River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1918-04-04
Our Weekly Letter
From Washington
(By James A. Frear, NJ. CO

(By James A. Frear, NJ. CO.
During a bitter debate in the Sen
ate last week over the pending Wis
consin election, Senator K e OF
Missouri one Of the strogest men in
the Senate said 'It will be conceded
without argument that | have been
perhaps as bitter partisan Demo
crat as has sat in this Chamber for
many years but when it comes
to question Of loyalty to this Gov
eminent, deny that there can be
drawn line between loyal Demo
crat and a loyal Republican. After
referring eloquently to men on both
sides of the Chamber whose sons are
now in France fighting for Ell r
country, he said Il appeal to the
Senate that we have done with these
miserable little political chickering's.
Let the election go on in Wisconsin.
Let us go on with our business here
/ say as a Democrat that It eth
err one of the leading candidates is
returned, loyal man will be sworn
in at yonder desk" In last weeks
letter, the writer briefly referred to
unjust criticism of our people and
State under the guise of compare
tive loyalty. Senator r DIS ad-
dress, only brief extract of which
is given, is a sufficient reply to ev-
cry such criticism irrespective of the
results Of the election.
A bill appropriating ST, 100000 for
loans to farmers for the purchase of
seed wheat, corn and rye was pend
ing during the greater part of the
week. Although loans were limited
to $4,000 to any farmer and the ne
cessity for raisings more wheat for
war needs was vigorously presented,
the measure dragged along because
of opposition. which presented In
the aggregate hundreds of amend
ments, largely offered to defeat the
purpose bill. One provision which
aroused the ire of Southern Mem
bers was that wherein the Secre-
ta1y of Agriculture is given power
to mobilize farm labor and it was
urged that under this section the
Secretary's assistants might go into
state land offer free trips and
free meals on a joy ride to
farm laborers so that one third
of the labor will be riding on the
railroad trains all the time 1t also
developed that many states h e
stringent laws against soliciting and
removing farm labor by any agent. +"
Many of these detectives were m t
by proponents of the bill, but any
action taken by Congress. judging
from past delay will not be in time
to buy wheat for the fall crop. 1t is
to be regretted if so, in view Of the
repeated urgings by public officials
that some law on the subject is of
vital Importance at this time. The
bill passed the House by an over
whelming vote when a roll call was
finally reached.
Following on the heels of the seed
bill, the House passed q measure re-
quested by the Administration ap-
propriating $5O,OOO,OOO or co n
struction of housing facilities f r
government employees engaged in
war work, and at this writing bill
has been reported which will pass
without opposition, authorizing a
new Liberty Loan of four and a half
billion dollars in bonds and eight
billion dollars in treasury certifi-
Gates.
In line with the recent order pro-
hibiting giving names of companies
and regiments of h incasualty
lists, General Marsh sent to the Sen
ate reasons for this action and add
ed that France publishes no casualty
lists. notification being made verb
ally by the mayors of towns where
the soldiers lived. 1t was further
stated the War Departments policy
is to put into the hands of the near
est relative or friend given by the
soldier n h j S emergency address,
prompt inf tion con