Mexico Missouri message., 1918-01-31
GOVERNMENT LIKELY TO COMPEL
THE PEOPLE TO MAKE SOME
SACRIFICES.
TO CUT PASSENGER TRAvEL7
Weather Bureau Warns Against Let
ting Foodstuffs Freeze-Polltleal
Gossips Pick McAdoo as Presidential
Nominee Of the Democrats.
BY ARTHUR W. DUNN.

or the war the government mas not
been obliged to interfere with the rights
Of individuals TO any great extent. We
hear of communicating from time to
time, and men were taken into the
army without their consent, but the av-
erage citizen has gone his way without
being disturbed In his usual ayOcatlons.
We are likely to see n change II the
war lasts n long time. Many individuals
will not make sacrifices voluntarily, but
only upon demand of the government.
We are likely to see compulsion be-
cause there are so many who will not
make sacrifices nor inconvenience
themselves to any great extent In or
der TO Insure the success Of the war.
Attention has recently been called to
the fact that there was treble the pas
sengsr railroad travel at the Christ
mas holiday period than ever before,
Notwithstanding the demand for loco
motives and trackage to move coal and
other necessities for the government
and the people. 1t would not be at all
strange II action should be taken to
limit passenger railroad travel to ac-
tual necessity. This would be radical
departure from anything heretofore at
tempted In this country.
Watch the Weather Reports.
The weather bureau has issued
warning to people generally to watch
the weather reports and heed cOld-wave
signals. Especial attention is called to
the danger Of food being destroyed by
freezing and people are warned to
keep perishable foods protected in the
days Of itense cold weather. These
warnings should be sent to some of the
army quartermasters as 1t Is reported
that large quantities of food at army
camps have been destroyed by freezing.
The officials of the Red Cross are
particularly gratified with the standing
Of the organization In the country.
When they set out to raise 500, 900
they secured the sum In month. They
set their figures at 100000 new men,
bers by Christmas and exceeded the
number by 100000. One reason why
this organization is so successful is
that every person feels that the time
may come when the organization will
extend relief, comfort and cheer to
some one near and dear to him or
her. 1t is the one organization which
reaches everywhere In times of dis
tress and suffering.
A Little Political Gossip.
Even in these days a little political
gossip is heard occasionally. One idea
which has lodged in Republican minds
Is that Secretary McAdoo Is to be the
candidate Of the Democrats to succeed
President Wilson. Several ambitious
nnlitinnl nnoinnnro hoA 1atd dnyrya m
plan to make McAdoo governor Of New
York as stepping stone to the White
House. This plan was presented to
Byron Newton, collector OF the port Of
New York. and very devoted lIeuten-
ant Of the secretary.
"Do you suppose" he almost roared
'that q man who has the biggest Job
Of all, who Is doing a great national
work, is going to give 1t up to be gov
ernor Of any state, even the largest
and most important state in the
Union2"
Senator Ellison D. Smith of South
Carolina will become chairman Of the
committee on interstate commerce rs
he is the next ranking member to the
late Senator Newlands. Mr.. Smith is
ure as lawyers, though legal and Con-
stitutional questions are generally the
principal points of difference in all
railroad legislation. But there are law
yers enough on the committee and In
the senate to render Senator Smith all
the assistance he may require.
VIII Congress Hurry7
Congress Is in position to put on
steam and rush legislation If that
should be the desire Of everybody. Both
houses were organized last spring; the
committees were appointed and much
of the legislation proposed received
consideration in committee although
not brought before the session which
was devoted almost exclusively to wal
business. But will congress put on
steam and hurry? Not unless congress
has greatly changed. Congress has Its
own way Of legislating, which Is gen
orally speed in the house. where there
are so many members and deliberation
In the senate, where>there are so few
1t Is quite well understood that dis
cussiOn and deliberation have greatly
improved the bills passed. The i'm
provement is generally commended
but the delay condemned. One great
trouble and cause Of delay Is not thai
which improves a bill, bat which is 6
discussion of extraneous matters and {
relteration Of arguments over and ovei
again.
There is no team work In senate dis
cussions, and not very much In thu
house for that matter. For example
they do not divide bill up into varl
ous classlfications and subjects and as
sign q man to cover each particular
branch. On the contrary, every sena
tor Interested, and many who are not
viii discuss the bill from end TO end
More than that, they will go over tins