Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1918-12-23
President Passed the Buck
to Congress and That
Body now Needs
Fixed Policy.
SITUATION is WOBBLY
All. Congress Thinks of Now
Is Wires and
Rails.
By ]. q. Homes.


considerable time debating as to
whether the war is over, but that is
about as far as the law-making body
appears to get. The ship of state is
floundering in choppy seas, and with
the pilot in Europe there appears to
be no way of steadying the wobbly
craft
1t is doubtful if there has ever been
a time when there have been so many
inconsistencies in government, as now.
The food and fuel administrations,
which were deemed so essential, are
crumbling. The war labor board is
practically on the shelf, notwithstand-
ing the fact that contracts for war
work have been cancelled, throwing
vast armies of wOrkmen out of employ
ment and threatening the credit of
many concerns that have dropped ev-
erything in order to serve their cOun-
try. Government control of prices has
almost passed. The total cost of the
war for America, up to November,
was $20,500 100000, and the capacity
of congress seems to be taxed to its
utmost in finding way for the future.
The steel men and the war industries
board have been in conference, and
the result is that competitive cOntli-
lions within this great industry are to
be restored after January 1.
Summing up the industrial situa-
ton, one finds that the whole indus
trial machinery of the country is be.
ing set adrift. The war Industries
have accepted this condition, ana at
the Atlantic City gathering their prob
lens were analysed, and remedial
methods were provided as far as pos
sible. The government, which was so
all-wise in going to war, offers no So
luton about how to get back to peace.
The country is asked to accept as an
excuse for holding the boys in Iidleness
in the camps the explanation that it is
done to relieve what Mr.. McAdoo des-
cribes i'm another instances as ''uncer-
tainty and ferment.'
Don't Ask Washington.
A lot of good it will do to ask Wash
ington what is to be done about things
If the president had only suggested
something in his address to congress,
it would have started opposition, at
least. But as matters stand, Washing
ton is on the border edge between coma
and cynicism. Its contrary minded
groups are prepared to oppose the rati-
fication of the peace treaty, no matter
what it may stand for. -ftecOnstruc-
ton is principally Il myth. The capital
talks about the British plan headed by
Il ministry of reconstruction, and sup
ported by large number of commits
sions. The capital also talks about
committees of the senate and house.
1t talks of using existing government
agencies and departments to some eX-
tent. But though matters are en-
tremely pressing, Washington hasn't
shown enough initiative since the sign
ing of the armistice to entitle it to Il
paragraph OH the pages of the history
of democracy Now these statements
are not politics-they are truths, and
this ought to be the day of truthtell-
ing. 1t is not Il question of what the
democrats have done, or what the re-
publicans have done.
The records show that the whole
bunch of them have done practically no
thing.
Wires, Railss and Wobbly Statesmen.
Apparently, the whole industrial es-
Establishment must shift for, itself. La
Dor and capital will have plenty of OPP
portunity to solve their own troubles
before the responsible heads of the ma
ton decide that there are any other
questions affecting the human family,
other than telegraphs, telephones and
railroads. The president, before he
left. passed this particular buck to
congress. Mr.. McAdOo has taken up
the railroad problem. and he declares
that he believes that a Kye-year test
will give the American people the right
answer regarding government control
or ownership. Mr.. Burleson argues for
government ownership of the wire
lines, and tells how many postmaster
generals advocated the same thing up
to 1892, but he shows how little and
unfair he is by emitting in his sup
posedly historical statement the
name of his immediate predecessor,
Frank II. Hitchcock. who was bitten
by the socialistic bug, and left it in his
Office to get hold of BurlesOn when the
latter stepped in. There was Il sort
of fued between these two men. Hitch