The Washington times., 1917-04-16
The Enemy

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be clarifying to thought, especially
in the Congress of the United States,
if the term is habitually used
The country should not be deceived
by the unanimity of the vote for the
seven billion dollar issue Of bonds
and treasury certificates, into believ-
ing that all pro-German sentiment
has disappeared from Congress.
That unanimity was gratifying to the
highest degree. But the debate itself
disclosed the fact that some mem
bers merely paired their speeches
with their votes, while the offering
of hampering amendments was quite
fashionable. One of these amend
ments, offered by Fitzgerald, was
adopted, cutting in half the sum
deemed necessary for advertising and
selling the bonds. The Secretary Of
the Treasury is more likely to be in
formed about that matter than Fitz-
gerald. Fortunately the Towner
amendment, prohibiting he loan to
our allies, was so overwhelmed that
even its author did not. vote for it,
leaving the three who agreed with
him in q lean and beggarly minority.
But after the vote on the bond is
sue was taken, a spectacle was af-
forded of the way in which pro-Ger-
man Congressman can still give aid
and comfort to the enemy. Under
a statute of the United States it is
now unlawful for any. citizen or sub
ject of a foreign power to enlist in
the army of his native country or to
persuade others to enlist The De-
partment of Justice recommended
adding a proviso to this statute,
THAT this section shall not apply
1 to citizens or subjects Of any coun-
trv engaged in war with a country
with which the United States is at
/, war" 1t would seem that any we'll
taught school child could understand
what that means. Manifestly. it
would allow an Englishman or a
j Frenchman, or a Russian, or the citi-
zen of any of our allies to enlist un-
der his own flag in the war against
our common enemy.
But Germany is not "the enemy"
in the minds Of pro-Germans. Pass
ing over the muddleheadedness that
made such suggestions as that the
amendment would authorize British
subjects to engage in q filibustering
expedition against Mexico, or that
the Mexican government could come
into the United States and enlist its
citizens, the questions Of four Con-
gressmen plainly showed the animus
Of their objections.
Stafford of Wisconsin wanted to
know if the bill authorized "the rep
resentatives Of foreign governments
to come to this country and estab-
\ lish recruiting stations" It allows
our allies to enlist their own people
in a war against our enemy, Mr..
Stafford.
OF course. Hampy Moore had his
question, whether British aliens
who are in the United States may
be recruited in this way to go over
and fight for Great Britain" Even
so, Mr.. Moore, horrible as that may
seem to you.
Cooper of Wisconsin pulled out the
tremolo, stop and asked what the ef-
feet would be on some poor, ignorant
laborer, confronted by an officer from
one of the autocratic countries. The
question indicates the gentleman's
eminent fitness for representing the
Republican minority on the Foreign
Affairs Committee.
Finally, Gallivan Of Massachusetts,
inquired whether the amendment
was framed by "Mr. Gregory or
Spring Rice" Even Congressman
should not be allowed to insult the
ambassador of one of our allies. The
bill went over on the objection of
Greene of Massachusetts.
Some four hundred thousand citi-
zens of countries at war with Ger
many are in the United States, for
hidden by law to enlist themselves or
to ask their fellows to enlist, while
we are endeavoring to train an army
of American citizens. Delay in re-
pealing that law postpones increase
from this source to the armies fight
ing against the enemy. How better
could these Congressman be serving
the cause of the Kaiser than by de-
laving the enlistment Of soldiers to
fight him? What do the constitu-
ents of these Congressman think Of
their attitude toward our allies and
toward the enemy? Study Of the
constitutional definition of treason
is again suggested.