Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1916-03-16
ELIHU ROOT CASUALLY CONSIDERED.

ELIHU ROOT CASUALLY CONSIDERED.
Among the other things Elihu Root had to say about
President Wilson and his handling of the foreign situation is
the following passage concerning Germanys violation OF Bel
'EThe law protecting Belgium which violated
our law and the law of every civilized country
Moreover that law written into solemn
and formal convention signed and ratified by Ger
many and Belgium and France and the United States,
which those other countries agreed with that the
law should be observed. When Belgium invaded
that agreement binding not only morally but also
tricty and technically because there at that time
nation party to the which not also
party to the convention.
ut was not necessary that the United States
should go in defense of the violated law.
single official expression by the government of the
United States single sentence denying assent and re-
cording dissapproval of what Germany did in Bel
GUM, would have given the people of America that
leadership to which they entitled in their earnest
cropping for the light
Now Mr.. Root has had general reputation previous to
his making this speech of being very consistent He perform
ed the Chicago convention in 1912 and has always been
ssent from the view point of the machine and big interests
1t is plain that from every viewpoint the above is extremely
inconsistent Perhaps the most striking illustration and
hinder Ehu the fact that during his encumbency the
office of Secretary of State under Roosevelt without
gle sentence denying and recording disapprova
Japan permitted to violate the sovereignty of Korea
Again Mr. Root has been reminded of the perceng of Morocco
under Roosevet reign Also the latter grabbed chunk from
South America and asked Columbia what she going to do
about it.
Some other distinguished opinion gathered by the Literary
Digest other than that Of Ehu Roots may find logical ap-
Evening POSTS correspondent Washington represents
fetal circles being well pleased with Mr. Roots speech
This writer magines the administration calling up Mr. Root
on the long distance telephone and saying in part:
''We wouldn't have dared to make foreign
policy issue in the campaign and try to seek parti
Fan advantage from conduct of national matters,
but you relieve of that embarrassment. You
challenge and accept
''When you take us o task for not going to war
with Mexico, for not abandoning diplomacy and
fighting Germany; for not mixing into Europes mud
die, and for not protesting against Germanys viola
ton of Belgium, must thank you heartily. We
afraid that strong point, The President has
kept out of war; might have been vulnerable
You fortify it. All need to do is to tell the
voter that speech you would have gone to
war with Mexico, that you would have gone to
with Germany, and that you would have taken sides
IN the Belgium controversy. We perfectly will
ing to abide by the verdict of the American vote
such queSions.'
The New York Morning Telegraph terms Mr. Roots effort
to suggest the desire of conservatives like Mr. Root o
pacate Roosevelt by adopting his quarrel with the Central
Powers and making it their own The New York Globe In
celve the antagonsm to the Presidents lack of easm with
respect to Belgium requires him to approve the Presidents
1deasm with respect to Mexico The New York Evening
Post also independent Mr. Root and
for thing reminds him that the Lusana on the eve
OF settlement 1t will apparently be settled upon much the
same termsho in shorter tmeas President Grant settled
the murder of Americans the Vrginus in 1872
The Philadelphia Record rather perneny suggests that
with three guaranors directly engaged in the of Bel
gum and two involved in the what could
more futile than diplomatic note from Washington telling
Prussan General Staff that it ought do only
possible effect would have been destroy influence with
Germany by giving the impression that the side of
the Allies and the Record further definitely that
Root ha made the most immoral speech that has been heard
IN the United States since the Civil War;
Opinion of German American editors charges Root with
unfalrness The Cincinnati Voksbatt says He censures
the invasion of Belgium but omits to violation of
Greecan neutrality His unfarnes especially becomes an
the ImSta re