River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1920-05-27
Our Weekly Letter
From Washington
From James A. Frear, M. C.

The press contains frequent cable
grams from European sources de-
scribing the pitiful conditions abroad
and declaring that the United States
must finance Europe even to the ex-
tent Of taking over a liberal Install
ment of German indemnity bonds. A
reputable writer insists that unless
we do so the ten billion dollars in
loans to various European nations
during the war will be forfeited. This
last suggestion was refuted in Parlia-
ment by English statesmen during
the past week but it is all significant
of q mistaken idea held abroad that
Uncle Sam will be an easy godfather
to all those in need or want. Weeks
ago our committee agreed with the
Secretary of the Treasury who came
before US, that it would be necessary
to extend interest on European loans
because none of the countries are in
d position to pay and we have no
police force or court in which to
compel payment even if we wished to
do SO. Not the Slightest likelihood OF
this government assuming any part
of European debts nor of making any
more government loans need be fear
ed. Senator Borah said on May -
in the Senate: "There are more men
of vast wealth in France today than
at any time in it's history" He furth-
or declared that profiteering and ex-
ploitation of the people is no where
worse than in France today. The
American people are willing to share
their loaf of bread with any person
on earth who is hungry, but they are
not going to do so when the fault
lays with the people themselves who
refuse to put their houses in order
and go back to work" That seems
to be the trouble.
House conferees on the army re-or-
ganization bill brought in that bill
last week with proposed amendment
to federalize the National Guard of
the different states but it permitted
every state to accept or reject the
right to come in under the law. This
would result in destroying the Ma
tional Guard organization according
to General Holway of Wisconsin be-
cause the regular army and General
Staff would at once discriminate
against the various state guards that
refused to come in under the bill. At
ter a lively debate the conference re-
port was defeated by a vote OF 212 to
104, and the House refused to be a
party to the proposed disruption OF
the National Guard. Quoting from
the writer's remarks in debate "The
Wisconsin National Guard has been
one of she strongest state military or
CARNATIONS of the country for 40
years and contributed some of the
best troops to the 32nd division dur
ing the war. They suffered over
10000 casualties in that division, the
largest number of any division of
American troops during the war, next
to the Regulars and Marines. They
drove the enemy back on the Marine
through the experience and courage
of the enlisted men and line officers
and no thanks to the Regular Army
colonies placed in command that day.
Our Wisconsin National Guard has
been a splendid influence for the
youth of the state during the last 40
years, and has measured up to the
best in the land. 1t must not be de-
stroyed.
On April 26th all the Republicans
and Democrates in the House voted
on a roll call unanimously to have the
Ways and Means Committee of the
House prepare q soldiers compensa
ton bill. That committee, the larg-
est and most powerful in the House,
spent nearly three months in hear
ings and in careful preparation of a
bill of about so pages, that is endors-
ed by The American Legion officers
and by Members generally, and has
comparatively small taxes on large
incomes, stock gambling sales and to-
bacco, covering a three-year period
with payments to soldiers limited to
1925 to overseas men and 5000 to
those here, at s1.25 and $1.00 per day
respectively, in payments of $50 per
quarter. Conferences were held OF
all Republican members. At one OF
these an obnoxious consumption tax
was stricken out. At the last one the
bill was approved by vote of l54