Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1916-05-03
INExpfIcABLE MIR. HUsTING.


We have ia this column, repeated
ly referred to the uttorances of Sem
ator Husting from Wisconsin. do
manding an Investigation Of the food
Of letters and telegrams coming TO
the House and Senate of the Con-
eress of the United States. demand
ing that war be avoided Below we
reprint with pleasure what Bernard
H. Ridder has to say on the subject
under the caption "Inexpliccable Mr..
Husting":
The generous and sympathetic sup
port which the remarkable utteran-
ces OF the junior gentleman from
Wisconsin. Senator Paul o. Husting,
delivered on the floor OF the Senate
on Thursday last, have received from
the Tory press Of the country is the
just measure OF their Americanism.
This remarkable representative Of q
large constituency was seemingly an-
noyed that some OF those who had
elected him to Office, with the eXpec-
tation that he would represent"
them. had made so bold as to advise
him as TO the lines along which they
wished to be represented. They sent
him kilograms, and increased the
postal revenues of the country by
mailing him letters, advising him as
TO their views on certain current
questions. After a microscopic in
spcction OF the many telegrams re-
ceivcd he determined that the same
typographical error rcappearing
throughout large number Of the
messages pointed conclusively to
propaganda, and thereupOn he de-
livered himself of these words: Il
believe that the poisonous purposes
OF this and other anti-American
propaganda should be exposed. other
wiso it might bring us into serious
trouble, II not with foreign countries,
With our own people. IL is high time
for the people. who are boing duped,
to realize the fact that the mask
should be torn from the face of those
who in the interest of peace are en-
dcavoring to stir up division and in
surrcction in their own country"
The senator wants an invostiga-
tiOn
Well. why not2 While we are in
the investigating business, what good
reason can be advanced for not in
vestigating those Americans suf-
nciently loyal and intelligent and
courageous as to express their views
to their elected representatives.?
Why not Investigate. perhaps. the
irate Senator himself. whose know
ledge Of the Revised Statutes of the
United states, as discovered In his
impertinent reply to Mr. Pabst to
take his advice to the German Am-
bassador. seems not to extend to
the Section 5335 OF Chapter Two,
and whose readings Of the Constitu-
tiOn soom to have ended before they
arrived at the First Amendment?
There Is stil opportunity for inyosti-
cation in this countiy-and it should
not be as one-sided as our neutrality
has been
The Evening Post and The Times,
to say nothing OF the Herald, its pink
offspring, and the still lesser pro-
tuberancea on the face Of American
journalism, arc privileged to invite
Americans, with impunity, to "ad-
dress themselves to Berlin" This
privilege does not extend to Senators.
however, and when they move to as-
sert II. they bring themselves within
striking distance of public con-
demnation
We serve in this ountry but one
Government, and whether in private
or Official life this motive should
actuate our every step Our repre-
sentatives should seek to represent
and not to dominate. They should
welcome the advice OF their consti-
tuencios, and not condemn it. The
potulant Senator from wisconsin
seems to have overlooked this vital
fundament OF the American political
system
Whether such advice is given in
Individually worded kilograms or Is
sent as form letter. matters not in
the slightest The distinguished
Senator who has given so much PEN
food 10 the editorial writer's OF our
Tory press would be poeyed, as likely
as not if the privilege WHICH he en-
joys OF Thanking by the thousands his
printed articuations TO his consti-
tuents should be denied him. A ccr-
tain peeyishness might be antici-
patcd. also, were his privilege OF
building political fences In Wiscon-
sin out of seeds distributed at Gov
ernment expense be revoked. Only
the assertion by hia electorate Of the
right to address him on current ques-
tions of vital moment to the country
seems able. however. TO stir the Sem
ator to expression.
There is no propaganda behind the
messages that have been sent to the
Congress but it Is American Dropa-
ganda The American people are
vouchsafed republican form Of gov
ernment by the Constitution under
which they live and by which they
We're created nation They arc
dorelict in their duty II they do not
keep their representatives advised
from time to time of the manner in
which they desire them to cast theit
votes
saaufalteu n. S,aOcu.Cqipyidmuocr