The Washington times., 1918-02-12
By W. V, BYARS

By W. V
"Our passion for justice and self
government is no mere passion of
words. but passion which, once set
in action, must be satisfied" said
President Wilson to Congress yester-
day.
Perhaps nothin" else so important
has been said in the Capitol build
ing this year. The sentence is a
message in itself. 1t is important
enough to be delivered from the base
of Bunker Hill Monument.
1t is important for the informa-
ton of the European Supermen, the
medieval war lords" the representa-
tives of "Faustrecht" and "Schreck-
lichkeit," for whom it was intended.
1t may finally become even more i'm
portant for all whom it may concern
in the United States, during the
process of making the world, includ-
ing the United States, safe for de-
mocracy. All Supermen may take
notice. For, as the President de-
fines the issue of Man against Super
man, it is mot local ISSUE"
"A good man, weighing 24O
pounds" once lost the Presidency by
making a mistake about local
issue"
The notification that the President
would address the Congress in joint
session came to the Capitol shortly
after 1C o'clock. 1t was, as usual,
wholly unexpected-with the excep-
tions saved in the case of the Omnis-
cient, who expect and provide for
everything. This saving of excep-
tions for Omniscience is necessary
for q connected view, as it is only
through a connected view that COM
prehension of the days proceedings
becomes possible.
Entering the House at 1890, the
President concluded his message at
10 minutes of l o'clock. He was
listened to with profound and re-
spectful attention. When it began
to appear that he was announcing
the possibility, if not the probability,
of the final failure of his peace plans,
and consequently of "finish fight" I"
all he said of the determination of
the American people to support JUS
tice and liberty to the end was re-
ceived with immediate and prolong-
ed applause.
What We are striving for is a new
International order" he said. And
he said also:
Nothing settled by military force,
If settled wrong. is settled at all.
Self-determination is not a mere
phrase. 1t is an imperative prin-
ciple Of action which statesmen will
benceforth ignore at their, peril"
M
AS the whole message Illustrated
the application Of these sentences, it
was understood that they will be sup
ported with the last dollar and the
last man in America, II the ultimate
sacrifice Of money by the billion and
men by the ten million is necessary
to enforce them, as American prin-
ciples" Of "self-determination and
self-government."
Dramatic condolences are either
providential or else they are staged.
They may be partly providential and
partly the work OF human foresight
AS a dramatic coincidence, perhaps
partly providential and not wholly
the result Of human foresight. witt
the most subtle sense Of political ef
feet. the results Of the world war
were brought to a focus for democ-
Tacy in America so as to be in un-
mistakable sequence with the Presi-
dents address.
The Senate Judiciary Committee
acted on the Overman bill. as an Ad-
ministration measure. II appointed
committee TO inquire into the re-
suit Of the supreme powers. involv-
Ing the suspension OF all conflicting
laws, asked for the President in the
control OF all executive action.
The Senate Committee on Finance
heard Secretary McAdoo's explana-
ton Of his system for repressing all
"non-essential industries"
The House Committee on Agricul-
ture considered the Lever food bill,
applying compulsion universally III
the control Of food, and making tho
Food Administrator a judge of iis
application TO persons. with the
power to penalize all who disobey
his orders.
The Senate Committee on Com
merce heard Samuel Gompers on
the control of labor, after Senator
Vardaman, in open Senate, had op-
posed the involuntary servitnde"
OF forced labor on farms-as ;t has
been proposed in spite of the civil
war amendments, settling it by mil
itary force, "if settled at ALL"
The Senate Committee on Mill
tary Affairs considered the condi-
tion of the drafted men now in Can
tonments.
The bill for the possession and
control of the railroads of the
United States by Director General
McAdoo was introduced in the Sen
ate by an able argument from
Chairman Smith of the Senate Com
mittee on Interstate Commerce,
with a minority report from Sen
atOr Cumm:ns of the same commit
tee.
These measures in their total in
volve arbitrary power as great as