Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-05-02
Friday; May 2, 1919.

Let u Reason and Be Reasonable.
Well. suppose President Wilson
DOES como home. AT ONCE. as
livery American with an ounce of
cray matter devoutly hopes: and
suppose he Immediately calls the
congress in extraordinary session. as
he ought to have done many weeks
hgo.- what then: Let US take lit
lie common sense out for exercise
dd airing.
j By no stretch of Imagination can
defenders of the Presidents course in
heGlecting America. ignoring and in
euIung the United States Senate. and
meddling in every little detail of
Europe's international business, claim
that Mr.. Wilson is at this time, or
Ian be in a long time to come.
familiar with home affairs, senti-
ments or tendencies. He has been
sout of touch" his mind has been
entirely occupied with the rapidly
unfolding. ever-changins problems
confronting the peace delegates. He
could not, and has not attempted to.
divert his mind from the work in
hand. even when he must have
known that his own country was
suffering beyond possibility of any
human estimate because of his abb
sence, the resulting inactivity of Con-
gress. and the uncertainty of every
Industry and avenue Of business.
Only the other day. when the Prcsi.
Hent was asked when he would call
Congress. he replied that he did not
know. Manifestly he had given no
thought to 1t; he could not bother
with anything SO trivial as American
Affairs: he did not care when Con-
xress should convene to set the coun-
try free from the fog Of indecision
and guess work. but 1t must NOT in
aerfere with his hobby for domiuat-
ang Europe.
The President again in America
WILL not KNOW. but he will call Con-
gress together because the last Con.
Eress did not even provide appro-
briations for the departments Of
government. Something must be
done before the fiscal year ends on
June so. And Congress DOES know,
for it has been home among the peo-
pie. 1t knows OF the deplorable state
pf national affairs: 1t knows of the
4mpatence and temper of all the
people: It knows of the bitterness Of
soldiers returning from Europe and
tho home cantonments; it knows of
the prodteering; 1t knows Of the
wholesale juggling by multiple ad-
Snlnistration bureaus with public af-
FAIRS: 1t knows Of the stupendous
pwlndles put over on the people in the
name OF patriotism and war neces-
city: it knows Of the open cove.
nants, openly arrived at" farce-of
The scandalous fraud perpetrated
over Burlesonized cables and wires.
Ind political chicanery at the Euro
pean cable ends: 1t knows of Burle.
son and the telephones and tele-
kraphs( to say nothing Of the Post
once Department shame): it knows
pr the railway demonstration of
government control-and operation in.
competence and waste: It knows of
the soldiers mail disgrace. and the
soldiers pay infamy: it knows of
bureaucratic collision with interests
70 keep prices where new fortunes
could be turned over every day.
All these things and many more are
familiar to Congress. but the fresi.
dent will come back with everything
overshadowcd by his league Of ma.
lions and peace enthusiasm. He may
be expected to attempt to pull the
telf-same stunt Of dominating every
thing in sight when he lines up his
forces against q Republican Con.
Sress-BUT HE WON'T BE ABLE
TO DO IT:
On the other hand. we, the people.
are already expecting service. AT
ONCE. of Congress. according to our
knowledge Of the need that has held
" Tor weary months. Congress
ooght to have been In session the last
two months. Every moment should
have been devoted to this countrys
affairs; the delay can never be made
up. We shall expect 81 Congress the
immediate accomplishment Of super-
human tasks. We shall vent our i'm.
patience upon those who must have
time to deal with the stupendous
problems that have been stored. piled
up and then dumped upon them.
Immediate needs Of a reckless. i'm.
provident, and incompetent admins.
tration must FIRST be provided for.
We must make good the promises of
those elected to represent us. And
W must cut out and clear away tho
political barbed wire establishments
that have been rashly thrown togeth.
er and then lodged and evaded.