Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-08-07
LITTLE DOING IN LEGISLATIVE
LINE EXCEPT PROTECTIVE
MEASURES.
MANY CONFLICTING VIEWS
AS TO EFFECTS IN U. s.
Higher Prices For Foodstuffs to Be
s Counterbalanccd by Cutting OF Of
Foreign Markets-severai Members
Of Congress Bottled Up in Europe by
international Crisis.
Especial Correspondence ]

Washington, Aug. THE war in
Europe promises to cover the proceed
ings of congress something like a
blanket. Since the outbre ak of the
war members of house and senate
have to large extent lost interest in
the legislative proceedings. save as
those proceedings relate to some phase
of the questions raised by the Euro
pean struggle. Senators and con-
eressmen talk war and the causes and
result of it in the cloakrooms and cor
ridors. They devour all the bulletins
and read the newspapers for every
scrap of information appertaining to
Armageddon.
Those who were in Washington when
the RussoJ Japanese conflict occurred
recall the Zest with which it was fol :
lowed by members of congress. But
the interest in that collision was as
nothing compared to the present one.
Coupled with the painful interest felt
IN this struggle goes the apprehension
lest the effects of it be felt here to an
inconvenient extent
Many Conflicting Views.
Many conflicting views obtain in
congress as to how the general war in
Europe will affect the United States.
While the prevailing theory is that I
viii result in higher prices for Afneri-
can products, especially foodStuhs.
many think this Will be more than
counteraalanced by the cutting off OF
certain countries from our markets and
the wholesale impoyerishment of the
European nations.
Moreover. despite the steps being
taken to ship American goods abroad
there is still apprehension about the
possibility of anything ike free ship
ment OF American products. The pos
sibiEties of building up trade with
Latin America and China while most OF
the rest of the civilized world is at war
are pretty generally realized providing
ships can be had.
Tho the man in the street is ex-
pressing his sympathies in the Euro
pean struggle freely. members Of con-
gress are more discreet. They do no,
do it publicly. at least. The need fcI
maintenance of a strict neutrality Is
as a rule, clearly realized.
When The war first broke out. there
was much talk of the session being
continued while the war lasted. This
talk has largely died away. If there
is no serious condition for this coun-
try to face in September, it is likely
congress will adjourn. 1t is only ;
matter OF few days to assemble az
extra session.
Members in Europe.
Fortunately or. unfortunately some
of the members of congress are over II
Europe. One of the senator's there i.
Senator Henri Cabot Lodge. of Massa
chusetts. He is in London and fron
what can be learned is enjoying HI!
sojourn there.
man intimately acquainted with worlt
diplomacy, il is the feeling Of the col
leagues of Senator Lodge that he /:
finding an-immense satisfaction at thi!
time in being in London. just at on
of the great crises of it's history. 1t ma,
be expected that when he returns Sen
ator Lodge will bring with him goo'
deal of the inwardness of European
affairs In recent weeks. Senate
Fletcher, of Florida, with q body o
Americans who are studying municipa
bers Of senate and house would b.
abroad now had congress not remained
in session. The number of sailing en-
gagements cancelled by members o
i congress this year, because of the pro
| tractinS of the session, was unusuall
! large.