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

House last week and is now con-
ference. To use the words of Gun
ner of Texas, an Administration
leader, when the bill was first SUBJ
mitted nine men out of ten were as
founded at the suggestion and yet
because Of demands made as a war
necessity, only two votes were cast
against it on final vote after several
days of discussion amendments.
Briefly, it provides for corporation
with half billion dollars capital to
be furnished by the secretary of the
Treasury with right, as introduced,
to issue securities amounting to four
billion dollars to be managed by the
Secretary Of the Treasury through
board over which he presides. The
power to loan to business and to fl
nance industries, and h e wise
handle this enormous fund is prac-
tically left with the Secretary of the
Treasury who today is Director OF
all the Railways and custodian OF
funds loaned to the Allies in ad-
dition to numerous other activities.
The war necessity argument pre-
vailed and the bill subject to modi
fications by conferees will become
law.
Partnership in these letters dur
ing their five years publication has
been avoided because the papers US
ing them are of all shades of politi-
cal opinion. For this reason, what
were deemed mistakes or frequent
changes of position of the Admins
tration have not been critical and in
legislation for the prosecution of the
war, measures have been uniform
ly supported. This practice will
not be varied but throughout the
country attention has been called to
a letter given the press wherein the
President writes Mr. Davies. Demo
cratic candidate for Senator in Wis
consin, that he proved true" on
the McLamore resolution, rm d
neutrality and embargo propositions
prior to the declaration Of war and
has not the ''acid test" Political
differences will always be proper for
discussion but the evident purpose
to unjustly reflect upon the loyalty
of the Republicans candidate has
aroused bitter comment. In COM
pany with his Wisconsin colleagues
Mr.. Lenroot has supported the Pres
ident in every measure for the pro-
secution of the war. Apart from the
fact that no public utterance prior
to the time or long thereafter came
from the Democratic nominee, an
acid test" as proposed, would place
many leading men of the country
outside the pale including Mann, of
Illinois, Cannon and other Republi-
cans and Democratic leaders Kitch-
in and Fitzgerald, General S h r
wood, hero of forty battles during
the Civil War and scores of other
men in Congress whose loyalty is
ofound and sincere as that
of any other man. 1t might bar the
great majority ofpeople of the coun-
try prior to the declaration Of war
and is patiently a political "a c i d
test" Lincoln opposed the Mexican
war and Douglas as Democratic OPP
ponent in later life opposed the Civil
War but after the declaration Of
war no 'acid test failed to estab-
lish their loyalty or high place in
history. Such attacks are sure to
react.
Vigorous efforts have been started
by Congress to Gust from the De-
partments, safely first patriots who
who wear officers uniforms n d
have secured employment in several
branches of h e military service.
Youths wearing shoulder ra . s
within the draft age and without,
are to be sifted out and given an
equal chance to defend their coun-
try on the firing line. Those who
are incapaciated and others who are
experts will be retained but when it
is understood the clerks in the Or
dinance Department alone have been
increased from 81 to 5000 in sound
numbers the opportunity to provide
a safe haven for a limited number
of favorites will be appreciated. The
War Department is cooperating to
rid itself of young men who should
be in France or taken out of mill