The Oskaloosa herald., 1918-10-10
MEN TRAINED FOR
'0UR new VESSELS
AMERICAS MERCHANT MARINE
WILL NOT LACK OFFICERS
AND COMPLETE CREWS
BIG PROBLEM IS OVERCOME
Peace Proposals Of Central Powers
Since War Began Analysed by Con-
gresham Fess - Reeds Protest
Against District Wage Commission.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

cSNNs
Neutrality-suspicious. the time our
Dig ship program was outlined there
appeared In various publications state
ments showing that no matter how
many ships were built they would be
useless because they could not be
manned. Quite number of people
were disturbed by these assertions and
no doubt saw difficulties in securing
trained officers and seamen to man
and operate the ships. But the diff
culties were like all others that have
beset this country since 1t entered the
war; they were very great, hat they
could be overcome. When the ships
which the government is building are
completed andDready for service they
will be Differed and manned. There
are men being educated In seafaring
work who can take these ships and
operate them. 1t is the same with
serving the ships as in all other mat
tiers pertaining to the war Where a
necessity exists means are taken to
meet 1t. How absurd it would be to
build O lot of ships and allow them
to lie idle in our harbors for want of
man power. America is not going to
do anything like that.
Congressman Fess Of Ohio, who
keeps a better compilation Of war lit
erature than any other man in con-
gress, gave the house interesting in
formation concerning peace proposals.
There are more than 100 documents on
the subject Of peace since this war
began, he said, which express efforts
for peace, together with the answers.
One of the interesting features of the
peace proposals, said Fess, comparing
the early ones with those we have
had recently, is the changed tone.
THE arrogance and naughty super
iority," declared the Ohio congress
man. $50 apparent at the beginning,
which used the phraseology Of our
iron will and our mailed fist has
all ceased, and now the language Is
softer and almost touches the plane
OF the suppliant If carefully scruti-
nized. Just few days ago the state
ments Of Doctor SOlf, Prince. Max,
Count Czernin and Count Burian were
very mild, with the suggestion that
the war ought to close, and a deep de-
sire to find n way to save the face
Of German militarism, and an evident
desire to open way TO convince the
allies that the central powers would
close the war at once without any
negotiation"
Mr.. Fess did not include the last
proposal, which was far more soft
than any that has gone before. He
said the various proposals for peace
offered an opportunity to study the
psychology Of the Germans. They
show that the war is going against
them. The next peace offer is likely
10 be more humble than any that has
preceded II.
During the discussion Of q bill In
the senate which proposed a commits
sion to determine the wages OF women
and minors under eighteen years in
the District of Columbia, Senator Reed
of Missouri said: at may be that this
legislation will go through notwith-
standing any protest. II Is of that
class Of legislation which repudiates
the right of an American citizen to
take care of himself. II Is based upon
the Idea that the human family must
be constantly in leading strings and
under tutelage and protection. II
assumes that an American citizen has
not sufficient sense to make his own
bargains, but that there are some 9TH
er American citizens who can with
absolute infallibllity make contracts
for him. It is based upon a principle
of intellectual serfdom. It's underlying
thought is that individual rights and
responsibilities should be merged into
general governmental supervision. II
we have this sort of legislation long
enough we will not have left in this
world anything but a few political
bosses and many industrial slaves"
And the bill passed, as Reed pre-
dicted.
All the Dig guys on the ways and
means committee who took anywhere
from one hour to five or six in dis
cussing the revenue bill availed them
selves Of the privilege Of revising their
remarks. Chairman Kitchin, Con-
gresham Fordney of Michigan, Moore
of Pennsylvania, Longworth of Ohio.
Hull of Tennessee and Green of Iowa
all had good deal TO say about the
provisions Of the bill and went over
their speeches before they were print
ed. The necessity for this was that
where so many figures are mentioned,
the reporter is apt to make a mistake,
and one mistake may entirely destroy
the effect Of an argument.
II has been a long time since any.
thing has been heard Of the Alaska
government railroad, but Congressman
Johnson Of Washington, speaking OF It
in the house one day. remarked that
1.-The government railroad itself and
the building operations had greatly
shriveled, with two of the commission
ers out and the railroad building plan
going to pieces."