Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (June 7, 1918)
THE SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE, NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA. FOR NEW WAR TAX BILL "Country's Crisis Is at Peak," the President's Message to Congress. PLAIN DUTY TO COUNTRY Business Must Be Forewarned of Bur dens Which Inevitably Will Bo Laid Upon It All Citizens Called On to Practice Economy. Washington. Just ns tho Gorman cannon wcro thundering their herald of tho renewed offensive on tho west ern battle front President Wilson ap peared unexpectedly beforo congress and demanded that, laying political considerations and all others iibUIc, It remain In -session until It lias en acted new war tax laws to fitianco tho growing cost of tho war and pre pare tho country for the burden It must bear. Ills speech follows: "Gentlemen of tho congress: It Is with unaffected reluctance that I como to ask you to prolong your session long enough to provido mora adequate re sources for tho treasury for tho con duct of tho war. I have reason to ap preciate as fully as you do how ardu ous tho session has been. Your la bors have been sovero and protracted. "Tho summer Is upon us In which la bor and counsel arc twlco arduous and aro constantly apt to bo Impaired by lassltudo and fatigue. The elections aro at hand and wo ought ns soon as possible to go and render an lntlmato account of our trusteeship to tho pco plo who delegated us to act for them In tho weighty and anxious mnttcr!) that crowd upon us lu theso dnys of critical choico and action. But wo daro not go to tho elections until wo hnvo done our duty to tho full. "Theso, nro days when duty stnnds stark and naked and even with closed eyes. Wo know It Is there. Exposes are unavailing. Wo liavo cither dono our duty or wo havo not. Tho fact will bo as gross and plain as the duty Itself. In such a enso lassitude and fatlguo nccni negligible enough. Tho facts aro tonic and sufflco to freshen the labor. Must Provide More Revenue. "And tho facts aro theso: Addition al revenues must manifestly bo provid ed for. It would bo a most unsound policy to ralso too largo a proportion of them by law, and It Is evident that the 14,000,000,000 now provided for by taxation will not of themselves sustain the greatly enlarged budget to which we must Immediately look forward. "Wo cannot In fairness wait until the end of tho fiscal year Is at band to apprise our pcoplo of tho taxes thoy must pay on their earnings of tho pres ent calendar year, whoso accountings and expenditures will then bo closed. We cannot get increased taxes unless tli country knows what thoy nro to bo and practices tho necessary economy to make them available. "Deflultcness, early deflnltcness, as to what its tasks are to bo is absolutely necessary for tho successful ndmlnls tratlon of tho treasury; it cannot frame fair and workablo regulations in baste If It is not to know its exact task until tho very eve of Its perform ance. "Tho present tax laws are marred, moreover, by inequities which ought to be remedied. Indisputable facts, CV' ery one; and we cannot alter or blink them. To stuto them Is argument enough. Sees Danger of Inflation. "And vot nnrhnns vou will nnrinlf mn to dwell for n moment upon tho situ ation thoy disclose. Enormous loans freoly spent in tho stimulation of in dustry of almost ovory sort produce in flations nnd oxtravaganccs which pres ently mnko tho whole economic strue turo questionable and insecure nnd tho very basis of credit Is cut nway. .Only iulr, equitably distributed taxation of tho widest Incidence and druwlng chiefly from tho sources which would bo llkoly to dcmornllzo credit by their very abundnnco, can provent inflation and keep our industrial system freo of speculation and waste. Wo shall nat urally turn, therefore, I suppose, to war profits nnd incomes and luxuries for tho additional taxes. i "But tho war profits and incomes upon which tho increased taxes will be levied will bo tho profits and In comes of tho calondar year 1018. "It would bo manifestly unfair to wait until the early months of 3010 to say what they aro to bo. It might be difficult, I should imagine, to run tho mill with water that already has gono over tho wheel. Taxes Not Paid Vntll June, 1910. "Moreover, taxes of that mort will not bo paid until tho Juno of next year, and tho treasury must antici pate them, It must use tho money thoy nro to produco beforo it is due, It must sell short-tlmo certificates of Indebtedness. "In tho autumn n much larger sMo of long-tlmo bonds must bo effected than has yet been attempted. What nro tho bankers to think of tho cer tificates If thoy do not certainly know whero tho money is to como from, which is to tnko thorn up? And how ore investors to approach tho purchnsp of bonds with any sort of confldenco or knowledge of their own affairs If they do not know what taxes thoy arc to pay and what econ oniies and adjustments, of their busl - ncss they must effect? I cannot as sure tho country of a successful nd ministration of tho treasury in lOlty If tho question of further taxation Is to bo left undecided until 1019. Only Thought Now Is Win the War. "Tho consideration that dominates every other now, and makes dory othi cr seem trivial and negligible, is tho winning of tho war. We arc not only in tho midst of tho war; wo nro at tho very peak and crisis of It. World Facing Many New Problems. "I am ndvlslng you to net upon this, mnttcr of taxation now, gentlemen, not because I do Hot know that you can see nnd Interpret tho facts and tho duty they impose just as well and with as clear a perception of tho obligations. Involved ns I can, but because there is a certain solemn satisfaction in Bhur-j Ing with you the responsibilities on such a time. "The world never stood in such easel before. Men novcr before had so clear or so moving n vision of duty. I know that you will begrudgo tho work to be dono horo by us no more than the men, begrudgo us theirs who lio In the trenches nnd sully forth to their death, Thero la a stimulating comradeship' knitting uh nil together. And this task) to winch I Invito your immediate con-' sldcration will bo performed under fa vorable Influences If wo will look to, what tho country is thinking and ex pecting, nnd enro nothing at nil for what is being said nnd believed In tho lobbies of Washington hotels, where tho ntmosphero seems to make it possi-j bio to bellovo what if believed nowhero else. United In War Purpose. "Hnvo you not felt tho spirit of the? nation rlso and its thought becomo n; single and common thought slnco theso eventful dnys camo in which wo hnvo been sending our boys to tho other, side? I think you must read that thought, as I do, to mean this, that the; pcoplo of this country nre not only united lu tho resolute purpose to win tho war, but aro ready and willing to bear any burden nnd undergo any sac rifice thnt it may bo necessary for them to bear in order to win It Hundreds pf thousands of our men, carrying our hearts with them and out fortunes, nre in tho field, and ships are crowding faster and faster to tho porta! of Franco nnd England with reglmcnj after regiment, thousand after thou' sand, to Join them until the enemy shall bo beaten and brought to a reck oning with mankind. No Pause or Intermission. "There can bo no pauso or lnterinlsi slon. Tho great enterprise must, onj tho contrary, bo pushed with greater; energy. Tho volumo of our might must steadily and rapidly bo augmented un til there can bo no question of resist ing it. If that is to bo accomplished, gentlemen, money must sustain it to tho utmost. Our financial program must no woro bo left in doubt or suf fered to lag than our ordnanco pro gram or our shtp program or our muni tions program or our program" for mak ing millions of men rendy. Theso oth ers aro not programs, Indeed, but mora plans upon paper, unless thero is to bo an unquestionable supply of money. "That is tho situation, and It Is tho situation which creates the duty, no choice or prefcrenco of ours. Therq Is only one way to meet that duty, Wo must meet it without selfishness or four of consequences. Politics Adjourned In War Crisis. "Politics Is adjourned. Tho elec tions will go to those who think least of It. To those who go to tho com 8tltucncics without exnlauatlon or ex cuse, with a plain record of duty faith! fully and disinterestedly performed, I, for one, am always confident that thd pcoplo of this country will give a Just verdict upon tho scrvico of the raonj who net for them when tho facts aro such that no man can dtsguTso or con) cenl them. "Thero Is no danger of deceit now. An Intense nnd pitiless light bents upon every man und every action In this tragic plot of war that is now upon tho stage. If tobbylsts hurry to' Washington to attempt to turn what you do In tho mnttcr of taxation to their protection or udvuntage, tho light, will beat also upon them. Thero Is abundant fuel for tho light In thu records of tho treasury with regard to prollts of every sort. Tho profiteering that cannot bo got at by tho restraints of conscience und lovo of country can bo got nt by taxation. There Is such profiteering now nnd tho information with regard to It is available and in disputable. "We need not bo afraid to tax them, if wo lay taxes Justly. Thoy kuow that tho war must bo paid for, nnd that It Is they who must pay for it, and If tho burden is Justly distributed and tho sacrifice made n common sncrltlco from which' none escapes who can bear it at nil, tlfoy will carry It cheerfully and with u sort of solemn pride. Facing Supreme Duty. "I have always been proud to bo m Amerlcnu, nnd was never more proud than now, when nil thnt wo hnvo fore- seen nbout our pcoplo is coming true Tho great days havo como when thq only thing that they nsk for or admlro Is duty, greatly and adequately dono: when tho only.wlsh for America is that; sho may sharo freedom Bho enjoys i when a great, compelling sympntby wclla up In their henrts for men overyJ whero who suffer nnd nro oppressed, nnd when thoy soo at last tho high; uses for which their wealth has been piled up and their mighty power nccu mulatcd. counting neither blood nor treasure now that tho final day of op portunlty hns como, rejoice to spend. and to bo spent through a long night 'of suffering nnd terror in order that) thoy and men everywhere may boo tho dawn of a day of righteousness and1 Justleo und peace. Shall wo grow . weary when they bid us act?" 1 -French refugees with their household goods pnssfng British gurt positions as they seek safety from the Germans. 2 King George and members of the royal family reviewing Amerlcun troops nt Buckingham palace, Lon don, a -Cnpt. Gabriel Pares, director of a band composed of wounded French soldiers that Is touring tho United iStntes. NEWS REVIEW OF THE PAST WEEK Germans Start a New Drive on Paris, Striking Lines of the Allies in Champagne. ADVANCE, BUT LOSE HEAVILY Foch's Reserves Come Up and HUns Are Checked North of the Marnc AmerlcansCarry Out Offensive In Gallant Style Italians Win Two Victories. By EDWARD W. PICKARD. Lost week witnessed a renewal of tho kaiser's drive on the west front, but to the surprise of overyono not In the confidence of tho Germnn high commnnd, the blow was directed, not agninst the allies In Flanders, nor against their lines in the Amiens re gion, but In Champagne. Ills appar ent intention wns to rush his forces swiftly on Paris, breaking through where the allies were weakest. The location was wcli chosen nnd tho prep arations made with wonderful secrecy, but up to the hour of writing the re sults were, ns In the former drives, not comparable with the losses sustained. The apex of the drive had ndvanced some 18 miles beyond the starting line, reaching Vczllly, six miles from the Mnrno nnd 44 miles from Pnrls. The famous Chemln des Dames had beeri taken, as had Craonne, Vnilly, Flsmes and other towns nnd villages, and .flnully, on the west side of the new snllcnt, the allies retired from Sols sons. But by that time General Foch's reserves were arriving In Jnrge nuro bers and the desperate efforts of the Germans to widen the snllcnt were stubbornly resisted nnd virtunlly checked. In the suburbs of Solssons tho French were holding onto the west ern outlets from that city, nnd north west of Reims, on the east sldo of the wedge, the Franco-British forces were repulsing every Hun nssnult. The commanders of the nllles viewed, the situation with calm confidence and seemed to have no doubt that they could stem the onrush of the Germans long before they reached tho neighborhood of Pnrls. They were not yielding a foot of ground easily or cheaply, but were pursuing their former policy of retiring in good order before vastly hu perlor numbers, maintaining their Una Intact and sparing their reserves ns much as possible. The German armies selected for this third drlvo were those of the crown prince, though they are comtnnnded really not by that degenerate son of tho kaiser, but by Generals Von Bochm and Von Below. About thirty divisions, with lnrgo droves of tanks and much artillery, were brought up to the Che mln des Domes front In the nights and kept concealed In tho dnytlme so that the allied aviators bad no inkling that tho long expected attack wns to be made there. Facing the 30 divisions were nine French and four British di visions to stop tho Germans when they began their attack on Monday between Coney and Reims, ufter a terrific bom bardment with gns nnd high explosive Bhells. They forced their way down to the Alsno tho first dny, and even crossed that river nt sonic points. Next day they made a further advance of some five miles, reaching the Veslo river and forcing a crossing nt Flsmes, but already thoy wcro being slowed up, and on tho flanks they wcro able to mnko little progress. Wednesday they directed great masses of troops nt Sols- sons, and tho French and British there, nft.er exacting a fearfut prlco In lives, withdraw to the western environs. Aicnnwhlio tho Germnn conter was pushed forward to Ferc-cn-Tnrdenls and Vozllly. On Thursday tlu cnr.ro. allied lino wns reported to bo holding well, and thereafter tho liuus undo slow nnd difficult progress, or none nt nil. I ta Foch's nrrangeinents for handling Ma.. reserves proved excellent, and the fresh troops nrrlvcd swiftly and with out confusion, largely by motortruck trains, and got Into the fight Immedi ately on reaching the front. Foch was compelled to keep In mind the fact that more than 3,000,000 German soldiers ate facing him nnd that vast numbers nre still threatening Amiens nnd Ar ras, nnd consequently ho could not mnko his line everywhere as thick as he would llko to have it. But his plans for quick shifting of troops are ad mirable. Tho Germnn soldiers, It hns been learned from various sources, were keyed up to the present effort by promises of the prompt capture of Paris and n consequent German pence. That those promises cannot bo ful filled there need not be the least doubt. The morale nnd valor and determina tion of the French nnd British were never greater thnn now, and the over Increasing numbers of the dashing American soldiers give them renewed confidence. Tho Americans in PIcnrdy undertook their first renl offensive on Tuesday, and ncqulttcd themselves gloriously. Attacking on a front of one nnd a quarter miles west of Montdldler, in less thnn nn hour they had smashed the German lines, captured the village of Cantlgny, taken several hundred prisoners nnd inflicted heavy losses In killed and wounded on the enemy. Tho entire attack, Including the waves of barrage fire, was carried out with per fect smoothness. Twelve tanks led the wny, and Pershing's men followed them with the cry, "Go to it, Yanks." When they reached Cantlgny they found the village mainly ruined houses, with the Germnn gnrrlson hidden in caves and dugouts. These refuges were speedily cleaned out with grenades, and nil tho Germans there were either killed or enpturcd. A ridge beyond thev village was the real military oh- Jectlve.nnd this our troops soon gained. and .prepared to hold It, despite the fierce Arc from the enemy. And hold it they did throughout the week, against repented counter-attneks. This operation was not extensive, but as ono British officer jubilantly re marked, it was not the size that count cd so much ns the splendid wny In which the Americans showed the Ger mans their mettle. ' In tho Lunevlllo sector the Huns made a heavy attack on tho American lino Wednesday, but were driven bnck with considerable loss. The American casualties were few and not a prisoner was taken by the enemy, though thnt was their main object. Thnt night there was grent nrtillory activity all along tho front northwest of Tool, nnd on Thursday many aerial battles wen fought there. -ra in Flanders tho Germans made one big attack, early in the week, between Voormczeole tind Locrc, but after gain Ing a small bit of ground they were driven back with sovero losses. (01 A characteristic bit of Germnn bru tallty was the deliberate bombing of American hospitals In n town many miles from tho front. One nurse was killed nnd a number of wounded were Injured. The Hun nvlators also mndo several attempts to raid Paris, but the nlr defenses of the French capital are now so admirable that the raiders were easily driven off. American nvla tors are now helping to defend Paris, Ha-r The Italians apparently grew tired of waiting for a renewnl of tho Aus trian offensive nnd took matters -into their own hands. In two dashing op erations they enpturcd important mountain positions in the Tonnle re gion, together with many prisoners nnd guns, nnd cut a big gap through tho Austrian defenses on the lower Plave front at Capo Silo. The first of these battles was fought on ground 1,200 feet above tho sea and amid gla ciers and melting snows. tes Sweden, It wns announced, has signed n commercial and navigation agreement with Grent Brltnln und her nllles. A similar agreement between Denmark nnd America lias so angered Germany thnt tho Danes hnvo been served with an ultlmntuni that It must be, canceled. The swamping of the Hun submarine by American shipbuilders goes ahead merrily and no longer Is thero any doubt of tho ultimate falluro of the U-boat warfare. A significant event of the week was the launching nt Newark of tho Agawam, tho first of tho new standardized fabricated steel vessel built by the Emergency Fleet corpora tion. The British admiralty announced thnt tho transport ship Leasowe Castle had .been torpedoed In the Mediterranean with a loss of 101 persons. fca The central committee of Finnish workmen hns protested against tho brutalities of the White guard, which, It asserts, has Imprisoned 70,000 per sons and slaughtered prisoners by wholesale, hundreds of tho killed being women. In this delectable work the White guard Is helped by the German soldiers. Pa Of great Importance was the an nouncement by the ndmlnlstratlon last Wednesday that the United States now supports the nationalistic aspira tions of the Czecho-Slovaks and the Jugo-Slavs. Until now the president had gono no further than to express sympathy with tho idea of autonomy for v tho anti-German Austrlnn states, but he has changed his attitude and his new policy may aoimucn to encour age tho subject races of Emperor Charles to revolt. It will certainly encourage tho brave Italians who are fighting ulong the Plave, whore beforo long American troops will be with them in tho trenches. On the other hand the Austrian em pcror has stated Uiat in the future he will rely on "tho faithful and pre cious collaboration of the Germans for the development of the lnterests"of the stnte." President Wilson appeared before congress unexpectedly on Monday and urged that body to begin work imme diately on tax legislation to provide the funds necessary to tho carrying on of tho war. The defeat of the cen tral powers, he said, is the consldern tlon that dominates every other. Sen ators, representatives, supremo court Justices, everybody present, rose and cheered lustily when the president add ed: "Wo are not only in the midst of the war, we are nt the very peak and crisis of it. Hundreds of thousands of our men, carrying or hearts with them and our fortunes, are In the field, nnd ships are crowding, faster and faster to uio ports or France nna England with regiment ufter regiment, thou sand after thousand, to join them until the enemy shall bo beaten and brought to a reckoning with mankind." Despite tho desire of many members to lmve nn early adjournment, congress yielded at onco to Mr. Wilson's pleu and plans were made to formulate a revenue bill as speedily as may be, Thu president In his address confirmed the expectation that there would be another and 'larger Issue of Liberty bonds In the fall, probably immediate ly after the election. On Wednesday tho president Issued un appeal to all Americans to buy only those things, which are essentinl to the itiillvldunl health nnd efficiency, and to save their money nnd Invest It sys temntlcally in war savings and Thrift stamps and other government, securl tie. isa Director General McAuoo announced general pay increases for nearly 2.000. 000 railway employees, carrying out most, of tho recommendations of the roiiroau wage commission, nnd ho fni loved this with the announcement that both freight anil passenger rates would uc raiscu, tiio latter to 3 cont n ,n.. and the former by more than 25 per runf 'Plllo If la ... . . .... ...o, .v ia vaiiuiuiuu, win oring iii uuuui .?iw,wv,uw more a yenr which will ho used to meet tho in! creases In wages and the higher cost ol supplies, Pa Popular belief, based on the wiient crop estimates, that the restrictions on uiu use ni wneut micht soon h ,n,u fled was corrected by Mr. Hoover, who rmjs vory prospect of the wheat sit- u,.,.u, iiui'iisiiit: mo need for the Kiciuum possiuic limitation In tho sumption of wheat nnd wheat products In America in-order thnt thero may not bo serious want among our allies. The consumption of tho cereal at eays, should be only one-third of 'the normal. i U.S.MEN BIG FACTOR MAY HOLD BALANCE IN NEW BATTLE OF THE MARNE., FOCH'S RESERVES BLOCK HUNS Strike Terrific Blow at Enemy and. Recapture Several Points of Van tago In Battle for Paris. Washington, D. C, Juno 4. Amerl cnu troops hnvo becomo n vital fac tor in tho great battle In France unci mas- hold tho balance betweon defeat and victory, General Bridges, head or n special British military mission to the United Status, said hero in dis cussing the renewal of the German- drive. The objects now before tho Ger- , mans, the general said, appear to bo-. r threefold tho capture of Paris, tho division of tho main allied urmles by nn ndvanco through Amiens and the capture of the channel ports. The battle, ho declared, Is likely to con tinue for weeks and become a long- drawn-out struggle of man power with the first duty of tho utiles to , husband their resources by giving ground for men where possible. Amorlcnn troops are constantly reaching-useful positions in the battle lines of France, and are displaying tho most nrdent desire to share the pres ent great battle with their European comrades. Hurled Back by Foch's Reserves. General Foch with his reserves hns struck tho enemy n mighty blow in tho battle for Paris. East of tho line running from Solssons to Chateau Thierry, the Germans gained several additional vlllnges. When they at tempted to proceed westward the French struck with terrlllc force and recaptured Longpont, Corey, Fnvor oIIcb nnd Trosnes, vantago points in the center of the line leading to tho forest of Villers Cotterels, which seemed to be the present objective of the enemy. . According- to reports the Germans are using three-quarters of a million men in this offensive. Although the enemy occupies the northern bank of the Marne for a stretch of a dozen miles east from the vicinity of Cha teau Thierry, he seemed to have made , no serious attempt to force a crossing. ' Taken all In all, the end of the first week of 'the new battle found the nl lled lino from Solssons to Ithelms, al though It had been bent back at" var ious points, not so hard pressed ns Id Its early stages, and seemingly more cnpnblo of resisting tho enemy's on slaughts. Wood Bids Comrades Good-Bye. An American City, Juno 4. "These orders stand and the only thing to do Is to do the best we can all of us to -win the war," were the words of Major General Leonard Wood In a farewell address to the officers of his late command, the 89th division of the nntlonnl nrray, which he trained: nt Camp Funston for overseas service. General Wpod had expected to go to France nt the head of this division but at the last moment was ordered to Camp Funston to train another divfc slon. U. S. On Wheatless Basis.. Washington, Juuo 4. For ten weeks, until August 15, tho nation is to be on a virtunlly wheatless basis. Every fraternal society, church, Sun day school and religious organization has been asked by Hoover to pledge each of Its members to abstain en tirely from use of wheat until the new crop Is out. Army Supplies Burn at St' Louis--St. Louis, June 4. Warehouses Nos 23 nnd 24 at the United States arsenal here wcro destroyed by lire shortly after midnight Sunday w'lth a loss of army equipment stored there estimat ed at $3,000,000. Incendiarism is sus pected. To Prison for Disloyalty. Kansas-. City, Mo Juno 4. Mrs. Rose Pastor Stokes of New York was sentenced to ten years' Imprisonment In the Missouri state penitentiary on each of three counts of an indictment charging her with violation of the as plonago act. Praeger Lynchers Freed. Kdwafdsvllle, 111., June 4. Tho eleven men accused of lynching Rob ert Prneger, alleged pro-Gorman, at Colllnsvllle. 111.. April 0,' were acquit ted hero Saturday by a jury that de liberated but five minutes and took two ballots. Loud cheers greeted tho verdict. 24 Americans Lost at Sea. Washington, June 4. Four officers nnd twenty men are missing from' tho torpedood Amorlcnn transport Presi dent Lincoln, tho Navy department W,IS lvlsed by vice Admiral Sims. Will Call 280,000 Men. In June.' Washington, Juno 4. Official nn nouncomout " lias been made thnt 280.000 men will bp culled to the col ors during Juno. Tiiey will bo order ed to r.-port Juno- 24, but It linn not ' 1 1' li rmincd to what camp ' 1 . igitcd
