The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1916-03-03
". H. M.
Tells How, Where, When, Who and
All Other Details OF Matters
In the Public Eye.

The complications that have arisen,
growing out of Germany's declaration
to begin her sub-sea war on armed
merchant ships is giving Congress all
the trouble that august body is able to
contend with. II is not the purpose
of this letter to express the writer's
own views so much as It is to tell
the drift of opinion as we have found
| Il through southwestern Kentucky,
Illinois, Missouri and this state.
The strained relation now existing
between the President and Congress is
not the impulsive growth of a few
moments of heated argument or diff.
ference of opinion. nut dates almost
to the beginning of tt1 European war,
That the Democratic TASTY has been
loyal and true {, the president no
one can for Ons moment doubt; not
only this but many Vt the Presidents
acts have met the most cordial APP
proval of all good citizens, regardless
of party affiliations. This concurrence
in the Presidents viuws has been very
gratifying to him, aud indeed he would
be very ungrateful IL this were not so,
but this recent controversy with Ger
many regarding armed merchant ships
has brought forth Lev whispered
comment that is growing in volume,
and the incorporating stand the
President has taken In this matter is
likely to prove very detrimental to his
future political influence. Public opin-
ion is now retracing its steps of eight
cen months ago, each act of the admin
istration is coming under close scru-
tiny, careful anaylsla Is being applied
to each question pertaining to the Eu-
ropean war. the shiftless, Indifferent
manner in which Englands defying
violation of international law has
been dealt with, and the positive i'm
perative manner in which Germany
has been called to account, is slowly
but surely cTystalllzing itself into
the opinion that the Presidents SYM
patty is with England.
The recent attacks of Roosevelt on
4 the administration for not plungine
the nation into serious trouble, If not
into war. because Mr.. Wilson did not
protest against the invasion of Bel
GUM is but the cheapest kind of n.y.
pocritical gush and the same may be
said of Root and Penrose. These gen.
! tlemen will have enough to do to ex-
plain why they did not protest against
the invasion of Korea by Japan. Col
onel Roosevelt is hoping by this kind
of stage performance to capture the
Republican nomination at Chicago
next June, and become the leader of
the party he betrayer four years ago.
Whatever Mr. Wilson's prejudices
may be, when compared with this trio
of political schemers, his virtues so
, far outshine their corrupt political
history that he is crowned with the
halo of purity when placed beside
these willing tools of corporate greed
We only refer to the criticism these
gentlemen make of Mr.. Wilson to show
their statement was to mislead the
public and TO forward their own po-
litical interest, and not to serve the
best interests of the people.
But to return to the events of the
European war and the manner of
dealing with these events as they
arose from time to time. When the
wires first flashed the news that Bel
GUM had been invaded and the most
terrible war was on that the world
had ever seen the President I'm a mes
sage TO the people warned them to OBJ
serve strict neutrality, even cautioned
them against expressing their opinion
publicity, and while the people were
grateful for this advice England was
placing her orders with American mer-
chants and manufacturers for multi
piled millions of dollars worth of mu-
nitions of war. The greatest war loan
ever made by nation was financed
by American bankers and England's
war chest was replenished with Amer
lean gold.
Germany, owing to the superior navy
of England, had also arrayed against
her the three next most powerful
countries Of Europe; this was COM
plete prohibition 10 German ships
reaching American ports. demand
was then made upon England that We
might trade with the non-eombatant
poulation OF Germany, such trade be-
ing only fOodstuffs and clothing. Eng
land promptly told us we could not do
anything Of the kind. However Eng
land did not stop at this, but our com
merce with neutral nations has been
barred BY this dictator OF the world.
Time and again have our feeble pro-
tests been spurned by England, time
and again has England told us what
she considered the correct interpreta-
lion Of the law regulating these Ques-
tons and We have. after a little bIus-
tor, accepted nnslandu interpretation