Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-08-20
THE SITUATION IN CONGRESS

Immediate relief from profteering. prompt
ratification of the peace treaty including the
League OF Nations, and legislation extending
some sort Of substantial recognition TO dis
charged soldiers for their services during the
war are some of the things the country de-
mands of congress, and which congress wouId
do we'll to grant, in the opinion OF Represen-
tatfve Scott Ferris of Oklahoma
Representative Ferris. who is chairman OF
the Democratic congressional committee, has
Just returned to Washington from trip to the
middle west He declares that the public is
tired OF the unending debate for which the
present congress is most celebrated and which
gets nowhere, and that unless the Republicans,
who control the congress, SUBSTITUTE construc-
tive 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 sentiment IN
the middle and southwest" said Mr.. Ferris,
1.-The preponderance is that the peace treaty, in
GLIDING the League of Nations. be agreed to at
the earliest possible date; that the war be
finally closed: that peace and. pre-war condl-
tons be Immediately restored, and that we get
back to normal conditions at the earliest pos
slble moment. The people understand full well
that the peace treaty carries provisions, nrsI
for arbitration; second for disarmament; third,
against secret treaties and fourth, that the
United states can, on two years notice, with
draw from the league if she desires They are
heartsick about debates on Shantung and other
technical phases-they want the whole matter
agreed to and put behind them.
IF / am any Judge. the people demand some
immediate and Affirmative protection against
profteering and those who are making abnor-
nal profits out Of the necessities OF life They
also want It made perfectly clear that Presi-
dent wilson's suggestions will be followed and
that every pFofiteer in whatsoever walk OF life
be required to content himself with reasonable
profits. Conditions are too abnormal and the
load of theV citizen is too heavy at this par
ticular time to Withstand 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 doing-giye them some substan-
tial recognition of their service. In conyersing
with numerous soldiers on the subject, they
expressed the hope that the Mondell soldier
land bill might be materially amended SO that
it will be made to benefit a very much larger
number of soldiers and extend the hand of OPP
portunity to those who do not desire to enter
q soldier colonization plan.
In short, il ! am any judge, the people of
the middle and southwest desire to put the
abnormal war conditions behind them as rap
idly 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 dsheartening to them, as it will
be improbable to the country at large.
Il see that it has been asserted by Repub-
licans now in control OF both branches OF con
gress that the legislation now on the calendar
is chicken feed and does not deserve the at
tention of congress.
THE American people who are daily being
robbed by prohteers and food gamblers. will
be slow to agree with this logic. The railroad
problem intricate though it be, deserves at
tention and attention now. The development of
the west by appropriate legislation for the de-
velopment of oil. coal and other natural re-
sources are all held in allegiance. Unless the
Republican leaders in congress are totally
wanting in initiative. and are totally without
ability to assemble themselves and act. sub
stantia and immediate steps should be taken
for the solution of these problems.
The Republican congress has been in ses-
sion nearly three months. All it has done is to
reenact the bills the Democrats formulated in
the last congress and which are killed by the
Republican filibuster in the senate. They have
initiated nothing new. They have made no sub
stantiaI effort to achieve the things for which
the American people are clamoring. They have
been without vision and without ability to cope
with the problems that come up. The Repub-
licaus have been entrusted with power. 1t is
rnnYar