Springfield weekly Republican. [volume], August 16, 1917, Page 6, Image 6

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6
THE SPRINGFIELD REPUBLICAN
DAILY, SUNDAY, WEEKLY
srnst H ip i
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or regiahred lector, and to eddreea THE
REPUBLICAN, 9PR IN-FIELD. M KRK
BPRINGEIELD. THURS., AUG.. 16. 1917
FOURTEEN PAGES
Capitalize the Public Interest
It is more important to build ships
than to talk about them and the pres
ent shipping board is notably and
gratifyinglv Riven to less publicity of
a certain sort than that which pre
ceded it. But when the work is or
gan’zed there will be value in taking
the public into the fullest possible con
fidence in regard to the amount of
shipping under construction and the
date of its probable completion.
Various estimates have been in cir
culation. although without official au
thority. as to the amount of tonnage
the completion of which might be
expected during the coming 12
months or in the calendar year
1018. It would be unfortunate
if exce.si.e hopes were aroused
and there could be no better incen
tive to all concerned in the great task
of shipbuilding than to concentrate
public attention on it by letting!
the facts be known. This would aid
both in recruiting the armies of work
men necessary at the shipyards and
in keeping them inspired to their best i
efforts. At the same time it should
tactfully be represented to the British
authorities that the United States can
better put its shoulders to the task
If complete publicity. is given to the
destruction of merchant tonnage which
the submarines accomplish.
The Irritating compromise by which
the number of sunken ships of more and
less than l<soo tons is given out each
week bv the British admiralty baffles
no one but the public in this country
and among the allies. Certainly It
does not baffle the German admiralty.
And the interest of the public in the
race is worth capitalizing to the full
est degree. For the shipbuilding
problem is ■ one of industrial energv |
and not of military strategy.
The Making of the Sew Army
The difficulties confronted in con
verting this nation overnight to the
status of a great military power are
staggering in their complexity. Some
are impossible of solution and require
vs simply to do the best we can under
the circumstances, but others are be
ing solved daily. The comparative’s’
simple problems of securing enlist
ments and starting the draft machin
ery in motion are known to everyone.
The more serious problems of furnish
ing equipment, supplying our almost
fatal lack of officers, and giving
troops the proper training are less
clearly appreciated. And when there
is added to these the difficulties to
be overcome in the transport overseas
of men and supplies in the face of a
world-wide shipping shortage with the
submarine menace by no means
solved, the magnitude of the problem
becomes apparent.
The general staff in applying itself
to these' problems has had its trou
bles. For one thing it has felt
cramped by the centralization of func
tions in the war department. "Decen
tralize" has. therefore, become the
cry. Other troubles have developed
from the natural differences In opin
ion between the older and the young
er officers. Nor has Pershing's rec
ommendation in favor of general of
ficers not over 45 .’ears of age tended
to calm the waters.
There is also a question rs to the
Ultimate wisdom of the regulars. who
are in the saddle, in riding rough
ahod over the national guard officers,
for whom they always held a rather
plight professional regard. Their in
terpretation of the country's wish
that they supervise the expansion if
the land forces is so rigid that, if al
lowed free enforcement, it will mean
the loss of the full abilities of many
efficient officers who are in the na
tional guard. That the guard is re
sentful is but natural, and this feeling
may become evident after the emer
gency. Even now there is discerni
ble on the horizon a cloud no larger
than a man's hand that eventually
may assume considerable size, to the
chagrin of the regular officers.
The difference in opinion l>etween
the older and younger officers has
been will illustrated in the discussion
over the reorganization of the army
dl.-isions to the continental standard
The older heads quite generally de
fended the present system, which Is
the product of their own studies and
labors, with the assertion that it had
sufficient elasticity to meet present
needs; a majority of the younger offi
cers favored the change to the British
and French system.. A general offi
cer perhaps unconsciously reflected
the feeling of the older chiefs for the
whole business when he recently
termed the fighting on the west front
•hunter warfare." let his concern
over our “changing horses in mi <-
‘stream" was natural. That it has
become necessary is only on# more il
lustration ct ths difficulties inherent
|in the situation.
! The delay in properly Waiting our
■ troops, through this re<W*anizatiun
j alone, will probably add somewhat
to the time before our troops enter
I the trenches. Furthermore, warfare
jhas become almost an exact science,
i through' the developments of the last
: three years in bombing operations.
; the control of barrage fire and the
general employment of machine guns
and automatic rifles, both in direct
and indirect fire. Troops cannot at
tain proficiency in the time they once
prepared to fight Apache Indians ot
to pursue Villa.
Experts differ as to the time nec
i essary for this training. A’l acres
that it will be much shorter in France,
near the battle lines, than in this
country. It does appear, however,
’hat the estimate ot four months as
given bv some officers is unsound.
But training in France for any con
siderable force is complicated bv the
shipping situation, which may be
come more serious as the submarine
campaign continues. It is to the solu
tion of these problems that the gen
eral staff is bending every energy,
and it appears that, despite mistakes,
progress on the whole has thus far
been substantial.
The Vatican’s Peace Proposal
A new effort by the Vatican to
end the war has been looked for ever
since the Catholic peace movement
in Germany began in the spring, and
particularly since the announcement
of the official Vienna Fremdenblatt
that Germany was prepared to con
sider peace proposals coming through
Austria. Both the activities of Erz
berger in Germany and Switzerland.
{and the recent hum of gossip from
Rome in regard to the pope and Car ■
dinal Gasparri have pointed to papal
intervention as imminent. This is.
of course, verv far from suggesting
that Benedict XV is acting as the
agent of Austria. His exalted office
and his personal character alike ex
clude that view, which is not likely
to be put forward in entente coun
i tries even if his proposals are found
unacceptable. There can be no ques-
I tlon as to the sincerity and intensity of
[ his desire to end a war in which
Catholic countries are enemies, an 1
his earlier efforts for peace were
abandoned only because he found the
time not propitious for them.
If then Vienna and Berlin have had
any part in the timing of the present
proposals, it must be mainly through
giving him the belief that the time
is now favorable. But that implies
a certain concreteness of statement,
for even in July. 191.7. when the pope
was testing the sentiment of the bel
ligerents. it was well known that
Germany was ready and even eager
to begin peace discussions. The ques
tion then must naturally arise wheth
er the terms which come from the
Vatican in outline represent condi
tions to which the central powers
have assented in advance as a basis
for d scussion. Such a conclusion
would not imply that the terms were
actually prepared in Vienna and Ber
lin. but merely that they
sections which Austria and Germany
have promised to consider favorably.
That the Vatican peace terms have
euch a basis seems not improbable in
view of the roundabout way in which
peace terms were conveyed to Russia
by Prince von Buelow through a
Swiss intermed ary. For Germany
to withdraw its haughty refusal, tp
announce its peace terms would be
much more difficult than for it to
agree to consider terms put forward
by the pope. These are questions
which will be weighed carefully,
along w.th the terms themselves, be
fore the allies can give an answer;
they certainly will not make the grave
mistake of a brusque or hasty re
fusal.
To judge of the terms from the
brief outline ax’allable is. of course,
impossible. It is not even clear from •
the abstract whether reparation for
Belgium is required. That may he
given special treatment in a qualify
ing clause; otherwise it would appear
to be excluded bv the statement that
‘the pontiff declares that so extensive
‘has been the injury to all the bellic
‘erents that there can be no thought
‘now of either indemnity or repara
‘tion.” But the Important thing is the
vindication of justice; Germany may
bo poor, but it can at least make an
honest effort to undo the gross wrongs
inflicted on occupied territory For a
beginning it could send back what
it has stolen.
From the brief abstract gix'en it
may be inferred that in general the
Vatican calls for the restoration of
the status quo ante. All the belliger
ents are to hand back territories taken
and to pocket their own losses. This
principle accepted, certain concessions
are suggested as proper for diplomatic
discussion, such as the status of Po
land and the redemption ot Italia Ir
redenta. If mention is made of Al
sace-Lorraine, it does not appear tn
the summary.
Without prejudging a document
xvhich will tequire careful study in
the full text, it may he said at once
that opposition in entente countries
is likely to center, apart from the
question ot reparation and the French
demand for Alsace-Lorraine, upon the
Inequality of the preliminary condi
tions proposed. Germany Is to be
promised the freedom of the seas, and
the allies are to abandon all projects
ot economic combination against Ger
many. But nothing apparently Is
said against the creation of a centra’
European block which has been vli -
tually completed within the pas',
month. There Is to be no economic
struggle after the war. but after doing
its best *o sweep the seas clear of
shipping, neutral ships included. Ger
many is .to be free to fill the vacuum
with own merchant fleet. The re
turn of its colonies is to be pledged,
THE SPRINGFIELD WEEKLY RE PUT) I ICAN: TnUUGDA”, AUGUST 16, 1917
»ut questions like the status of Po
land and the Balkan question, on
which futu e German hegemony in
Europe largely depends, are to be set
tled at the peace congress. Rightly
or wrongly, the allies have come to
I believe that Germany could give up
’ Belgium ani still have won the war if
i it could manage tn have its way in
! just the hings upon which the Vati
। can program is noncommittal.
: That the prog: am is more Austrian
; than German can well be believed, and
iit is certain that among the pan
। Germans ?t will be sharply criticized.
’ But German strength ha* to reckon
' with Austrian weak ne s. and that
: Austria has been pressing upon Ger
: many the reed for an eaily peace on
i moderate terms is well known, ani
। has tended ‘o push ferwarJ the M!tvJ
, Europa scheme, at the expense of
• rent n’ar- of annexation. But it is
I precisely this feature of the case
which is likely to give most alarm
and suspicion in entente countries:
the peace outlined by the Vatican ap
pears to coincide remarkably with the.
peace terms against which Andre
Cheradame has been warning the al- |
lies. This is but one of the many
points of view from which the full
text, when 11 comes, will have to be
studied before its full significance can
be mide out.
OF CONGRESSMAN BAER
■ New Independent Repres?ntative
Arrives at Opportune Time for
Receiving Much Attention — Is
Nonpartisan Leaguer
■ From Our Special Correspondent
1 WASHINGTON. D. C.. Tues. Aug 11
A new brand of independent con
gressman has iust come to town. If
anyone were remembering these war
' davs that the House of Representa
tives is or a few months ago was
equally divided between democrats and
republicans, this might be of political
moment. But John M. Baer, nonpar
! tisan league, from Fargo. N. D.. sue
; eersor to a republican who died, has
' had little occasion to realize since his
I arrival that his vote is particularly
momentous either way.
“I am feeling rather lonesome, to
tell you the honest truth.” the Hon
orable Baer observed. He is rather a,
fine-looking chap of 31. robust and
healthy, almost rotund, and of a frank
and easy manner. There is nothing
sqggestive of the hayseed about this
latest farmer congressman. He came
from the management of a farm in the
western part of North Dakota to
Fargo to make cartoons for the Non
partisan Leader. His make-up is that
of a smart, well-dressed young bus
iness man. “Yes. I’m feeling rather
lonesome.” said young Baer. "I am
planning a cartoon with the front of
the capitol and on the coping of the
east front I will draw one little mite
of a man, about as big as a fly. That
is the only figure I propose putting
there. It is myself.”
Other independents may also be
feeling rather lonesome by compari
son with the attentions showered
upon them when the present session
of Congress was beginning. Repre
sentative Thomas D. Schall, Minne
sota’s blind progressive, who shocked
republicans the first day by an ora
torical thriller in support of the
democratic organization, has leaped
again into obscurity. Whitmell
Pugh Martin, progressive-protection
ist of Thibodeaux. La., for a time the
most courted favorite of any politi
cal party in the House, is whiling
away his time, listening to tiresome
Senate debates or trying to stir up
some ruction over the sugar tariffs.
He Is Seventh John Baer
Just at present Mr Baer is enjoy
ing some notoriety as possibly a pro-
German. But he isn’t pro-German.
He is the seventh John Baer and he
adds with pardonable pride: "My boy
is the eighth John." His ancestors
came over the sens In 1742. and have
fought in every war of this republic
—in the Revolutionary war. in the
war of 1812; in the Mexican war.
His father. Capt John Baer, still liv
ing. was twice wounded in the civil
war and in the Spanish war had
something to do with the agitation
against “embalmed beef" which re
sulted in a gox-ernment investigation.
A son (brother of the present con
gressman) died of typhoid fever in
Porto Rico, xxhere he xvas serving as
a sold'er. His mother was a Riley,
a distant connection of James Whit
comb Riley, the poet. Similarly^ on
the paternal side the new congress
man was a distant connection of the
late George F. Baer, long-time presi-,
dent of the Reading railroad and a
■ conspicuous figure during the con
i tentions over anthracite coal mining
during the Roosevelt administrations.
Apparently efforts in some quarters
to make out of the new congressman
a German sympathizer will not suc
ceed. “Newspapers outside the state
started that story about me during
the campaign.” said Mr Baer, “I did
not nay much attention to it. tor I
was very busy and we had no pub
-I'cltv agents to attend to such mat
ters. It did not appear to be worth
denying."
These are not normal times at
Washington or hardly anywhere else
in the world. If. howevex. the situa
tion were at all normal at Washing
ton. .Mr Baer might have great oppor
tunities aheud of him in Congress, pro
vided. of course, he has energy, force
and ability to command attention.
Mediocrity is so unver.al in Congress
these days, that an independent, force
ful! and able newcomer, might. climb
to a pinnacle. Likely enough if the
war lasts another year. Mr Baer, per
force. must join the ranks of the
average congressman. Nevertheless,
i he stands for a very timely i .sue. be
<a‘use. more than any other congress
man now on the roster, he was elected
to bring about economic changes
which will eliminate the middle man
and extortionate charges upon com
modities as these pass from the pro
ducer to the ultimate consumer. Ths
administration is studying problem -
o’ that character. The country is
hot footing it after the middle men.
Herbert Hoover' activities are cen
tered much or. these middlemen, who,
of course. Include the speculators.
He does no’ appear to be an ex
ceptional young man hut he has been
able to do some things among his
own people. He did not seek the of
fice of representative and the day he
win nominated by North Dakota's
farmers he did not even take the
trouble to go out and shake hands
with the delegates, in lieu of shak
ing hands he was drawing cartoons
for the Nonpartisan Leader. "Our
organization is growing in the states
round about North Dakota" says Rep
rexentative User. "We took In 12<0
members in Minnesota in one day. We
do not encourage office seeking. If
I had nought the place I now hold.
I suppose some one else would have
gotten it."
president Wilson at Washington
Friday designated W. P. C. Hard
ing ns governor and Paul M. War
burg as vic -governor of the federal
I reserve boaxd for another year.
WAR TAX BILL DEBATE
—: •
' SERVICE ATFBQYEj CHANGES
: La Follette, Gere and Thomas Urge
That Bulk of War Taxes Be
Levied on Incomes and
War Profits
l
General debate in the Senate on
the $2,006,000,000 war tax bill '
virtually ended at Washington Tues- •
I day. and such rapid progress was
made on the finance committee
amendments to the House bill that
leaders last nigh, predicted th? meas
ure’s passage late next week. Sen
। ator Simmons of North Carolina an
. nounced that he expected to ask soon
| for a time limit on debate and also
■ to set a date for a final vote.
i In rapid succession and with little
i debate, the Senate sitting as a com
i mittee of the whole approved the
’ finance committee’s revision of the soft
drink, tobacco and most ot the public
utilities schedules. Tuesday’s debate
made it evident that the principal
disputes facing the Senate are over
the income, war profits and publish
ers tax sections. Adoption of most ot
the finance committee’s other revi
sions with little change was forecast.
Extension of the 3 per cent tax on
freight transportation to motor ve
hicle tines competing with railroads
was approved in the acceptance of
the new freight transportation sec
' ticn, designed to raise $77,500,000, The
[ Senate also accented the committee's
, r duction from 10 to 5 per cent in the
t axes on passenger transportation and :
Pullman accommodations. Both '
charges would be paid by individuals I
and not the carriers. '
Committee elimination of the House j
i taxes on gas, electric light and local;
telephone bills of ecnsumers also was
| accented without debate. They were
I estimated to yield $10,000,000 arid were
stricken out because of their direct
burden upOn. the general public. The
tax of five cents on telegraph, radio
and long-distance telephone messages i
costing more than 15 cents was ap
jiroved. It is estimated to yield
$7,000,000.
Elimination of the House provision '
taxing all insurance policies Was ac- :
cepted. The House proposed a tax of
ei-ht cents per SIOO on life insurance
policies and about 1 per cent on other
new or reinsurance. >. • :
LaFollette Has Minority Report
A minority report of the Senate
finance committee on the war tax
bill was presented to the Senate Tues
day by Senator LaFollette of Wis
consin. with the concurrence of Sena
tors Gore of Oklahoma and Thomas
of Colorado, recommending that war
profits and big incomes be utilized
as the principal sources of taxation
in providing funds for the country’s
war needs. Contrary to expectations.
Senator LaFollette did not present a
m ’-stitute for the pending war tax bill.
He announced, however, that unless
the Senate adopted amendments to
be offered by himself and his asso
ciates a substitute would be offered.
The minority report charge/' that the
bill as revised by the majority makes
palpably inadequate provisions for
rai ing of revenue needed fdf- ffnlinring
the war through the next fiscal J-ear
and that the onus of taxation -fids been
placed "upon those least able 7 to bear
it.” ' • • ” J.
England has taxed her xvnr profits
.80 per cent xvithout impairing her
great Industries, declared Senator La-
Follette. In tead. her wealthy Classes
"were never in receipt of larger in
comes. nor were her larger business
concerns more flourishing." -Heavy
taxes, he said, could be levied on
American corporations without any
fear o’ affecting Capital or crippling
industry.
"From the income tax and the war
profits tax." states the report, “there
can be raised xvithout subjecting the
country to serious financial i strain
and. without deprix'ing the wealthy
even of the luxurie s of life, more than
double the amount proposed in the
pending bill.”
If Congress xvere to adopt the
British rate of -SO per cent on war
profits. Fenator LaFollette said, more
than $2,250,000,000 would be re
alized in a single year from this
source. Seventy per cent would yield
82.021.000.000, <>o per cent $1,732,500.-
000. 50 per cent. $1,433,700,000. 40
per ce_nt $1,155,100,000, 30 per cent,
$5f10.250.000. according to estimates
furnished by the treasury depart
ment. j.
In comparison with the average
yearly wage of S7OO earned by the
American laboring man. Senator La-
Follette presented statistics indicating
that the percentage of war profits
over normal earnings of the Du Pont
powder company was 1400 per cent.
Bethlehem steel 1300 per cent, Ameri
can zinc, lead and smelting company
I'oo per cent. United States steel
300 per cent. Anaconda copper com
pany 400 per cent. American beet
sugar 250 per cent. Armour &
Co 250 per cent, and American hide
and leather 250 per cent. <
In urging that the income tax scale
be increased to lighten the burden
borne by the laboring classes, figures
were cited indicating that wages have
increased only 18 per cent while the
nece sities of lite have advanced S 3
per cent. >.•
NEW WAR TAX BILL
Simmons Explains — Senator De
clares Bill Will Tax Rich Much
More Heavily Than House Bill
Chairman Simmons, explaining to
the Senate at Washington Friday
the finance committee’s purpose in
redrafting the xvar tax bill, declared
the changes made will greatly In
crease the tax burden to be borne by
the big corporations xvho have profit
ed from the war. Without mention
ing him by name, the North Carolina
senator replied at length to Chair
man Kitchin of the House ways
and means committee, who recently
charged that the Senate committee
had rewritten the House bill in such
a xvay as to favor prosperous corpora
tions and Individuals. On the con
trary. the senator Insisted, the Sen
ate revision would tax the prosper
ous much more hcavllv than had the
House bill. The House, he said, had
been far too lenient with those who
had reaped this harvest of gold.
"Certain corporations In this coun
try are going to be made to disgorge
in order to pav the expenses of this
war. a very considerable proportion
of this income." said Senator Sim
mons. "The 11)16 war profits exceed
ed $3.000,000,000, The House bill pro
posed a ridiculously small sum from
the swollen war profits. It was en
tirely too lenient to the men who
have reaped this harvest of gold —gold
they exacted out of the earnings of
those who must bear the burdens of
' this struggle."
| Senator Biuunong said that those
- who criticized the Senate committee
- been us? it substituted >, graau .ted
tax on corporations’ war profits tor a
fiat raise of S per cent, as levied by
the House, did not unde. Hund ti>c
si:nation. Ite declared that out or
II countries’having such a tax. only
two. Canada and Spain, impose a.War
profits tax on a basis other than tlie
plan outlined by the committee.
Senator Simmons submitted statis
tics. said to have been compiled by
J. P. Morgan & Co showing that 45
great corporations alone will pay. un
der the proposed committee revision,
war profits taxes of $259.1)77.000
against only $77.73G.000 proposed un
der the House bill. A table presented
made the following estimates of the
principal war profits tax payers:--
Estimated
excess Tax under Tax undi*r
U< mpany. protits. Senate bill. House bin.
I x Steel
» rp'n .-$20T,C45,( (K) $70,720^000 .$21,050,000
ILtii.clum
steel . - »
cuip'n .. 53.715,GW 25.045.000 7.121,000
Gen Elec
co 0.523,000 1.130.000 I’jm.COn
Au::con<4
<. pp ir min- ’
ing co .’. 3:los".(W 11,512,000 S.M’.Ooo
American
smelting and
relining co 11,155,000 2,492,.1,228,000
UniMint po^ - <
tier co .. 70,581.000 35,922,000 17,240,001)
P’linsyhnnia
railuad . 11,741,000 1,099,000
Big Four
railnad . 5,483,000 1,938,000 .......
Baldwin Icco
co 1.324(000 -203.000 75,2*3
Standard oil
uo.ot New
York ... 20,425,000 3^005,000 4.024,000
Coin prod-
ucts co .. 8,798,000 1,030,000 ■
U S Kimber i •
co 4,537,000 OOJ.OOO, ,
Regarding elimination of the House
general JO per cent ad valorem tariff
levies. Mr Simmons said: “While the
government would realize from these
tariff levies $200,000,000 the domestic
producers of this country would, as
a result, collect out of the people an
amount three or four times greater
than the amount which it is estimated
the government will receive from the
tax. In the face of these facts, the
contention of som^ that the Senate
ameixdments in these r?Sxpt?cts have
increased the tax to be paid by the
messes of the people is manifestly
without foundation. On the other
hand, it sterns clear that by these
amendments the Senate has relieved
the people of the country of several
hundred millions of collars; which
they would, under ths Hotlse pro
visions, have been compelled to pay,
either to the government or to private
inreivs-ts.”
Mr Simtnbns's statement regarding
the publishers’ tax was:
“Your committee decided to* elim
inate the House zone system, because
it was Tilde clear to them that it is a
tax wl'.-ch wou d be not only burden
rom-e. but in a number of cases,’
d'sastrous to many valuable publica
tion :. RepiTsentatives of practically
all the great publications of the
country- ai^earea '’betpr? the. commit
tee against this tax. The tax sub
stituted by yOUr committee is not a
logical orfe, it must he ooh fessed, but
it was the best your committee tva s
able to devise, in view of the present
cond’tions of the pubtlshrng busi
n,2£S?’
SENATE ADOFTS FOOD BILL
Measure Goes Through as Ap
proved by Hous? Without
Change—Vote 66 to 7—Senate
Also Approves Reports on Food
Survey Bill
The food bill passed through the
Inst stage of legislative enactment in
Washington at 4 o’clock last
week . 7Vednesday. afternoon when
jt was. .finally, . adopted by the
■ Senate in ~fprm previously ap
proved by the House. President
son's signature now makes Jt law. The
.vote was 06 to 7. Those voting against
Che .conference, report were: Demo
crats. Hardwick of Georgia, Hollis
ot Netr Hampshire, and Reed of Mis
.'souri ; republicans. France of Mar.yland,
Gronna of North Dakota. LaFollette of
Wisconsin and Penrose of Pennsylva
nia. Immediately after the final vote
on the control bill the Senate by a,
voice vote, also approved the confer
ence report on the first administration
food bill providing for a food surv&y
and aprpopriating money to stimulate
production.
Prompt appointment of Herbert
Hoover as food administrator and im
mediate operation under the legislation
was expected to follow. In addition to
its comprehensive provisions for con
trol ot food, fuel,’fertilizer and farm
equipment the . control bill carries
drastic prohibition features. Thirty
days after it is approved it will be
unlawful to use foodstuffs in the man
ufacture of distilled beverages, or to
import distilled. spirits for beverage
purposes and the president will be em
powered to .commandeer for military
purposes dHit!lled ! ißidors now held In
bond and to regulate or restrict the
use of foods in the manufacture of
wine ;uvl beer. ... . .
The final vote in the Senate was
secured hv unanimous agreement to
dispose of the bill late Wednesday, and
after four days discussion of the con
ference report. In addition to the
seven senator^ voting against the bill,
Senator Gore of- Oklahoma,: chairman
ot the Senate agriculture committee,
and senator Sherman of Illinois, re
publicans, xvere paired, and did not
vote. Both announced that had they
been at liberty to vote they would have
been registered in the negative. Of
the absent and paired senators an
nouncement was made In behalf ot
virtually all that they favored the final
draft;
The Senate's action virtually con
cludes work of Congress upon the ad
ministration food legislative program
initiated last May, It puts into the
president’s hands for personal use or
delegation the most unusual and com
prehensive powers and. according to
many members of the Congress, marks
the innovation of national socialistic
experiment. Consummation of the
program followed the most bitter op
position and acrimonious debate in
many years, centered in the Senate,
a'ter the president had prevailed upon
Congress to lay askle v|rtuall?z all xvorlc
and urged conclu ion of, the legisla
tion by July 1 to deal with this year’s
crops
Reed Answers Critics’
Replying to criticisms of senators
■who have opposed the bill. Senator
Rjed. its leading opponent, in a final
speech declared that the senator
who accused other members of the
body with holding up legislation and
giving aid and comfort to the enemy
gave more encouragement and com
fort to the- enemy than the senators
accused. He declared that he would
rather resign his seat than give any
aid to the enemy.
Referring to the question of peace.
Senator Reed said that the less talk
on that subject now the batter. “As
far as I am concerned,” he said, "until
times radically change, our proclama
tion should be more guns, more
money, more men and more resources
until our enemies know that th i day
of bloody reckoning lies before them
and that they must seek peace. We.
should not think of withdrawing from
this war until those associated with
us have had fair and just treatment.”
S nator Reed asserted that his op
position to the b!JI Could not be con
strued as disloyalty but, renrjssnted
his Judgment that it would w’"l'en
the United States in the war. “is it
a man’.? disloyalty to differ with the
pre idynt?” he demanded.
HOOVER ADMINISTRATOR
Outlines Purposes in Administering
Food Legislation — Cut Out
Speculation, Guard Exports and
Conserve Food
Formal appointment of Herbert
Hoover as food administrator under
the new food legislation ’ was an
nounced at the White House in Wash
ington late Friday. Hoover's state
ment outlining the government’s
purposes in administering the food
legislation follows:—
"The hopes of the food adminis
t'ation are threefold: First, to so
guide the trade in the fundamental
food commodities, as to eliminate
vicious speculation, extortion ::nd
wasteful practices and to stabilize
prices in the essential staples. Sec
ond. .to guard our exports so that
against the world’s shortage we retain
sufficient supplies for our own peo
ple and to co-operate with the allies
to prevent the inflation ot prices, and.
third, that we stimulate in every man
ner within our power the saving of
bur food in order tfiat we may in
crease exports to our allies to a point
which will enable them to properly
provision then armies and to feed
their peonies during the coming win
ter. .
’’The food administration is called
into being to stabilize and not to dis
turb conditions, and tn defend honest
enterprise against illegitimate compe
tition. It has, been devised to correct
the abnormalities and abuses that
have crept into trade by reason of tne
world disturbance and to restore busi
ness as far as may be to a reasonable
basis'.
Business Men Will Help
"The business men of this country.
I am convinced, as. a result of many
hundreds of conferences with repre
sentatives of the great forces of food
supply, realize their own patriotic ob
ligatiop and the solemnity of the sit
uation and will fairly and generously
co-operate in meeting the national
emergency. I do not believe that dras
tic foi;ce need be applied to maintain
economic distribution and sane use or
supplies bv the great majority of
American people, and I have learned
a deep and abiding faith in the in
telligence of the average’ American
business man .Whose aid we anticipate
and depend on to remedy the evils
developed by the war .which he admits
and deplores as deeply as ourselves.
But if there be those who expect to
exploit this hour of sacrifice: if there
are men or organizations scheming
.to increase the trials of this country
we shall not Hesitate to apply to the
full the drastic coercive potvers that
Congress has conferred upon us in
this instrument.
"In enforcing the measures of the
act. it is not our Intention to pro
ceed with a h6st of punitive measures,
but rather by co-ordination with the
various trades to effect such construc
tive , regulations as will render gam
bl'ng. extortion and other wasteful
practices, impossible and will stabilize
prices. Indulgence in profiteering In
.this hour of national danger is far
from the wish of the will of the vast
majority ot our business people, and
I am convinced that while we must
have ready in reserve‘the corrective
poxvers given us. we shall bv these
powers free the great majority from
necessity to compete with operators
whose sole effort is to inflate’ prices
and brin£ into disrepute the majority
of honest traders. We propose to
proceed as rapidly as possible with
constructix-e regulations in various
commodities ..and, ..to ,annpun.ee each
progress as quicklv as it is properly
formlfiated.-.’ Wb hope within the next
fewdays> to announce the. tnethod- of,
wheat and flour control/’
The first move of the food adminis
tration, will te. to bring .about changes
in the system of, distributing the
Wheat and the manufacture and sale
of flour and tread. It will take up
next the production of meat and dairy
foods. The trade commission has: in
vestigators now. in the flour mills and
in the meat packing houses.
PEACE RESOLUTION IN SENATE
La Follette Wants United States to
Define War Aims and Allies to
Restate Terms
A peace, resolution-xvas- Introduced
in the. Senate, at Washington Satur
day by onator La Follette, providing
that the United Stales define the ob
jects for which it. shall continue to’
wage war . nd that the.’allies also make ;
a public restatement ot the .peace
terms which they will demand-
The resolution seeks to put Congress
on record as opposing support by the
United States for annexations or in
demnities for other nations and pro
poses the amassing of a common fund
by all the belligerents for restoration
of battle-devastated territory.
. Senator La Follette made.no speech
on his resolution ^nd there xvas no de
bate. On motion of Senatpr Williams
it xvent over a dav. undpr the rules.
Soon after Senatpr LaFollette in
troduced his resolution minieograpbed
copies bearing the name of .the Amer
ican union against militarism xvere
distributed in the press gallery. Sen
ator La Follette denied that the ort
ganization had any connection with
the resolution, declaring he' had pre
pared it qn his own responsibility. He
added, howiver, a copy had been fur
nished’ to a representative of the or
ganization who requested one.
A resolution, pledging that the Unit
ed States will not’ make peace until
its purposes and principles as, den
clared by President. Wilson in his ad
dress to Congress. April 2. shall have
been acknowledged and accomplished,
and that’for this cause it will con
tinue the war until the- harm Inflicted
by Germany against the United States
be righted and until Germany "shall
have acknowledged and expiated .its
crimes" and ask peace terms, was In
troduced by Senator King.
No action xvas taken.
TO CHECK I. W. W.
Petitions in the Senate —Remedy
Being Considered
Many petitions from western states
asking Congress to take some action
to check activities of the industrial
workers of the world were presented
at Washington Saturday in the Sen
ate. The comment which accompanied
their presentation showed clearly that
senators were seriously thinking of
means to remedy the situation.
Senator, King of Utah said he had
received a great many letters and
petitions requesting legislation by
Congress to end lawlessness by ttv*-
industrial workers of the world and
ako to have naturalized citizens par
ticipating in the disorders summoned
before the federal courts to have
their naturalization papers revoked
and be deported.
Senator Myers of Montana said he
thought additional legislation neces
sary. Senator Poindexter of Washing
ton declared the state governments
ought to use all their powers to check
the lawlessness by the industrial
workers qf the world .Ind similar or
ganizatlrns. hut mid it wok the duty
of the fefer (1 '■overnment to inter
vene MhqyU the atat^ governments
t not be able to cope with the situa
tion.
Senator Poindexter referred to peti
tions he had received from the Clear
water lumber company and its em
ployes in bis state, in which the em
ployes raid they did not want to strike
but were threatened with violence by
the industrial workers of the world
should they not do so The Washing
ton senator introduced a bill establish
ing an eight-hour day for all lumber
ing and woodworking plants whose
product find their xvay into interstate
commerce.
Fenator Hollis said that while state
and municipal authorities xvere ex
pected to handle ordinary violations
of law by the industrial workers of
the world, ‘.he federal government
should step in. and he asked senators
to study the questions carefully so
’hat some legislation could be enacted
to reach the trouble.
COLBY WINS 34 TO 16
S?nate Confirms Nomination of
New York Man to Be Member of
Skipping Board
The Senate at Washington last
week Wednesday confirmed the
nomination of Bainbridge Col
by of New York to be a mem
ber of the government shipping
board. The confirmation was voted,
34 to IG. after a spirited executive
session which lasted nearly an hour.
The opposition was led by Senators
Wadsworth and Calder of New York,
who are understood to have objected
to Mr Colby’s political activities. Sen
ator Johnson of California, republican,
and Senators Lewis of Illinois and
Fletcher of Florida, democrats, spoke
for confirmation. All the senators
known as progressives are said to
have voted in favor of Mr Colby,
while the only democrats to oppose
h m. it is understood, were Senators
Reed of Missouri and Hitchcock of
Nebraska.
Mr Colby, previously a republican,
supported Roosevelt in 1912 and Wil
son in 1916. He succeeds Capt John
B. White, whose resignation as a
member of the shipping board was ao
cepted by President Wilson, together
with ihose of William Denman and
Maj-Gen Goethals. There still is one
vacapcy on the board.
NEW BOND ISSUE NECESSARY
McAdoo Informs Congressional
Leaders of Government’s War
Needs —Must Have -9,000,000,-
000
Congressional leaders were informed
bv Secretary McAdoo at Washington
Tuesday that it would be necessary
for them to authorize at this and the
Winter session of Congress an addi
tional $9,000,000,000 for war expendi
tures including further loans to the
allies to June 30. 1918. Five billions
in bonds already have been authorized
and a $2,000,000,000 war tax bill is
pending now in the Senate.
Within an hour after the secretary
had conferred with Representative
Kitchin, chairman of the House ways
and means committee, plans xvere
under way for raising the money. A
meeting of the xvays and means com
mittee was called for the 25th and
arrangements made for the House,
now taking three-day recess, to re
sume its regular meetings on the 27th
and expedite financial legislation.
■ Issuance of between $3,000,000,000
and $1,000,000,000 in bonds to meer
nexx’ allied loans and authorization ot
an additional $500,000,000 in taxes to
be added to the bill before the Senate,
probably will'be proposed by the com
mittee and agreed to by the House.
No delay in -either authorization is
anticipated. The bond issue will be
agreed to within a day. Mr Kitchin
predicted, and the $500,000,000 prob
ably xvill be added to the revenue bill
in conference with the approval of the
House. The plan is tn have the re
mainder of the $9,000,000,000 author
ized at the next session of Congress,
beginning in December. Whether it
xvill be raised by bonds or additional
taxation, or in what proportion of
both, is undecided.
Announcement that authorization of
a new bond issue to meet an allied
loan xvas desired came as a surprise to
most of the congressional leaders.
Thev thought the conference the
secretary sought with Mr Kitchin
was fox’ the purpose of discussing
raising possibly an additional $1,000.-
000.000 or $2,000,000,000 for emer
gency domestic needs. They planned to
authorize it. go^ home, and raise the
remaining $4,000,000,000 or $5,000.-
000,000 it xvas estimated the war
xvould cost this fiscal year at the next
session.
LAWYERS QUIT SHIP BOARD
Follow Gen Goethals- —Move to Re
duce Ocean Freights
The entire legal staff of the emer
gency fleet corporation at Washington
has quit in a body, because of sym
pathy, it is said, with Maj-Gen George
W. Goethals, tvhose resignation as gen
eral manager of the corporation was
accepted recently by President Wilson.
Op th s staff are some of the country’s
best-known lawyers. They are George
Rubl.ee, a former member of the fed
eral trade commissioh; Joseph P. Cot
ton, George H. Savage and Charles
P. Howland of New York and Edward
.B., Burling of Chicago. All except Mr
Savage were serving without pay.
The lawyers resigned several days
ago, but their action became known
only Friday. Officials of the fleet
corporation admitted they had left,
but refused to offer an explanation.
It was learned, however, that ths law
yers felt they should go out with Gen
Goethals and that Rear-Admiral
Capps, now general manager, should
be left free to choose his own asso
ciates. The staff has held on since
Gen Goethals left, it is understood,
only because Its members desired to
give the new management all the in
formation they could concerning legal
questions considered by the old or
ganization.
The new board Friday took up
With Thomas Royden of the British
mission the subject of reduced ocean
freight rates. A concerted move to
reduce shipping tariffs will be made
t>y the allied governments as soon as
a definite plan is agreed on. After the
meting Friday, it was made clear
that the shipping board will enter no
agreement with the allies which might
take from the United States control of
all American tonnage. If this country
enters the inter-allied chartering con
ference, as . requested by the .British
government, it will he only with a
definite understanding that no other
country is to exercise the slightest
measure of supervision over the direc
tion of American shipping.
PACIFISTS IN CAPITOL
Hold Meeting in Senate Military
Committee Room—Attack Draft
law and War
Some pacifists held a meeting Wider
the dome of the Capitol kt Washing-
.ton Thursday demanded that Congresi
stay in «iossioh until Lt had repeated the
draft law. and voiced threats of an
attempt to impeach President Wilson
unless that was done. Senators and
congressmen, invited to attend the
meeting, under the apspices of the
people’s council of America for democ
racy and peace, dropped into the room
and then dropped out again as the
speeches proceeded.
The meeting was held in the Senate
ipflitary committee room, where a
few weeks ago the draft law was
drawn and perfected. How the meet
ing came to be held there developed
considerable feeling among senators.
Chairman Chamberlain of the mili
tary committee said he had permit
ted the use of the room when Isaac
Mcßride, formerly secretary to the
late Senator Lane of Oregon, asked
him for it "to have some friends meet
some congressmen.” The senator said
he had no idea the place w^s to be
u ed for an attack on the president.
Louis P. Lochin.er of New York, a
member of the Ford peace party, pre
sided. The burden of the speeches
was that a majority of the people
were opposed to the draft law and
that it should be repealed.
H. J. Lemke, republican state chair
man of Ndrth Dakota, declared that
the views of Senator Gronna of that
state and the views of Senator La-
Follette of Wisconsin agreed with
the sentiments of the people of North
Dakota. Gronna and LaFollette both
voted against the war resolution.
Senator Gronna and Representative
Keating of Colorado were the only
congressmen to remain during the en
tire meeting.
The speakers included Frank
Stephens of Arden. Del.; Daniel Kie
fer, chairman of the national single
tax league; T. H. Lundy of Chicago;
Prof Paul R. Dana of Columbia uni
versity; Max Eastman of New York,
editor of the Masses, barred from the
mails, and a number of representa
tives of labor unions in Philadelphia
and New York.
FREE SOCIALIST LEADER
Party Organ Is Excluded From Uht
Mails
The American Socialist of Chicago
official xveekly. publication of the n
tional socialist party, Saturday re
ceived word from Washington thal
its second-class mailing privilege had
been revoked by the post-office depart
ment. This order is said to have
groxvn out of the fact that the last
three issues of the,.publication in June
Wbre held unmailable under the espion
age law.
Adolf Germ er. national secretary ot
the socialist party, who x\‘as arrested
Friday night because of alleged sedi
tious utterances in addressing a meet
ing of the American liberty and de
fense league - , was released from cus
tody late Saturday after being ques
tioned by agents of the federal de
partment of justice.
WON'T GIVE PASSFORTS
State Department Not to Sanction
Presence of Americans at Stock
holm Conference
Any application for a passport for
a delegate to the consultative confer
ence at Stockholm will be refused.
The attitude of this government to
ward the conference is no different
from that toward the recent socialist
conference tn •Stockholm.
State department officials Continue
to regard as untimely participation
in any conference of that character
at this timt and if British delegates
do go and : learn at first hand the
statements of representatives from
other countries they xvill of course be
made available for this government.
SALAZAR DEAD
Home Guards Kill" Former Villa
Chief of Staff ’
Jose Ynez Salazar, a revolutionary
leader and former chief of staff to
Francisco Villa, xvas shot and killed
at the Nogalesiranch, a short distance
from Ascencion. last week Tuesday.
Americans arriving at Juarez, Mex..
Monday from Casas Grandes said
Salazar had beep kilted by a small
band of home guards xvho were or
ganized to protect the Casas Grandes-
Ascenclon district,
NEW MISSION HERE
Japanese, Headed by Baron Ishii,
Reach Pacific Port
A Japanese mission to. the United
States arrived at a Pacific port Mon
day. It was headed by Viscount K.
Ishii, embassador extraordinary and
plenipotentiary, and was received' by a
state department staff headed by
Breckenridge Long, third assistant
secretary of state and by city offi
cials.
ASKS SELF-GOVERNMENT
Porto Rico Legislature Passes
Resolution
Resolutions addressed to President
Wilson and demanding complete self
government for Porto Rico were
passed by both Houses of the insular
Legislature at San Juan Tuesday.
Jose Dediego. the foremost advocate of
independence, as speaker of the
House, sent the following telegram
to President Wilson and Congress:—
"In inaugurating a new political
regime, the House of Representatives
has resolved unanimous to offer
through you to the American people a
message of gratitude for the laxv
which has caused a realization in part
of the legitimate aspirations of the.
pople of Porto Rico. Thd House also
resolved to express to the people of
the United States that the people of
Porto Rico were ready to contribute
with their blood, under the glorious
flag ot the United States, to the
triumph of democracy throughout the
wolld and demand from the United
States the completion of its work in
Porto Rico bv granting to our people
their full right of self-government.”
PORTO RICO PROSPEROUS
Exports Greater and Money More
Abundant, Gov Yager Reports
Porto Rico at' present Is more gen
erally prosperous than perhaps ever
before. Gov Yager told the 9th Porto
Rican Legislature at San Juan in his
address Tuesday. It is the tipst
Legislature to he wholly elected by
the people under the new Jones act.
Exports are .greater in volume and
value, and there is a greater abun
dunerf of money in circulation than
ever before, the governor said. Prices
of many of the chief necessities of
life, he added, have been kept lower
than in many larger countries, "bet
ter orepared for such a crls’- than
Porto Rico." on necoun* of L ” ef
ficient activit y of the Porto Rican
food commission.