Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-03-16
Certainly a Drastic Measure.

sltion 10 the Defence bill that was passed
bv the House of Representatives ut
Dover. this week, and is now pending in
the Senate. 1t holds that the powers
conferred upon the Council of Defence
5y this measure arc not only extraordinary
but dangerous.
There is no doubt OF the correctness
Of this criticism. No legislation so severe
IN character, so destructive of the ordinary
rights of the people, was ever before
known. In this State, a condition Of
actual war in our own country could
hardly call for such drastic powers.
Nothing in this line during our Civil
War-a time when the most severe
measures Of regulation and rcpres-
SION were imperatively necessary
reached the extent Of the powers conferred
by this bill, except as TO the suspension
Of the right Of habcas corpus, under
which community was deprived of all
ITS civil rights and passed under military
control But We have no such condition
here now as then prevailed.
However, the measure did not seem to
alarm the minds Of members Of the House
orrvcn excite their apprehension. Thirty
ono members OF that body voted for IT.,
and only two against it. -And thus far
there are no indications the Senate will
display any greater degree Of opposition.
No doubt one reason for this qtIesccnt
attitude is that the people have had little
opportunity TO study the provisions Of
the bill and reflect upon the situation
that may prevail in the event Of its
adoption III lis present form. II is SAID
10 have been modelled after similar laws
III other States, almost a reproduction Of
The West Virginia law But that Is not
the question We want law here that
Will be satisfactory to the people of
Delaware.
II Is our opinion that if the law passes
IN its present shape there viii be great
commotion when the Council of Defence
begins TO exercise its powers. Then the
people viii realize just what il means
20 theu-an abrogation OF parental con-
troll over children above 10 years Of age
10 an extent that may take them from
their homes, by force if necessary, and
put them at work on farms; that may even
take In custody men who desire to enjoy
a few days vacation; that may corral
= party Of workmen on strike, and
compel them to work, wily-nilly wherever
the members of the Council of Defence
may assign them, and at such wages as
the Council may agree upon. These
and many other things, equally drastic
will be possible If this measure becomes a
Jaw In its present form.
However, we have no disposition, at
present, 70 offer any formal protest
against the measure although, as we
have contended from the first, neither this
piece Of legislation nor any other was
needed 10 strengthen the hands Of the
governor IN the event of war emergencies,
or on occasions requiring the States
close cooperation with the Federal
government in the conduct of the war.
Ii 1t proves an evil--as Is altogether
probable-lt will be the natural result of
an evil move in the frst place-the calling
OF the extra session. There was absolute
" no necessity for this extra session, and
it WIS forced for a single and selfish pur-
pose-the ratification of the Federal
prohibition Amendment, before the people
could have an opportunity Of voting on it
at the next election for a Legislature
If those who backed this arbitrary and
unnatural lnsistence suffer in the end,
they will have none but themselves to
blame
One thing that seems surprising.
however, is the general acquiescence Of
the farming interests Of the State in this
drastic measure. 1t is possible the
farmers look upon it as an agency to
secure TO them a sufficient supply of
needed labor, and it is hoped it will
have at least that result But it may be
the farmers have not taken into calcula-
ton that the Council of Defence will
have authority TO fix the wages TO be paid,
and to compel payment Are the farmers,
who have long been complaining about
the high demands Of farm laborers, willing
70 have the rates Of compensation fixed by
a body over whose actions they viii have
no control, and with power to compel them
to pay the fixed rate? Or perhaps they
feel confident the personnel Of the Council
Of Defence will be in their interest, and
will provide them with labor at what they
deem reasonable rates.