The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-02-07
JOLTEp INTO
NEW ENTHUSIASM
Torpedoing of Transport Has
Shocked Government Into
Greater Efforts to
Prosecute War.
THIRD LIBERTY LOAN
Full Speed Ahead Now to Remove
Menace Of Humanity From
Top Of Earth
Forever.
THIRD LIBERTY LOAN

[United Press Leased Wire Service.l
WASHINGTON, Feb. 7.-Shocked
by Germany's dramatic stroke at
Americas transport lines, the Am
erican government today gathered It.
self for the greatest effort It has
thrown into the war.
Congress had before 1t President
Wilson's request for unprecedented
legislation giving him unparalleled
powers for reorganizing and co-ordin-
ating the entire government war
work.
The shipping board announced for
nation OF an inter-allied transported
ton committee to allocate tonnage
supplies to France,
Secretary McAdoo offered an is
sue OF $5OO,OOO,00O in Indebtedness
certificates bearing four per cent in
terest-the second issue heralding
the launching Of the third Liberty
loan, which will be soon. Additional
issues Of $500, 100000 will be issued
every two weeks until. the next loan
The war and shipping boards we're
considering plan to restrict I'M
ports and increase service of neutral
ships in transatlantic trade.
The shipping board put 1t squarely
up to labor to make the ship building
program a success.
Administration influence was
thrown behind the housing bill be-
fore congress in belief the fate of
the shipping program now depends
largely upon homes for the workers.
President Wilson apparently is de-
termined to slash red tape merciless-
ly. In his request for legislation
which virtually would empower him
to break the letters OF peace time
laws, reorganize the government and
create or disband bureaus and COM
missions as he sees fit, is seen move
to stop competitive buying between
the army and navy, empower the war
industries board to enforce it's rul-
ings, now merely advisory, and CO.
ordinate various departments noy
working at cross purposes or dupli-
eating efforts.
And behind the scenes Of tremend
Gus war activity, the senate military
committee went into executive ses
sion with Secretary of War Baker
and army officers to satisfy their
craving for knowledge of the scope
of the work under way.
Critics of the war department who
have crystallized their remedies into
the munitions director and war cab
met bills, declared that the presi-
dents action was at least partial
vindication for them. They say it is
an admission by the chief executive
that shake-up is needed.
1--WE seek by mandatory legislation
to effect the reorganization the pres
ident has in mind said one of them,
while the president seeks to do it
A., ,icci 1nf
'"The president wants to reorganize
the whole government" said Senator
Hitchcock THE military affairs COM
mittee does not propose to go that far
eve will continue our fight for the
Chamberlain bills because we believe
the organization and Capitalization
necessary can be accomplished with
out granting the president such broad
powers as he seeks
That the measure will meet the
most stubborn opposition from the
minority side Of the house was ad-
mitted These opponents it was pre-
dicted would gather strength from
among the democrats.
An element in congress which
sprang up when the senate CRASHED
its teeth in vain over the Garfield
fuel order, Is strongly opposed to
granting any further general powers
to the president.
The war department fight spread
through both houses of congress to-
day.
Representative Carter Glass was
ready with the first prepared de-
tense of the administration that has
been heard in congress.
In the senate Senator Shields at
tackled the consItutionality of the
war cabinet and the munitions direc-