The Cushing Independent (Cushing, Okla.), Vol. 22, No. 12, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 8, 1917 Page: 3 of 10
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PRESIDENT'S WAR
MESSAGE GARBLED
Full Text Withheld From People
of Germany by'Kaiser's
Government.
PASSAGES WERE SUPPRESSED
Report of Wolff Telegraph Bureau,
< Unofficial Mouthpiece of Kaiser,
Show** Wilson's Address
Distorted.
TheGsrmdn people never had ap op-
portunity to' read the full text of the
address delivered by President Wilson
before congress oji April 2, 1917, In
" Wtach called upon con-
gress to declare the existence of the
state ut;\ivar t&en..-being, waged upon
the United States by Germany. In the
copies of this address which were per-
mitted to be published In Germany,
many passages were suppressed, ac-
cording to the committee on public
Information of the United States gov-
ernment. The passages suppressed in-
cluded those in which the president
told why the United States had been
forced to enter Intn the war against
Qermany-in-protectlon'of Its rights and
In order to make the world safe for
democracy. , . ■
The committee on public information
has issued a copy of the president's
address, showing the passages which
were .suppressed by the Wolff Tele-
graph bureau, which Is under govern-
ment censorship and has been consist-
ently employed-by .the German govern-
ment for the promulgation of Its offi-
cial opinions. The following Is an of-
ficial copy of the president's address
with the passages suppressed by the
Wolff Telegraph bureau shown in bold-
faced type:
Gentlemen of the Congress:
X have called the congress Into extra-
ordinary session because there are se-
rious. very serious, choices of policy to
be macjp, ariti ma.ie immediately, which
It is neither right nor constitutionally
permissible that I should^assume the re-
sponsibility of making.
On the 3d of February last I oflfclally
laid before you the extraordinary an-
nouncement of the Imperial German
government that on and after the 1st
day of February it was its purpose to
put aside all restraints of law or of hu-
manity and use Its submarines to sink
every vessel that sought to approach
either the (6rtTf?,-pT s&fP&t,.-Britain and
Ireland or tfte'vfesterh coasts of Europe
or any of the, jpnrts controlled by the
enemies of Germany within the Medi-
terranean -Tjigit-Jjad seemed to be the
object of trfe'TreT-man"'submarine war-
fare earlier in the war. but since April
of last year the Imperial government
had somewhat restrained the comman-
ders of Its undersea craft. In conform-
ity with Its promise, then given to lis,
thnt paMnenger b^ntM nhonld not he
mink, nnd that due warning would he
given to all other veMseln whleh lt
aiihmtirlneM might seek' to destroy,
-tvhen no resistance was offered or es-
eape attempted, and eare tnken thnt
their crews were given nt -least a.-fair
<-hnnee to save their lives In their open
boats. The precautions tnken were
lirenger nnd hnplinr.nrd enough, as was
proved In distressing Instnnee after
Instance In the progress of the eruel
nnd unmnnly business, but.p certain de-
cree of restraint wns observed.
The new policy has swept every re-'
Btrictlon aside. Vessels of evgry kind,
whatever their ting, their character
their cargo, their destlnntlnn. -their
errand, have heen ruthlt-ssly sentV-to
the bottom without warning an<t^with-
out thought of help or mercy for those
on board, the vessels, of friendly neu-
trals along with those of betllgerents.
Even hospital ships nnd ships currying
relief to IJin sorely beren'ved and strick-
en people of (Belgium, though the lat
ter we're provided with safe conduct
through the proscribed" areas by the
German ijovernmsnt itself nnd were
distinguished by unmistakable marks
of Identity, have been sunk with the
same recklesn lack of compassion or
of principle.
I vrns for a little while unable to
believe thnt such things would In fact
be done by nny government thnt had
hitherto subscribed to the humane
practices of civilised nations. Inter-
national law had Its origin In the at-
tempt to set np some law which would
be respected and observed npon the
sens, where no nation had right of
dominion nnd where lay the free high-
ways of the world. By painful stage
after stage has that law been bull.t up
with meager enough results, indeed,
after all was accomplished that could
be accomplished, hut always with a
clear view, at least, of what the heart
and conscience- ot mankind demanded.
This minimum ;of right the German
gov^rnnieh^ has swept aside under the
plea of retaliation ■ and necessity, and
because it' had no weapons which it
could use at sea except these, which
It Is impossible to employ as It Is em-
ploying them, without throwing to the
wind all af-ruples of humanity or of
respect for the understandings that
were supposed to underlie the Inter-
course of the world
I am not nIfw thinking of the loss of
property Involved. Immense and serious
as that Is. but only of the wanton and
wholesale destruction of the lives of
non-combatants, men. women, and chil-
dren. engaged In pursuits which have
always, even In the darkest periods of
modern history, been deemed Innocent
nnd legitimate. Property can he paid
fort the lives of peaceful find Innocent
people cannot be. The present German
submarine Warfare agajnst commerce
Is a warfare against mankind.
It is a war against all nations. Amer-
ican ships have been sunk, American
llvea tnken. In ways v> I\1CI| It has
■ tlrred us very deeply to learn of. but
the ships nad people of other neutral
and friendly nntlons .have been sunk
an* overwhelmed !■ the water* In ttie
same way. ' There Ti., been nS dis-
crimination.
The chnllenge la to ali mankind.
Each nation must decide for itself how
it will meet it. The choice we make
for ourselves must be made with a
moderation of counsel and a temper-
ateness of Judgment befitting our
character and our motives as a nation
We must put excited feelings away.
Our motive will not be revenge or the
victorious assertion of the physical
might of the nation, but only the vin-
dication of right, of human right, of
which we are only a «ingle champion.
"When I addressed the congress on
the 26th of February last I thought It
would suffice to assert our neutral rights
with arms, ur right to uae the seas
agalnat unlawful Interference, our right
to keep our people anfe against unlaw'
ful violence. But armed neut.ral.lty. It
now appeara. is Impracticable. Heonuae
submnrlnea are la effect outlaws, when
uae na the (lerman submarines have
been "used ngalnat merchant shipping.
It Is Impossible to defend ships against
their attacks, aa the law. of nntlona has
assumed that merchantmen would de-
fend themselvea agalnat prlvkteera or
cruiser's, risible eraft giving chase up-
on the open aen. It Is common pru-
dence Jn such circumstances, grim nec-
essity Indeed, to endeavor to destroy
them before they have ahown their own
Intention. They must be dealt with up-
on sight. If denlt with at all.
The German government denies the
right of neutrals to use arms at all
within- the areas of the sea whlctiiiit
has proscribed .even In the defense of
rights which no modern publicist has
ever before questioned their right to
detend. The intimation is'-conveyed that
th^ armed guards which we have
placed on our merchant ships will be
treated as beyond the p^le of law and
subject to be dealt, with as- pirates
would be. Armed, neutrality Is Ineffec-
tual enough at bestt In such elrcum-
sfnnces and In the face of such preten-
sions It Is worse than Ineffertuali It la
likely only to produce what It was
meant to prevent; It la practically cer-
tain to drnw us Into war without either
the rights or the effectiveness of the bel-
ligerents. There la one choice we can-
not make, we are Incnpnble of making:
We will not choose the path of submis-
sion nnd suffer the most sacred rights
of our nation and our people to be Ig-
nored or violated. The wrongs against
which we now nrrny ourselves nre no
common wrongs; they cut to the very
roota of human life.
With a profound sense of the solemn
nnd even trnglcal character of the step
I am taking and of the grave responsi-
bilities which It Involves, but In un-
hesitating obedience to what I deem
my constitutional duty, I advise that
the congress declare the recent course
of the Imperial German government to
be In fact nothing less than war
against the government and people of
the United States; that it formally ac-
cept the status of belligerent which has
thus been thrust upon it; and that It
take Immediate steps not only to put
the country in a more thorough state
of defense, but also to exert all its
power and employ all Its resources to
bring the government of the German
empire to terms and end the war.
What this will involve is clear. It
will involve the utmost practicable co-
operation in counsel and action with
the governments now at war with Ger-
many. and as Incident to that, the ex-
tension to those governments of the
most liberal financial credits, in order
that our resources may so far as pos-
sible he added to theirs.
It will Involve the organization and
mobilization of all the material re-
sources of the country to supply the
materials of war and serve the Inci-
dental needs of the nation in the most
abundant and yet the most economical
and efficient way possible.
It will Involve the Immediate full
equipment of the navy In all respects,
but particularly in supplying it with
the best means of dealing with the ene-
my's submarines.
It will Involve the Immediate addi-
tion to the armed forces of the United
Stntes. already provided for by law In
case of war. of at least 500.000 men.
who should, in my opinion, be chosen
upon the principle of universal liabil-
ity to service, and also the authoriza-
tion of subsequent additional incre-
ments Of equal force so soon as they
may be needed and can be handled In
training.
It will Involve nlao, of course, the
granting of nijrnnnte credits to the
government, suntnlncd. I hope, so far
as they caii equitably he austnlned' try
the present generation, by well-con-
ceived taxation.
I aay sustained so fnr as may be
equitable by taxation, because It seems
to me that It would be most unwise to
base The credlta, which will now be
ntressnry, entirely on money borrowed.
It is our duty. I most respectfully nrge,
to protect our people, so far as we
may, agalnat the very serious hard-
ships aad evils which would be likely
to arise out of the Inflntlon which would
he produced by vnst lonns.
In enrrylng out the menaurea by
which theae things nre to be nccom-
pllsbed we should keep constnntly In
mind the wisdom of Interfering aa lit-
tle aa possible In our own preparation
nnd In the equipment of our own mili-
tary forcea with the duty—for It will
be a very practical duty—of supplying
the nntlona already at war with Ger-
many with the materlala which fhey
ran obtain only from ua or by our as-
sistance. ' They are la the Held, and we
ahould help them In every way t* be
effective there.
I ahall take the liberty of auggeat-
lag. through the several executive de-
partments of the government, far the
conalderatlon of your commltteea.
measures for the accomplishment of
the several, objecta I have' mentioned.
I hope that It will be your pleasure to
deal with them na having been framed
after very careful thought by the
branch of the. government upon whom
the responsibility of conducting the
wsr nnd aafeguardlng the nation will
most directly fall.
While we do these things, these deep-
ly momentous things, let us be very
clear, and make very clrnr to nil the
world, what our motives nnd our ob-
jects nre. My own thought hna not
been driven front Its habitual and nor-
nutl course by the unhappy eventa of
the Inst two months, nnd I do not be-
lieve tlint the thought of the nntlun
has been -altered or clouded by them. I
have exactly the same things In mind
now thnt I had In mind when I nd-
dressed the sennte on the 22d of Jnnu-
nry last; the :same that I liatl In mind
when I addressed congress on the 3d of
February nnd on the Sflth of February.
-Our object now. na then. Is to vindicate
the principles of peace and 'Juatfce In
Hie life of the world na ngalnat sellish
nnd nutoerntle— power, and to act up
among - the' really ' free aad aelf-gov-
etiieY peoples of the wotld such a coa-
cert of purpoae aad of actloa aa will
henceforth Insure the observance of
thoae principles.
Neutrality Is no longer feaalble or
desirable wl|ere the peace of the world
Is Involved nnd the freedom of Ita peo-
ples, and the mennce to thnt peace aad
freedom Ilea In the existence of auto-
cratic governments, bncked by organ-
ised force which la coatrolled wholly
by their will, not by the will of their
people. We have seen the last of neu-
trality In such circumstances. We are
nt the beginning of na nge In which It
will be Inalated that the aame atnnd-
nrds of conduct and of reaponalhlllty
for wrong done ahall be obaervrd
among aatloas aad their governments
thnt are obaervrd among the Individual
cltlsena of civilised atatea.
We have no quarrel with the Oermafl
people. We have no feeling toward
them but one of sympathy and friend-
ship. It was not upon their Impulse
that their government acted In enter-
ing the war. It was not with, their
previous knowledge or approval. It
was a war determined upon as wars
used to be determined upon in the old
unhappy days, when peoples were no-
where consulted by their rulers and
wars were provoked and waged In the
interest of dynasties or of little groups
of ambitious men who were accustomed
to use their fellow men as pawns and
tools.
Self-governed nntlona do ant All their
neighbor atatea with spies or set the
course of Intrlgae to bring about aomr
critical poature of affalra which will
give them an opportunity to atrlkr aad
make conqt|eat. Such designs can he
successfully worked out only under
cover nud where no one has the right
to ask questions. Cunningly contrived
pinna of deception or nggrrsslon, enr-
rled. It tnny be from generation to gen-
eration.- ran be worked ont nnd kept
from the light only within the privacy
of courta or behind the cnrefully guard-
ed confidences of n narrow nnd privi-
leged clnss. They nre hnpplly Imponal-
hle where public opinion commands nnd
Insists upon full Infornintlon concern-
ing all the natlon'a affairs.
A atradfaat concert for pence enn
never he mnlntalned except by n pnrt-
nrrahlp of democratic natlona. No au-
tocratic government could be truated
to keep faltb within It or obaerve Ita
covennnti. It tnuat be n lengue of
honor, n partnership of opinion. In-
trigue would eat Ita vltala awayt Ihe
plnttlaga of Inner clrelea who eould
plan wfcgt. they frould. and render nc-
count to no oae, would be a corruptloa
aeated at Ita very heart. Only free peo-
ple can hold their' purpoae nnd- their
honor ateady to a common end, nnd
prefer the Intereat of mankind ta nny
nnrrow Intereat af their own.
Does not every American feel that
assurance has been added to our hope
.for the future peace of the world by
the wonderful and heartening things
that have been happening within the
last few weeks in Russia? Rossis waa
known by thoae who knew her best
to have been nlwnya In fnct democratic
at henrt In all vltnl hnbltn of her
thought. In all the Intlmntr relntlon-
shlps of her people that spoke their
natural Inatlnct. their habitual attitude
toward life. The autocracy that crowa-
ed the aummlt of her political atruc-
ture, long na It bad atood and terrible
na iniN the renllty of It* power,
not In fnct RuMlnn In origin, charac-
ter, or piirpone, and now It tin* been
Mhnken off nnd the *rent *enerou* H«i*-
nlan people have been added. In nil
their nntlve mnjenty nnd mlscht, to the
forcea thnt nre fighting for freedom In
the world, for Juatlee, nnd for pence.
Here Is a fit partner for a league of
honor.
One of the thlnff* thnt have nerved
to convince ua thnt the I'ruaalnn nuto-
crncy wna not nnd could never be our
friend la thnt from the very outaet of
the preaent wnr It hna tilled our un-
auapectlnj? communltlea, nnd even our
office* of government, with aplea nnd
act crlmlnnl Intrlmiea everywhere nfoot
HKHlnat our nntlonnl unity of counael.
•ur pence within nnd without, our In-
duatrlea, nnd our commerce. Indeed It
la now evident thnt Ita aplea were here
even before the wnr began nnd It la
unhnpplly not n mntter of conjecture,
but n fnct proven In our courta of Jua-
tlce, thnt the Intrlguea which have
more than once.come perlloualy nenr to
dlaturblng the pence nnd dlalocntl?*
the Induatrlea of the country, hnve been
cnrrled on nt the Inatlgntlon, with the
aupport, nnd even, under the peraonal
dlrecttona of official agenta of the Im-
perial government accredited to the
government of the United State*.
Even In checking theae things
trying to e*Hrpnte them we have
aought to put the moat generoua Inter-
pretation poaalhle upon them, becnune
we knew that their aource lay not In
nny hoatlle feeling or purpoae of the
(aermnn people toward ua (who were,
no doubt, na Ignorant of them na we
ourselvea were), but only In the selfish
dealgna of ■ government thnt did wlint
It plenaed and told Ita people nothing.
But they have played their part In nerv-
ing to convince ua at laat that that
government entertalna no real frlend-
alilp for ua nnd mennn to net ngnlnat
our pence and aecurlty at Its conveni-
ence. Thnt It menna to atlr up enemies
ngnlnst us nt our very doors, the In-
tercepted note to the (Jermnn minister
nt Mexico City In eloquent evidence.
We are accepting this challenge of
hostile purpose because we know that
In such a government, following sueh
methods, we can .tever hnve n friend,
nnd thnt In the prenenee of Its orgsn-
Ised power, nlwnyn lying In wnlt to
neeompll^h We know not whnt pur-
pose/ there enn be mo nssured security
for the democrntlc governments of the
world. We are now about to accept
the gage of battle with the natural foe
to liberty, and stiafl. If necessary, spend
the whoie force of the nation to check
and nullify its pretensions and its pow-
er. We nre glad now that we see the
facts with no veil of false pretenae
about them, to fight thua for the ulti-
mate peace of the world and for the
liberation of Ita peoples, the German
peoples Included; for the rights of na-
tlona, grent anil amnll, nnd the prlvl-
lege of men everywhere to claooae their
way of life and of obedience.
The world inuat be made aafe for
democracy. Ita peace muat be planted
upon the teated foundatlona of political
liberty. We have no selfish ends to
serve. We desire no conquests, no
dominion. We aeek no Indemnities for
ourselves, no material coinpenanllon
for the aacrlflees we ahnll freely nmke.
We Are but one of the champions of
the rights of mankind. We shall bo
satisfied -when those rights have b^en
mfirde as aecure the faith and the
freedom of natidfts* can make them.
\m Just because we fight without rancor
and without selfish object, seeking
nothing for ourselves but what we shall
wtsh to share with all free people, we
shall. 1 feel confident, conduct our oper-
ations as belligerents without passion
and ourselves observe with proud punc-
tilio the principles of right and x>f fair
play we profess to be fighting for.
1 have said nothing of the govern-
ments allied with the Intperial gov-
ernment of Germany because they have
not made war upon us or challenged
US to defend our right nnd our honor.
The AuMro-Hungarlan gov eminent hna.
Indeed, avowed Its uaquallfled Indorse-
ment nnd acceptance of the reckleas
nnd lawlesa aubmarlne warfare, adopt-
ed now without dlagulae by the Imper-
ial Germnn government, nnd It hns
therefore not been ponalble for this
government to receive Connt Tnrnow-
akl. the ambaaaador recently nccredlted
to thl government by the Imperlnl nnd
Roynl kov eminent of Austria-Hungary i
but that government haa not actually
eagag' il In warfare agalaat cltlseaa of
the United s'tatea on the aena, nnd I
take the liberty, for the preaent nt
lennt. of poatponlng n dlacuaalon of our
relation* with the authorltlea at VI-
eaaa. We enter thla war only where
we are clearly forced Into It becauae
there are no other menna of defending
osr rlghta. ■
ft will he nil the enaler for as to
eonduri ourselves ns belllgerenta In n
high nplrlt of right nnd fnlrneaa be-
easae we net without animus, not with
enmity toward a people or with the
desire fo bring nny Injury or dlsnd-
vnntaae upon them,, but only In nrmed
opposition to nn Irresponsible govern-
ment which hns thrown nnlde all eon-
aldern t Iona of humanity and of right
and 1m running nmuck.
We nre, let me aay again, the aln-
gpere frlenda «Tf the Germnn people, and
ahnll dealre nothing ao much na the
enrly re-eatnhllshmcnt of Intlmnte rela-
tions of mutunl ndvnntnge between ua,
however hard It may ha for them for
the time being to believe thnt thla U
ipokru from our lienrts. We hnve
borne with their present government
throui&h nil these bitter tuout hs be-
cnaiae of thnt frlendahlp, exerclalng n
pntlcnce nnd forbenrance which would
otherwise have been Impoaalhle.
We shall happily at III have an op-
portunity to prove that frlendahlp In
our dally nttltnde nnd nctlona townrd
the milllona of men nnd women of Ger-
mnn lilrth nnd nntlve aympnthy who
live nmong ua nnd ahnre our life, nnd
we ahnll he proud to prove It townrd-
all who are In fnct loynl fo their nelgli-
hora and to the government In the hour
of teat. They nre moat of them ns true
■nd loynl Amerlcnns ns If they hnd
never known nny other fenlty or nl-
leglnnce. They will be prompt fo stnnd
with ns In rebuking nnd rentrnlnlng
the few who mny be of n different mlnil
nnd purpose. If there should be dls-
loynlty. It will be denlt with with a
firm hand of stern repreaslont hut If
It lifts Ita head nt nil. It will lift It
only here nnd there nnd without coun-
tennnce except from n Inwless nnd
mnllKnant few.
It la a dlatreaalng nnd opprenslve duty,
gentleii'eu of the congress, which I
hnve performed In thua nddreaalng you.
There nre. It may he, ninny montha of
fiery trlnl nnd sncrlflce ahead of us.
It Is a fearful thing to lend thin grent,
penceful people Into wnr. Into the most
terrible nnd disastrous of all wars, civ-
ilisation Itself seeming to he lu the
bnlnnee.
Rut the right Is more precious thnn
pence, nnd we shnll fight for the things
which we hnve nlwnys cnrrled nenrest
our hearts—for democracy, for the
right of those who submit to nuthorlty
to hnve a voice In their own govern-
ments, for the rights and liberties of
small nntlona, fnr n un|veranl dominion
of right by such n concert of free peo-
ple na ahnll bring pence nnd snfet)? to
all nntlons nnd mnke the world Itself
at last free.
To such a task we can dedlcnte our
lives nnd our fortunes, everything thnt
we nre nnd everything thnt we hnve,
with the prltle of those who know that
the day haa come when Amerlcn Is
privileged to spend her blood nnd her
might for the principles thnt gave her
lilrth nnd hnpplness nnd the pence
which she hns trensured.
God helping her, she enn do no other.
EVERYONE PAVING
TO CRUSH ENEMY
New War Tax Squeezes Purse
of Wage Earner, but All .
Must Help.
KAISER TO BLAME FOR COST
Mad Prussia Must Be Broken Before
Conflict Can End—Good Patriots
Ste%l Selves for Sacrifice
and Then Victory.
%A
HERE AND THERE.
Vpnoziipln Is the homo of n hird thnt
Is trained to guard sfiopp while pictur-
ing.
So innny seftlons feature n new mat-
tress that it" ran he rojled for .easy
handling.
European fitetorles en<*h week make
nhout 10000.000 pounds of artificial
hntter with eneonut oil as n hase.
The Cafe Kloulan, opened in Venire
In 1 CIr nnd still In existence. Is th«
oldi-Ht public rojfoe house In Kurope.
About one-eleventh of the area of
Africa, some 1.000.000 square miles,
still awaits exploration.
A patent has been granted for a
stand on which a wrist watch can be
hung to serve as* a clock.
Itolllpg' a -CumcM film between; -the
hands to tighten It after 'exposure
sometimes generates enough electricity
to spoil it. • .•
Scientists in' Kurope h.ive developed
a process whereby illuminating gas
producers can nijniiifiirture ammonia
by synthesis.
Postage.—Three cents an ounce
or fraction thereof on letters for
other tlinn local delivery; two
cents on all postal cards.
Admissions—Ten per cent tux
on tickets to theaters, cabarets,
nnd other amusement place*.
Dues—Ten per cent (ax on
dues of clubs exceeding $12 a
year.
Tobacco—(! ni dun ted taxes .on
cigars, tobacco, cigarettes, clgar-
ette papers and sniilT.
Express—Five per cent tax on
Amounts paid for express trans-
portatliHi.
Passengers—Eight per reut of
the cost (if railroad tickets, ex-
cept local.
Berths—Ten per .cent of Hie
cost of berths, staterooms, and
parlor car seats.
Oil—Five per cent tux on
amounts paid for transportation
of oil by pipe lines.
Messages—Five cents tnx on
each telegraph, telephone, or ra-
dio message costing 15 cents or
more.
Insurance—Kight cents tux nn
ench $100 or fractional part
thereof of euch life Insurance
policy; one per cent of the pre-
mium on fire, marine, inland,
and casualty Insurance policies.
Cat's Back Was Scared.
Jack was observant of all drama
enacted In the back yard. One day he
snid: "Mnmma, 'at cat an' dog got
Into a fight, ah', mnmma, 'nt cat's
back go.t so senred she looked jest
llkefa eamel."
If It Only Lasts.
fluhby—For heaven's sake, whnt
kind of a rig is that?
Wifey (haughtily)—Tlint's n muffler.
Hubby—:-Good. You should have
worn one years ago.
University Functions.
What is the matter with our univer-
sities is that all the students are
schoolboys, whereas it is of the very
essence of university education that
they should be men, writes George
Bernard Shaw. The function of a uni-
versity is not to teach things that can
now be taught as well or better by
university extension lecturers or by
private tutors or modern correspond-
ence classes with gramophones.. We
go to them to be socialized; to acquire
ihe hall mark of communal training;
to become citizens of the world in-
stead of inmates of the enlarged rab-
bit hutches we call homes; to learn
manners and become unchallengeable
ladles and gentlemen. The social pres-
sure which effects these changes
should be that of persons who have
fnced the full responsibilities of adults
as working members of the genernl
community, not that of barbarous rab-
ble of half emancipated schoolboys and
unemancipntable pedants.
Growing a Character.
Character -Is what you are. Repu-
tation Is what folks think you ure.
Sometimes they are so well balanced
that ..you cpn't. tell one. from the oth-
er, says Grit. Hut more often the one
is a libel .on the other. Folks exalt
virtues that do npt exist nnd condemn
follies that are purely subjective and
personal. Much depends on who re-
ports you. Friends ure always chari-
table and Interpret our lives to best ad-
vantage. Knemies can see no good in
us and report as they sqe. So repu-
tation may flatter or condemn. Not
so with character. This is'something
beyond external observntion.' It Is the
life itself as lived amidst its motives
nnd obstacles. Few people can know
its reel, value, for even you d( not al-
ways know just what you are capable
of being' uiitil the emergency demands
display, your worth. What'you nre in
the face of severe testing Is character.
Indian Summer.
The term "Indian summer" Is ap-
plied to a period of mild, open weather
that comes in the fall, embracing the
most of October and sometimes ex-
tending into Noyember'and character-
ized by a sort of-dry mist or haziness
thnt differentiates it from other sea-
sons of the year. What causes the dis-
tinctive features of the season, espe-
cially the li!i/y iitinTisfihere, is un-
known, and the origin of the term
equally so. Different explanations
have been given of both, but tliey seem
to be largely fanciful.
j Washington.—Uncle .Sam Is rather
pleasantly surprised at the way the
nation Is standing the wnr tnx gall'.
The grouching, such as there Is. lias
been growled In n minor lyy. and most
of It coines from the trouble-makers,
the whining pacifists, those of a sick-
ly cast of loyalty.
Nobody really, enjoys pnylpg excess
tnxes, such as three cents postage for
letters, extra charge for freight, ex-
press nnd passenger transportation,
lelcp.lmne and telegraph messages and
allurements.'' llfot all true Americans
Who realize that the kaiser Is to blaine
for the trouble, stand ready and witl-
ing tojwy their share of tlie cost of
' exterminating the world's greatest
j menace.
| By the way, do you know that If
you are single and euru more thau
$1,000 yearly, you must pay two per
cent tux on what you make over $1,0(H).
And if you are married, you must pay
' two per cent on what you make over
j $2,000. The tax for all of l'JI7 must
be puld by June 1, 1018.
All of the new taxes fall upon the
I average man. They have nothing to
do with the "conscription of wealth."
Tliey are a part of the program of
taxation to make encli man.' woman
nnd child in the UnltVd- Slates feel ii
direct personal part in the war. Tliey
upply to freight, passenger and ex-
press transportation, pipe lines, Pull-
man seats and berths, telegraph and
telephone messages, insurance poli-
cies, admissions to theaters and
"movies" and to club dues. The e£-
fect of most of tlieiu is felt, therefore,
in a slight rise lu the high cost of
living.
The taxes are expected to not the
federal government -the following rev-
enues :
Freight transportation $77.r><)0.000
Kxpress transportation.... 10.000,000
Passenger, transportation.. 00.000.000■
I'ipe line's 4,f>00,000
Seats and berths. 4,000,000
Telegraph and telephone *
messages 7.000,000
Insurance policies b.OCU.OOO
Club , dues l.nOO.OOO
Admissions 00.000.000
The wur tux on facilities furnished
by public utilities is now levied as
follows:
Three per cent of the amount puld
for transportation by rail or water or
by any form of mechanical motor pow-
er in competition with carriers by lull
or water, on freight consigned from
one point In tln*.UiiIted States to an-
other.
One cent for each twenty cents or
fraction charged by express compa-
nies for transportation front one point
In the United States to another.
Eight per cent of the amount paid
for the transportation of persons by
rail or water or by nny form of me-
chanical motor power on a regular
established line In competition with
common carriers, from one point in
the United States to any point in the
United States, Canada or Mexico
where the ticket is issued in the Unit-
ed Stutes. No tux Is imposed on com-
mutation or season tickets 'for trips
less than .10 miles, or In cases wher«
the fure does not exceed 35 cents.
Ten per cent of the amount paid -
for seats, berths or stuterooms. ;
If u mileage book used for trana- -
portatlon or accommodation was pur-
chased prior to November 1, 1917, or
If cash fare Is paid, the conductor or
agent collecting the fare Is required
to collect the tax.
Five per cent on the amount paid
for the transportation of oil by plp«
line.
Five cents for each telegrayh, tele-
phone or radio dispatch originating
In life United States where the charge
is 15 cents or more.
The foregoing taxes are paid by the
persons paying for the service® or
facilities rendered. A cnrrler making
no charge for transporting a commod-
ity because of its ownership thereof,
or for uny other reason, ia required
to pay n tnx equivalent to the amount
which would be Imposed If It received
payment, except In the case of com-
modities which are necessary for Ua
use in the conduct of Its business or
(he business of another line constitut-
ing a part of the same railroad sys-
tem. Service rendered to the federal
and state governments is exempt from
taxntion. Persons collecting these
tnxes are required to mnke monthly
®eturns nnd monthly pnyments to the
federal government.
The new levies upon Insurance take
effect in the following manner:
On life Insurance, eight cents od
euch $100 or frnctlon of the amount
of the policy except industrial Insur-
ance policies no't In excess of $500
Issued on the weekly payment plun,.In
which case the tux is 40 per cent of
the tlrst weekly premium. Policies of
re-lnaurance nre exempt.
Oil mitrlne, Inland and fire Insur-
ance, one cent on euch dollnr or frac-
tion of the premium cfiarged under
en eli policy including renewals, but
uot Including policies of re-insurance.
Casuulty insurance, one cent on each
dollar or fraction of the premium
charged under each policy (except In-
demnity and surety bonds, which are
taxnhle under another title of the bill)
including renewals, but not Including
re-Insurance policies.
Policies Issued by nny corporation
exempt from the income tat are ex-
empt from this tax.
The person, partnership or associa-
tion tssuiiig such policies of Insurance
Is required to make monthly returns
and monthly puyinents to the govern-
ment.
For every ten centa or fractlwi
tlrereof yon spenYI on the movies you
must turn over to the government one
cent. Of course, the movie proprt-
etors may save you the inconvenience
of handling pennies by raising Ills ad-
mission price a nickel, ns many other
persons selling goods affected by the
war lux have ulrendy done.
Here Is the way admission tax and
the club dues levies" will fall upon
tlie public:
One cent on each ten cents or frac-
tion of I lie amount pnld for admission
lo any place Including ndmission-by
season ticket or subscription, to he
pnld by Ihe person puylng. for such
except In the case of chil-
dren miller twelve, where the tax In
every wise is one cent. Persons ad-
mitted free pay the tux on the busls of
Ihe charge to other persons of
(lie same class, except employees,
municipal olllccrs on official business
and children under twelve. Where
the charge fot admission to a cabaret
or similar entertainment Is wholly or
in part Included In the price puld for
refreshment, service or merchandise,
Ihe uiuoutit paid Is to be computed un-
der regulations to be prescribed by
the treasury department.
In the case of persons hnvlng the
permanent use of boxes or seats, or
u lense thereon, the tux Is equivalent
to 10 per cent of the amount for which
n similar box or sent Is sold for the
perfortnunee or exhibition at which
the box or sent Is used or reserved by
or for the lessee or holder.
These taxes ure not to be Imposed
In the case of a plnce where the maxi-
mum charge for admission is five cents
or for shows, rides or other amuse-
ments in outdoor general amusement
parks where the ndmission Is ten cents
or In the case of shows, rides or other
umuscnients (the muxlmum charge for
ndmission to which Is ten cents) with-
in outdoor general amusement parks,
or in the cuse of admiaslons to such
parks. Where the-proceeds Inure ex-
clusively to the benefit of religious,
educational or charitable societies or
organizations, and in the case of ad-
missions to agricultural fairs, no tax
shnll be levied, provided none of tl*>
proceeds are distributed to stockhold-
ers or members of the association.
A tax of 10 per cent is imposed on
Ihe amount paid as dues or member-
ship fees, including Initiation fees, to
iiny social, athletic or sporting club
where such dues or fees are in ex-
cess of $12 per year, such tax to be
paid by the person paying the dues
or fees, lines or fees paid to fra-
ternal or heueficiary societies, orders
or associations jlperiited ou the lodge
systein nre exempt. '
Those "collecting admission dues or
fees nre required to collect the tax
and make monthly returns and pay-
ments to tlie government.
Greatest Thing In the World.
Love has been called the greatest
thing In the world, but the greatest
thing In tlie world Is not a thing at
all; -the greatest thing is n person.
Personality Is the greatest thing in
the world. The greatest thing in per-
sonality Is not strength of body nor
strength of mind. It is strength of
henrt. "Clever people nre as common
ns blackberries, the rnre things to
Had n good one." It Is not Daniel
•Vebstev's brain, but Lincoln's heart,
hat wins a nation's love.—Kxcluinge.
Gained Fame While Dying.
Antolne Watteau, one of France's
foremost artists, painted his celebrated
decorative panels while dying of thrf
white man's' scourge. He sprang from
humble and poverty-stricken surround-
ings. and was forced to work on tlie
brink of starvation for the greater
part of his thirty-seven years. .lust
as his fame rose to national propor-
tions his tubercular condition, became
worse nnd he worked desperately dur-
ing his last few yeurs to complete as
much work as possible before he died.
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The Cushing Independent (Cushing, Okla.), Vol. 22, No. 12, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 8, 1917, newspaper, November 8, 1917; Cushing, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc276310/m1/3/: accessed April 25, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.