Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1919-06-04


Democrat In the house or senate 10
was tho foremost enemy Of the war
prodtsers.
To Auction Government Supplies.
Secretary Of War Baker has decid.
ed to sell $1,000, 000,0 900 worth OF food.
clothing and machinery which was de.
hvered to the war department before
the arm1stlce was signed, to any state.
county, municipality or private corpo-
ration. or any cooperative association
or citizen, who may be ready to pay
fair price at public auction. He suE-
gests that state and county institu-
lions can buy their socks and shoes
for inmates Of those institutions At
low rates at these sales. They can
buy canned beef, corned beef, corned
beef hash, pork, bacon, etc., all OF it
put up without attractive labels but
guaranteed full weight and measure.
Sharp criticism .ratned upon the
war department when Baker first an
nounced that he had held conferences
with. the big packers on the situation,
and would so dispose of the food that
prices in this country would not be
affected. His subordinate in charge
OF this business was very slow to I'M
derstand that the public would not ap-
prove Of giving the packers a second
prodt on the food deal. But at last he
did get the idea-or Instructions.
Then the auction plan was decided
upon.
Most Of the public institutions enter
Into contracts for their food and cloth.
Ing supplies at least six months ahead.
The big packers get these contracts.
1t Is probable that the great bulk of
the thousands of tons of food which
the war department must sell will fall
back into the hands Of the packers,
directly or indirectly. However, now
10 golden moment Of opportunity for
cooperative or individual wholesale or
retail dealers who are willing to buy
and advertise these plain wrapped
meats and meat substitutes
Write to the secretary OF war for
Information as to the nearest point at
which auction sales of these goods will
take place.
Soldiers Anxious to Return.
Chairman Julius Kahn of the house
committee on military affairs has
come home from visit to the Amer.
lean troops in France and Germany
with firm determination that con.
gress must summon these soldiers
! home Immediately He says they all
want to get home, and that they have
| right to come home.
The secretary of war gives it as his
preliminary view that congress can
not bring the troops home until the
president is willing to recall them.
Peace has not been concluded with the
| powers against whom we declared
war. On the other hand, he thinks
that congress ought to see that he is
really trying to bring the soldiers
home as rapidly as ships can be Sc
cured for the work.
| This little difference of opinion Is
complicated by the fact that Kahn is
boosting for universal military train.
Ing and a big preparedness program,
while Baker is opposed to any per-
manent scheme of militarist expan
sion.
Militarism In Maine.
While the administration and con.
| gress engage in their tussle over the
return of the soldiers and military
training, it appears that the legisla-
ture of Maine has been led into enact
ing law, duly signed by the governor,
which not even Chairman Kahn would
sanction. This law provides that the
governor may fill up the national
guard units, in time of peace. by draft
ing any number of young men neces-
sary for the purpose. All young men
eligible for this draft who have an
honorable record of prior service" in
the federal or state military or naval
forces may be" exempt. All men
selected for national guard service un-
der the draft are to be enrolled in tho
guard, regardless of their own wish
or objection, and are thereby made
subject to all laws, regulations and
discipline governing the force.
Trade union interests in Maine con-
slider this law a threat at their right
to strike, since it permits the COVER
nor to force young strikers in 4 mill
town into the local guard ranks.
-Axel Loven arrived last Wednes-
day from Kingsburg, California for a
visit with his parents, Mr.. and Mrs.