The Marietta journal and courier. (Marietta, Ga.) 1909-1918, 1915-06-18
Pointed Criticism of Senator Hoke
Smiths Course,

The Washington Cd. c. Herald
hands Senator Hoke Smith this
rather hot one-with considerably
more added:
las an apologist for Germany, SEN
ator Hoke Smith, of Georgia, proves
himself a worthy rival of DR.. Dern-
burg and Herman Ridder. With the
positiveness and confidence of one
holding brief for Won Jagow he
asserts that Germany did not mean
to torpedo American vessels, that
Germany is ready to "disclaim any
purpose Of torpedoing passenger
ships not armed and not loaded
down with contraband," and that
the safety of our citizens upon pas
senger vessels in future, even though
they belong to the enemies of Ger
many, can be safeguarded by pre-
cautions as to their character and
cargoes."
If the Senator is in possession of
any information justifying these con-
illusions he has the advantage of
everyone else. To the rest of the
world it appears as if Germany had
lost not single opportunity to sink
any vessels of whatever nationality
bound to or from port of her enc
miles,
In the face of all of this Senator
Smith urges the continuance of ne
gotiations, not only for the purpose
of safeguarding American lives at
sea, but with a view of ending the
war. He would have this govern
ment continue to write notes while
Germany continues to sink ships.
Why doesn't he go a step further and
recommend that President Wilson
withdraw his two protests and mott
fly the Berlin government that he
didn't mean them seriously? And
what would be the senator's atti-
tude if British instead of German
submarines were guilty of such
crime?"
We have no fear that Senator
Hoke Smith is able to take care of
himself in apy controversy with The
Washington Herald-or with any
thing else in Washington-bu just
the same, we feel like rising to say
that, so far as we have observed, he
has done nothing to deserve the tart
rebuke above quoted.
He has, however, done much in an
effort to keep the seas open to Amer
lean commerce-and, particularly, to
the South's cotton-and we, for one,
have no fault to find with him for
this. Nor do we believe, in the end,
the people of the South will fail to
understand and appreciate his posi-
ton.
If anyone else in Warrington had
shown the same intelligent under
standing of this subject as Senator
Smith, and had been as jealous in
handling it, the British "order in
council" would have been set aside
before this time, and all cotton ship
pers would be receiving money for
their cotton-with a decided i'm
provement in the price all around.
And we can but believe that if the
Lusitania affair had not arisen, SEN
ator Smith would have had his fight
whipped long ago-and the, South,
in particular, would have been the
great gamer. We may rest assured
however, that he will not abandon
the fight till it is whipped
AS for the Washington Herald's
ill-tempered criticism of his course
Misrepresentation indeed lit need
only be said, that it has become
quite popular among a certain class
Of neutral newspapers and iii
viduals to attribute sinister motives
and pro-German influences to every
one who dares speak out fair-play
and fair-dealing, Our only consola-
ton for the hysteria that is now
sweeping this country lies in the
fact that, as some one has we'll said,
THE majority, generally, start out
wrong, but, happily, always wind-up
right" Senator Smith, like some
others, therefore, can afford to wait.