The Washington herald., 1917-05-20
What Leading Newspapers
Say on the War Situation
Savings and the Liberty Loan.

It was announced yesterday that the
Seamen's Bank for Savings had taken
a million dollars of the liberty bonds
II is an example worthy of emulation
and of mention for the sake of inspir-
ing imitation. Every depositor in a saw
ings bank will be glad to hear of such
action and will feel greater confidence
in the assets behind his deposits. The
liberty bonds are exchangeable for later
issues at any higher rate, and the rate
is sure to be raised as the borrowings
increase. The borrowings are as sure to
end as they are to increase, and when
that time comes the bonds can no longer
be had at par. Those who may have
to pay a premium for their government
bonds will have only themselves to
blame. Until then those who subscribe
to the bonds for reasons of patriotism
would increase their service to the coun-
try IL they would pass the bonds on to
those who otherwise would not take
them.
The savings banks have exceptional fit-
ness and opportunity for doing this
They are in daily contact with the saw
ings class, and savings are the very best
source of funds for this loan. Wages
were never more secure than now. Mil
lions OF workers could and would engage
to deliver their wage savings in INSTALL
livered to them when paid for, and mean
while to be held for their account. They
are less likely to pay down the minimum
$50 in a lump sum. There are II, 900, 900
savings bank depositors, all unaccus-
toned to investment in government
bonds. In that respect we are the most
untutored OF leading nations. Yet we
are capable of being instructed, as is
shown by the success of the postal saw
inRa hanks at a rot Of {nf
than Is obtainable from either the saw
ings banks or the liberty bonds. =
The Irish Question.
Buffalo NswsD
Lloyd-George has outlined the British
governments plans with regard to Ire
land and home rule.
Those plans provide for the immediate
creation of an Irish parliament to sit
at Dublin.
A portion Of Ulster is to remain outside
the home rule pale for a period of five
years, when opportunity will be afforded
1t to come into the scheme.
The creation OF an Irish council, COM
posed OF picked representatives of the
whole OF Ireland-a body which shall be
empowered to deal with private bill legis-
lation affecting both the excluded and
included areas-is a wise move.
Altogether, the plans are conceived in
the right spirit and it Is to be hoped
that they will be forwarded by all the
different Irish factions.
The prime necessity at this time is
unity. and in approaching the Irish ques-
ton, the British government have had
that before them.
1t is now up to the Irish leaders and
the Irish people to abandon party bicker-
ing, to agree not to differ for the once,
and to expedite the plans promulgated.
On Duty.
(Chicago Trbune)
The American navy. on war duty in
European waters, is the navy of Decatur
and Preble, Of Perry and Farragut, of
Sampson, Schley and Dewey. 1t has the
will to win. 1t always has had. The
ships of this western republic have sailed
and steamed into danger in al the waters.
of the world always with determination
to get what they were after. whether it
was an Algerian pirate. open ports in
Japan. or a feet under the guns Of forti-
fications.
What has been sent to Europe may be
a small increment to the great allied