Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1916-01-29
POLITICS AND ARMS EMBARGO
Powerful Backfire If Attempt Is Made
to Raise Such Issue s.
in State.
(By Ellis b. Usher.)

ZION OF an Arms EulDdIBO plank III
the state Republican platform. 1t
makes good newspaper stuff and will
arouse lot of talk among delegates
and voters that will keep their mi nds
off the main question. If, howe yer,
the effort TO make an issue of this is
serious, there will be, predict,
most powerful backfire that win SINCE
its promulgators seriously, if it does
not burn them to cinder politically.
l don't think that any party leader
will be foolish enough to make state
issue along these lines. Milwaukee,
where the talk seems to originate,
must remember that it is not fair
specimen of Wisconsin in it's action
or thought. The sentiment outside
this city is enough different from the
atmosphere here to upset any politi-
cal theory of what the voter will do
on any given topic, if that theory is
based on information gathered here in
Milwaukee.
1t is obvious that this whole bust
ness. If serious, is meant TO gain the
pacifist and pro-German votes. 1t
will do that, imagine, but it will
turn every other vote in Wisconsin
against the party that supports it, re-
CARELESS of party lines. 1t will de-
feat that party just the way Switzer
was beaten in the mayoralty fight in
Chicago by the biggest majority ever
polled in that city, when the pro-
German propaganda was rumored to
be behind him. All German sympa-
thizers, it was planned, would rally
to Switzer's support, and he would be
elected. Perhaps all such did, but
every good American citizen voted
against Switzer. And that's just
whatwill happen here in Wisconsin if
any party brings such an issue into
the political arena.
l talked with an American born
lawyer of German parentage On the
subject of the arms embargo plank
He claimed to voice the sentiment of
what he styled as the younger ele-
ment in Milwaukee's population of
German descent. He said that most
of that part of the population felt it
was too late to raise the question of
an arms embargo, 1t would be help
ing one side too obviously. He adj
mitted though, that the central mo-
marches would support party with
such plank in its platform regard
less. He had no idea what per cent
of the voters this element he spoke of
represented, but thought it was pref
ty big when to it the pacifist vote
was added.
That element may loom large in
Wisconsin to one man or a group of
men. but if that man or group predi-
Gates any success in political fight
here on question which involves the
patriotism or Americanism of our ci-
items, there will be for them most
astonishing upheaval aud, like the
parrot, after it is all over, They'll ask:
where were you when the cyclone
struck"
The agitation for an arms embargo
is also an attack on Wilson and his
politics. Perhaps national move
ment is to be started here, since the
supporters of the state movement ask
where else will such a propaganda
start if not in Wisconsin. The ma
tional move, if there is one, will NEE t
the same sudden and absolute death
at the polls that the projected state
move will meet.
But after all, there will be no seri-
Gus move made, for no political lead
er. state or national, with any brains
in his head will ever force an issue on
such a subject unless he wishes sure
defeat.
ON TEN CENT BASIS.
1t has been quite a study to me,
lately, TO observe the various prices
char ged by cinema" houses. The
use of the last name alone, shows my
general lack of information about the
motion picture industry. But last
summer many of my acquaintance
paid as high as dollar to see film
called 1.-The Birth of Nation. | adj
NIT the thing was well advertised by
the various attempts at censorship
it's appearance aroused. Its subject
alone is a vital one to Americans.
But why it drew a dollar a seat when
other motion picture houses charged
but ten cents for equally meritorious
production, / am at loss to explain.
In New York City am reliably in
/ formed, well over seven million peo-
pie saw the film. No other play ever
drew such a record breaking attend
ance in one season. Chicago and Mil
waukee packed their houses for eve
~ performance, and at that, If was
{ lOugar than the AVERAGE play In con