River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1920-08-12
SEN. LENROoTs ADDRESS

The following is the Ellsworth Re-
cords account of Senator Lenroot's
address at Ellsworth Tuesday even
ing:
Tho financial profteers were
scored by the Senator who declared
that Congress had passed the criminal
| laws necessary to place these men in
penitentiaries for their part in taking
! excessive profits from the consumers
Of the country for the necessities of
life, but charged that the Attorney
| General of the United States had
failed to take any action under this
| legislation.
He discussed the Cummins- Esch
Railroad Bill passed by the last
Congress and stated that this law
was one of the most progressive
| pieces of railroad legislation ever
| passed by legislative body in this
country. The Senator showed how
this legislation had been misrepre-
scented by its opponents and called
attention to the progressive features
of the bill such as the provision pro-
viding for the payment to the govern
ment of one-half of all earnings by
railroad companies in excess of six
per cent on the physical valuation as
| found by the Interstate Commerce
Commission. The Senator also
discussed the Plumb Plan of Rail-
road control at some length and
charged that this plan would result
in increased transportation rates and
| would further add to the high cost
of living.
The reason for this country still
being technically at war were dis
cussed by the speaker, who charged
that President Wilson was respon-:
sible for this situation. He related
how the President had refused to
accept the reservations to the Peace
| treaty passed by the Senate and how
he had vetod the resolution passed by
Congress declaring state of peace
between this country and Germany.
The Senator said he was positive that
at the referendum on this question
in November the people of the
| country would uphold the view OF
the Senate in insisting upon reser-
vations to the treaty which would
protect the United States. The
Senator discussed the Shantung mat
ter and charged that if the League
of Nations were adopted as desired
by the President, under article ten,
this country would be bound to go to
the assistance of Japan in the event
Of war between China and Japan
over Shantung, which he charged had
been stolen from China by Japan
through secret treaties made between
| the Allies before America entered the
war.
The waste and extravaganza dur
ing the war and since by the govern
ment was discussed, and the Senator
showed how a Republican Congress
had reduced appropriations one bill
lion dollars below the estimates sub
rnitted by the administration. He
charged that one of the great factors
in the present high cost Of living was
the practice of manufacturers, job
bers and wholesalers to add onto the
price of their commodities a sum
| sufficient to pay their federal taxes,
and that instead Of this tax being
borne by those Congress intended, it
was being passed on to the consumer
thus adding to the present high
prices. This could be remedied, he
stated, by enforcement Of the Grimm
al profiteering laws Of the country.
! The Senator also advocated federal
inheritance tax which would provide
for the payment Of large proper.
ton Of all excessive large estates into
the federal treasury.
The Senator stated that he had
been engaged in fighting organized
wealth ever since he had been in
politics, in the State Legislature, IN
the House of Representatives and in
the United States Senate, and that
he would continue this fght whether
in public office or in private life.
He made no plea for votes for
himself, but stated that the Office
of United States Senator was one
for the people to bestow on whoever
thy1 thought best fitted therefor,
and urged all voters to go to the
polls end vote according to their con-
science on the basis of merit for all
offices and not to be influenced by
class appeals from those who stir up
class Fatred and discomfort to fur
Their their own political interests.