Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1918-10-16

as of Colorado voiced a general idea
which prevailed in regard to the bill
when he said: ain ordinary times
there is no feature of this measure
that would commend itself TO the APP
proval of my judgment. However, 1t
was war necessity and that made all
the difference in the world"
| Congressman McLemore of Texas.
he of a certain resolution fame. went
through the process of "squaring him
self" In a speech in the house. He
started right off by speaking Of "con-
demnation and Misrepresentation from
prejudiced perjured and paid press"
Then he explained the notorious McLe-
more resolution. which was not only
condemned by "prejudiced. perjured
and paid press" but by President VIII
son. and which was by tremendous
majority sent to its grave In the house
of representatives.
McLemore says he voted against con-
scription, but points out that In doing
so he voted with Champ Clark. the
speaker; Claude Kitchin, the majority
leader, and Hubert Dent. chairman of
the committee on military affairs, 'all
good men, honest, old-time Democrats"
asserted the Texan. Among other
measures on which he cast votes con-
treTy to the wishes of the administra-
ton was that to sena Roosevelt abroad
with volunteers and the bill creating
Herbert Hoover food dictator and plac-
ing at his command S162 100000" His
objection 10 Hoover was that he had
been away from this country % years
and had never voted.
McLemore was comparatively I'M
known until he introduced a resolu-
ton the purpose of which was TO keep
Americans off ships of the belllgerent
nations while we were still neutral
nation. 1t created a storm of dissent.
The pro-German has had his chance
for a week or more. He comes to
the front every time Germany or
one of her puppets suggests peace.
One can tell the pro German at
once because he begins to clamor for
peace, to point out that the war is
nearing the end and that Il is the duty
Of our people to consider the various
suggestions for ending the war which
have been made by the central powers.
The pro German or near pro-German
insists that the Uh,ted States cannot
ignore offers of peace. He points out
that as late as February %, 1917. Pres
ident Wilson spoke for peace and
quotes his phrase peace without vic
tory" as though It were applicable to
present conditions. Furthermore, the
pro-German insists that terms of peace
must be by negotiation and treaty and
that they cannot be dictated to the
central powers by the allied govern
ments. IT Is the Idea of those who
were for Germany before the United
States entered the conflict that the al
lies cannot crush Germany and die
tate terms In Berlin. They forget that
Grant made unconditional surrender
a famous phrase and that in 1870 Ger
many dictated terms of peace to
France at Paris.
II is evident that our former Ger
man sympathizers and cur pro-Ger-
mans in this country are rs dull as the
Germans themselves in regard to the
final results of the war. They fail to
grasp the idea that the main purpose
of the struggle is to make it impos-
sible for German barbarism again to
menace the civilization of the world.
Confidential discussion" of peace
terms was what the AustsO- Hungarian
note suggested How the mist of past
ages clings to the diplomats of the
ally of Germany HOIe-in-the-corner
negotiations. A few men TO secretly
bargain about nations and make the
map of the world. They are dreaming
of the days so long past that II Is al
most idle TO even answer them. Presi-
dent Wilson has placed the seal of dis
approval upon secret diplomacy in one
of his stirring utterances. AS this war
Is being waged to make the world
safe for democracy, 1t may be thor
oughly understood that the people win
have n voice IN determining the final
adjustments.
In a speech In California. repub-
lished In the Congressional Record,
Senator Phean said to mis- home peo-
pie: I'VE have been obliged, by rea-
son of the character of warfare. TO
adopt methods which. TO say 1t mildly,
strain the Constitution which is the
charter of our liberties. We have put
restrictions upon trade. upon the
habits and the lives of people; we
have put restrictions upon the liberty
Of tho rrnsN md the frandnIn of