The Tomahawk., 1919-06-12

moor leader IN the mouse. is !Ae nero
of the latest Democratic presidential
boom. Nobody has thus far publicly
announced Kitchin for President
club, but around the capital the rumor
runs that the Bryan Democracy Is
looking with favor upon the North
Carolina congressman.
Kitchin's chief recommendation is
the fact that he fought for higher
taxation of the big incomes and big
inheritances, and higher taxation of
war profits and excess profits. He did
not go as far as Senator La Toilette
went in that direction, but as con-
trasted with any other prominent
Democrat in the house or senate he
was the foremost enemy Of the war
profiteers.
To Auction Government Supplies.
Secretary of War Baker has decid-
ed to sell $1,000, 100000 worth Of food,
clothing and machinery which was de-
livered to the war department before
the armistice was signed, to any state.
county, municipality or private corpo.
ration, or any cooperative association
or citizen, who may be ready to pay
a fair price at public auction. He sug-
gests that state and county institu-
tions 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 rained 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 un.
derstand that the public would not ap.
prove of giving the packers a second
profit 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
is golden r:ament of opportunity for
cooperative Or individual wholesale or
retail dealers who are willing to buy
and advertise these plain-wrcpped
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
ican troops in France and Germany
with a firm determination that con-
gress must summon these soldiers
home Immediately. He says they all
want to get home, and that they have
a 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 So
cured for the work.
This little difference of opinion 10
complicated by the fact that Kahn 10
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, 1t 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 the
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 a mill
town into the local guard ranks.
De Icons Landing in Florida.