River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1917-04-26
Washington Letter
(By James A. Frear, NJ. Co.


% give aid or information to the
enemy is now under consideration in
the Senate. Senator Borah and
others have assailed the proposed bill
because it infringes upon the right
CT a free press and free speech. Dur
ing the discussion it was contended
that certain kinds of papers frequent
~ indulge in unjust and and unwar
ranted criticisms but unless criticisnn1
affect military plans the right is not
likely to be abridged No man was
more severely criticised by the press
than Lincoln according to statements
made in debate and yet he opposed
censorship and it is matter of COM
mon knowledge that Lincoln, the most
maligned man of the Civil war, lives
in history second to none. Any meas
ure proposing unlimited powers of
censorship will not pass but authori-
" will be given the President to make
reasonable" acquisitions that must be
observed.
.nent the post man placed a number
of letters on the table of which from
fifty to one hundred are received
every day, on the average. One of
the first circular letters dated New
York, presumably sent to every Con-
gresham, contains bitter statements
md assertions against the general
war policy that ought to be reached
by the arm of the law AS usual
such communications are anonymous
Men will differ on legislation and that
il matter of individual judgment
ana responsibility, but once war is de-
ternIned by law, every man is bound
by the action of his government and
hat fact must be recognized by
everyone,
Military and naval uniforms are
met everywhere on the streets. Word
comes through the press that naval
acluiting has almost reached maxi
,num of $1,000 men provided by law
while a daily average of 1000 enlist
rents throughout the country in all
branches of service is rapidly filling
up the ranks to war strength. The
conscription or draft bill will be
reached in the House the first part
of the week. Although many letters
e advice have been received on. the
subject, neither the majority or mi
monty reports on the proposed bills,
nor the bills themselves, had been
printed on Saturday, so their exact
terms will not be known until the be-
ginning of the week when they are
up for discussion.
Scores of applications have been
received for commissions in the serv-
ice and for positions in the officers re
serve corps and although large in
crease in officers will occur, enlist
mentS in the ranks are most needed
at this particular time. A circular
letter from the War Department sets
forth that under the national defense
act fourteen citizens training camps
Will be provided, the camp for Wis
consin being located at Fort Sheridan
Illinois. The regulations fix the min
imum and maximum ages of reserve
officers at twenty years and nine
months and forty-four years respect
lively
In q systematic campaign to pro
vide against a food shortage all act
NV n
government officials to "plant vege
ables" on the farm, in the back yards
and on housetops if practicable. A
daily grist of letters now being re
seeds, from which fact it is apparent
the advice is needed. The difficulty
at this end of the line arises from in
structions issued by the Agriculture
Department early during the winter
urging that full seed lists be furn
ished prior to February first in order
to expedite work at the Department
and to aid in shipping carloads Of
seeds to every part of the country
No seeds are to be obtained at this
late day excepting where members re
tanned a few packages in the office
to meet late requests but these have
now been exhausted. In this connec
ton Farmers Bulletin No. 818, has
been furnished members. 1t give:
valuable instructions on how to plar
and work small vegetable garden
stituent upon request. Also cop!
of the Presidents address on the
European War situation will be mail
ed as long as the supply lasts.
A request comes from Menomonit
correspondent to urge strong support
for the red cross movement, and
am glad to give voice to the sugges
ton with the additional statement
that valuable advice affecting leQiS.