River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1918-06-06
Our Weekly Letter
From Washington
(By James A. Frear, M. CD

observed by everybody from Fresl-
dent Wilson down to the humblest
citizen. AS stated at one service,
it is sacred to the dead who gave
their lives for liberty; sacred to
their surviving comrades w h os e
fast dwindling G. A. R. ranks are a
mutely eloquent plea for remember
ing the American soldier who yet re-
mains from the Civil War, and fin
ally for our boys in France who are
carrying on the war at time when
the heart of the nation beats faster
as battle lines clash on the Western
front. The President and Mrs. Will
son, Secretary of War Baker, and
about 10000 persons were estimated
to be present at the Arlington ex-
ercises. The writer's father eighty
three years Of age, who was Com
mander Of the District G. A. +. last
year, marched in the p a r as
the youngest member. Flags o I
five great nations were in the ceme-
terry, fttingIy there, to salute the
nations dead. They were placed at
the tomb of the unknown dead to-
gether with large wreath given by
the President. Many other exercises
were held at the various cemeteries
here, which with those held through
out the country were of especial sig
nifcance this year.
Senator Borah introduced reso-
luton last week asking from Secre-
tary McAdoo the names of profiteers
whom President Wilson said in his
message last week were "here and
the evi nee is undisputable. !"
Speaking briefly. for his resolution,
Senator Borah said "For the Presi-
dent to say that "profiteering is
here and the evidence is undisput-
able is to notify Congress that it
must deal with this situation" 1t is
up to Congress he declared, and ad-
ded "this Congress is contracting a
debt which will draw upon the la
Dor of this nation for two hundred
and fifty years. Let US advertise
that the pro6teer shall disappear as
the bloodthirsty tarantula and let
us stay here until we have driven
this scourge from our nation" With
Leader Kitchin's promise and the
Presidents request to make h e
profteer pay his full share of taxes
which reach eighty per cent in Eng
land, and a promise to be classed as
an extortionist, the government pro-
fiteer is likely to modifyhis demands
for profits on Government contracts,
and to do his full part in paying for
war costs.
A strange case of boarding of food
supplies was discovered by the Food
Administrator at the home of ma
val officer last week. A list of the
supplies laid away for future poss-
ible famine included 1900 pounds of
granulated sugar. 637 pounds of do
mino sugar, 500 pound of brown SUI
gar 975 pounds of flour, 387 tins of
sliced bacon, and nearly everything
in the shape of eatables and drink
ables, which numbered over e
hundred kinds of food and drink,
valued by h e Administrator at
$4,000. Both the naval officer and
his wife have been arrested and
hearings adjourned for two weeks.
No apparent reason for the strange
actions have been offered excepting
that given in the press, that it was
laid up for rainy day." The writ
er has received many letters asking
what amount of food. -four, grain,
etc, can be retained by owners and
the Federal authorities have advised
in every case that rules are governed
by the State Food Administrator. 1t
is doubtful if any one in the country
will exceed the supply given out in
in the press as held by the naval
officer, which would seem to be suf-
ficient to start a fair sized grocery
Il store. Prosecution and punishment
is promised all such cases by the Ad-
ministrator.
The big army bill appropriating
ST., 041 ,682, 500, and providing for
100000 men, passed the House
last week without single dissenting
vote. No objection was raised on