The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1911-12-20
POLITICS, PATRIOTISM, AND
PLAIN BUNCOMBE.

Wouldn't it be good idea to have
a conservator appointed for the politi.
cal estates of political parties deter.
mined to squander ali their assets on
riotous politicss At least, wouldn't il
be fair to establish one for the ma
tional treasury of both revenue and
self-respect before both get bank.
rupted!
These reflections are induced by
contemplation of the procedure of the
House since the session opened. Poll
tics, politics, politics everywhere, and
not q suggestion thus far of getting
at the real business of the session.
For years Russian violation of the
treaty of 1882 has been persistent and
continuous. There was at all times a
regular, diplomatic, inoffensive way
to straighten out the matter. But
nobody did it. Last August Congress
was in session, and there was not q
breath of trouble about the treaty
Four months pass-four months that
bring a national campaign a good deal
nearer-and the Russian passport
question suddenly looms on the horizon
as an issue of imminent import.
It is still possible to do the thing
in the right, the conventional, the
diplomatic way. But that would not
be spectacular enough. 1t would not
make sufficient appeal to the Hebrew
vote. 1t would not afford suf
ticient opportunities for tail
twisting. Nowadays the lions
tail isn't 80 available for that time
honored sport of politicians, SO per
force the bears must be substituted
Therefore the other plan must b.
adopted. A crudely drawn resolution
is introduced in the House, passed by
q vote of 800 to land the beal
grumbles.
Great! Just the caper! Nothing
could be better, save for one fly in thu
ointment. Both parties voted for tn,
resolution of abrogation, which rathe
took the political value out of it.
Of course, in doing the thing in sucl
q Grass fashion the dignity of this Gov
eminent suffers. Its relations to
traditional friend are strained. Ameri
can diplomatic methods, never regard
ed very SERIOUSLY abroad, come in TO
some more sardonics in European
foreign Offices. The fact that foreigl
relations are constitutionally regard
ed here as of interest chiefly for tn
possibilities of buncombe and dema
goguery gets renewed exemplificatior
There is tempest in a teapot abou
whether We will or we won't do tn
thing decently and in order; and the
it is discovered that the President ha
done it all by himself, that the ba
manners of the House were entirel
useless, and that the buncombe wa
wasted.
There is grief among the Democrat.
who, having initiated the abrogatio
resolution in the Democratic Hous,
expected the big share of politics
benefits. 1t is charged that the Pres
dent is trying to "steal their thunder
and, b'gosh, we amt goin' to stand it
. Well make lot more tail-twistin
speeches and prove that we've bee
robbed
That sort of thing causes the Unite
States to be regarded in well-mannere
countries, in proper diplomatic societ.
, as a joke. Nobody can be expecte
to take us seriously. There is tim
for firmness, earnestness, vigor. tn
American people would be willin
a enough to stand by whatever measure
: might be necessary to sustain til
good faith of treaty engagements; br
I famboyancy and fapdoodle accomplis
quite the reverse. The everlastin
I dragging in of politics, without regar
4 to international comities, commerce,
Z interests, or dignity of procedure, is
4 performance that might well be ende
The pension legislation the 9th,
;. day was off the same piece. For TO,
decades the Democratic party stoc
K for moderation, decent adminstratio
\ and sane conduct of the pension bus
ness. Then, when the biggest and lea
ustifiable of all the pension assault
f on the Treasury is proposed, it fior
d assumes sponsorship for an extrav
4 gance that the Republicans themselv
v had managed to sidestep, and, winkil
n the other eye at pledges of econom
!. jams through purely political gr'
II that will take something like 81;
I. 0OO, 900 a year out of the Treasury!
Is There was an eight hour bill, d
It signed to catch the labor vote.
n yes, everybody was for it, too-f