The Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 191?-19??, 1919-08-20
REPUBLICANS
MUST MOVE
Country Has Entrusted Them With
Power of Congress And Ex-
poets Prompt Action.

w, including the League of Nations,
and legislation extending some sort
OF recognition to discharged soldiers
for their services during the war are
some of the things the country de-
mands of Congress, and which Com
gress would do well to grant, in the
opinion of Representative Scott Fer
ris, of Oklahoma.
Representative Ferris, who is chair
man of the Democratic Congression-
al Committee, has Just returned to
Washington from trip to the middle
west. He declares that the public il
tired of the Intending debate for
which the present congress is most
celebrated and which gets nowhere,
and that unless the Republicans, who
control the Congress, substitute con-
structive action for words before
very much longer, they will hear
from the country in tones that will
be very distinct.
eff am any judge of public sem
timent in the middle and southwest. i"
said Mr. Ferris, "the preponderance
is that the peace treaty, including the
League of Nations, be agreed to at
the earliest possible date; that the
war be finally closed, that peace and
prewar conditions to be Immediately
restored, and that we get back to nor
NAL conditions at the earliest posi-
bic moment. The people understand
full well that the peace treaty car
ries provisions, first, for arbitration:
second, for disarmament; third,
against secret treaties and, fourth.
that the United States can, on two
years notice, withdraw from the
League if she desires. They are
heartsick about debates on Shantune
and other technical phases-they
want the whole matter agreed to and
put behind them.
IF am any judge, the people de-
mand some immediate and affirmative
protection against profiteering and
those who are making abnormal prof
its out of the necessities of life. They
also want it made perfectly clear that
President Wilson's suggestions will
be followed and that every profiteer
IN whatsoever walk of life be requir-
ed to content himself with reasonable
profits. Conditions are too abnormal
and the load of the citizens are too
heavy at this particular time to with
stand the fabulous profits that are
being snatched from both producer
and consumer on every hand.
The people demand that Congress
do for the four million discharged
soldiers what other countries are do
lng-give them some substantial re-
cognition of their services. In con-
versing with numerous soldiers On
the subject, they expressed the hope
that the Mondell soldier land bill
might be materially amended so that
1t will be made to benefit a very large
number of soldiers and extend the
hand of opportunity to those who do
not desire to enter soldier coloniza-
tin plan.
"In short, if l am any judge, the
people of the middle and southwest
desire to put the abnormal war con-
ditions behind them as rapidly as
possible, resume pre-war conditions
and take up their tasks anew, and any
delay or long drawn out debate in
the Senate over the peace treaty will
be disheartening to them, and it will
be Improbable for the country at
large.
II see that it has been asserted by
Republicans now in control of both
branches of congress that the legisla-
ton now on the calendar is Chicken
feed and does not deserve the atten-
ton of Congress.
The American people, who are
daily being robbed by profiteers and
food gamblers, will be slow to agree
with this logic. The railroad prob
lem, intricate though it be, deserves
attention and attention now. The
development of the west by appro-
pirate legislation for the development
OF oil, coal and other natural re-
sources are all held in allegiance. I'm
less the Republican leaders in Con-
gress are totally wanting in initiative
and are totally without ability to as
semble themselves and act, substan-
tial and immediate steps should be
taken for the solution of these prob
lens.
"The Republican congress has been
in session nearly three months. All
it has been able to do is to re-enact
the bills the Democrats formulated
in the last Congress and which were