.
Unless the war ends very soon.
no eXertion Of human intellect and
toll can prevent a famine in Europe
next Winter and next year that will
horrify mankind, calloused as the
world has become during the hor-
rible progress Of this horrible war
fare.
We affirm, with the utmost GER
tafDty of conviction, that unless the
war ends before the coming October,
many millions of human beings will
perish OF actual starvation before
the succeeding October-and this is
not mere scribbling assertion. but a
forecast based upton the most pains.
taking calculation Of the present
food supplies OF the world and OF
all possible sources Of supply.
Europe, to paraphrase the predic
ton Of one Of the few statesmen who
kept his head in the midst Of wars
Iunacy, VIII become a desert, peopled
only by those who have proved
strong enough to survive the
claughter Of war and the far more
horrible slaughter Of famine.
Now, then, before we 20 any
further, we should definitely settle in
our minds why we are at war and
what objects we propose to &C
complish by war.
In that way, and in that way only
can we conduct the war intelligently
and efficiently for q definite purpose
to q definite end.
And as the Congress is the sole
power In our nation which can de
clare war, ii follows, both in reason
and In Law, that the Congress alone
has any right or any power to state
the reasons for which it declares
war and the objects to obtain which
II declares war.
CONGRESS SHOULD SPEAK UP
The President can, OF course, pro.
claim his VIEWS, but the only
binding and authoritative statement
Of war purposes and definite objects
which the war is waged to &C,
complish MUST CONE FROM THE
WAR-MAKING BRANCH OBJ THE
GoVERNMENT-THE CONGRESS.
Not only should this be made YER
plain at home. where there is !
strong and dangerous tendencJ
toward attachments Of the rightfu.
authority Of the Congress and tbs
exaltation Of the Presidency-whicE
could only finally result in one-mar
rule and an ~autocracy under tho
disguise OF republican forms - but
the Congress should make its author
ity very plain to all Europe, by
definite expression OF the purposes
for which it has declared war ant
OF the objects whose attainment vii
end war, 30 far as America Is con
cerned.
This cannot be done too soon. a,
a safeguard OF the authority of thu
Congress, q guarantee Of our II
berries and a decent and propel
declaration to mankind.
We cannot possibly be too 1ealou.
In guarding our own democrats
rights and democratic forms Of gov
eminent while we are crusadinl
over the world In an announce.
attempt 70 set up those forms o
government In other countries.
Why ARE WE At WARf
The question naturally arises a
TO WHY We are at war. The Con
gress has said, in the declaration
Of war, that the German Government
mas committed many hostile act
against rs, amounting to a state 0
war, and that therefore We recognize
and accept q state OF war.
IL this means anything, 1t mean
that we have gone 10 war with Gel
/ MANI knnaanA L. - nr.nL- a--