The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-22

for the United States to be guilty of the crime of bribery. But in the im- perial foreign office bribery and other base practices have been taken as matter of course.
 The fact that in January last, when it was apparent that the United States would soon declare war against Ger many, Won Bernstorff cabled to the foreign office for permission to spend up to $50,00O additional" to influ- ence "chiefs" and prevent this coun- try entering the conflict comes as an amazing revelation to those who judge by Americas ethical standards. Anticipating favor able answer from Berlin he be- gan spending the money forth with. According to a statement which the ambassador made to his he wanted to use this gold fin order, as on former occa- sions, to influence Congress, through the organization you know of"
 It will never be known, perhaps, outside of the foreign office and the embassy how much corruption money has been expended here. Millions, no doubt. In carrying on their seditious work the 1. w. w. have been large spenders of what was presumably German money. And Von Bernstorff's s plain intimation was that some of the gold he was disbursing went into the pockets of congressman.
 A congressional investigation is not only in order, but it should be most searching. Government scan- dals in years past-the credit mobilier, the whisky ring and others seem insignificant when compared with the scandal such as now disclosed, joining treason with bribery. An investigation cannot too soon be started.
 Those imaginative correspondents whc have been writing yarns about Camp Mcclellan at least stopped short of say ing the camp was overrun with boa con- strictors.
 Just how much patriotism Is there in ship worker who ties up the govern ment's shipbuilding programme by strik. ing while the government Is at war;
 q
 China, in Asia Minor," warble tht vaudeville teams. What does 8 ''vodear tist'' or a song writer in '"rinpan al ley" care about geography, anyhow?
 * * *
 Federal authorities will investigate tht claims of the l. w. w, although those chaps have about forfeited any claim tc consideration they might have had
 * k
 Still. you can't blame the Kaiser fol thinking he could buy up Congress Battling Bob' and others of his i'll created that impression abroad.
 No time should be lost in putting every member of the national army il a uniform. What fun is there in beinG a soldier in civilian clothes?
 * *
 The world series may encounter { touch of winter, but no true blue far is going to stay away from the bal park on that account
 
 The boys look fine, swinging by il khaki, but the old ladies who furtivel. wipe their eyes miss some of the glor, of 1t.
 The nation with the most food is goin to win this war, thinks MT. Hoover. G to it, farmer folk, and do your duty!
 
 ,Nt% didn't live long enough to see flock o fighting planes in action. Something tells us that there will b at least one patriotic number in ever musical comedy this season. The latest British drive has made few more miles of this earth's surfac safe for democracy William Hohenzollern seems to hay an idea that he can fool all the Germa people all the time.
 A soap box orator thinks his argr ments unanswerable. Any fool can ar swer them.
 # X Sugar Is going to be cheaper, but honk honk!-how about the price of gasoline
 
 | How much longer must we wait befor coal begins to rattle down the chute? HERE IS A MARVELLOUS MEMOIR