The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1917-10-20


impossible to prove that any member /
of congress received money To pay him
for what has been called an unpatriOt-
ic attitude. but ii is easy enough TO
see as one goes over the record OF
the past what ii was that led one con-
gresham TO give voice 10 his suspi-
cions in the house.
Their Former Attitude Blamed.
Since the United States declared
war on Germany the overwhelming
majority of senate and house have
been staunch in their expressions of
anti-GermaniSm, but the activities az
many of the members prior to the en-
try of the United States into the con-
fict made it appear that at that time
they were sympathetic with Germany
in its fight against the nations now
the allies of the United States. and
therefore il has been hard for some
men TO believe that those who stood
for the German methods in this war
| can be whOle-hearted in their CONVEX
sion.
Senators and representatives are
human and n good many of them of
course cannot by any kindness be called
statesmen. The desire of nearly all
| of them certainly Is TO be entirely
patriotic, but when patriotism in Its
pure essence seems TO involve the pos
| sibility of defeat nj the polls at the
next election there are senators and
! fot trrh Vic 70 ~
tatiOn to hedge In their expressed opin-
ions so that they can be certain TO Sc
cure the votes in their districts of men
of whatever opinion on the war.
There are senators and representa-
tives who have been straight for
Americanism in the face of seeming
danger of defeat when they stand for
reelection. and as things have devel-
Oped in Washington, 1t now appears
that the man who thought of his cOun-
try first and rocked little or nothing
of the voting that was to come is
more certain to be reelected than are
the men who, as the language Of the
street hath it. tried TO play both ends
against the middle"
May Tell Their Names.
There Is belief in Washington
which amounts almost to conviction
that in forthcoming additional dis
closures concerning German in
trigue in this country Secretary Ian
sing will give the names of persons in
the capital against whom proof of ac-
tivity in behalf of a foreign power has
been secured.
The recent publication of the details
of plots Matched in the United States
before this country declared war
against Germany, and before Count
Won BernstOrff had received his dis
missal papers, carried with it the
names of some persons and Organiza-
tons directly connected with the plot
making. 1t has been believed in Wash
ington. however, for long time that
. Mr.. Lansing has In his possession the
|, names of persons in this city who are
! more than suspected of being carriers
of tales and information to Count Won
Bernstorf at his residence on the Ter
, race overlooking Massachusetts ave
, nue..
One day the secretary of state went
so far as to say TO group Of men that
, among those to whom he was talking
were several who he knew were acting
, as instant carriers of information con
= corning his daily conversations to the
: German embassy.
> Washington correspondents knew
, Secretary Lansing well enough to un
: derstand that. cautious as he is undel
q all circumstances, he would not have
q said what he did unless he had goot
9 proof of the truth of his words.
, was somewhat later than this that tn
: secretary gave an intimatiOn of III
o possession of material which, If mad
f public. would convince the American
n people beyond any kind of doubt tina
il German agents were seeking TO divid
n this country against itself TO the ad
|. vantage of the kaiser's cause.
Disclosures Well Timed.
e It is nothing new for Washington Z
{ realize that suspicion is directe'
$ against certain persons in this capital
Il There is realization today that pei
y haps the secretary of state has done
e wise thing I'm spreading out his dis
e closures concerning German intrigue
Y He has timed each disclosure so that
: would come coincidently with som
k ATTEMPT on the part of Germany TO be
e cloud the issues or TO secure peac
virtually on it's own terms. The Vo
e Bernstorff message with its request 70
It n $4,000 fund to influence congress
% and the Won lyle disclosures came
.e most simultaneously with the answer
r of Germany and Austria to the cope
p peace proposals. In the days that hay
p elapsed since the disclosure was mad
n there have come additional reasons
10 make il seem certain that the Vo
lie Bernstorff material was given pul
Is Iicity then because the moment wa
N thought to be the right one in which
e strike.
The Won Bernstorff influences WEI
felt in all ranks of Washington societ,
IN After his juniors had been sent ava
h because of their discovered plottns
IS against the good Of this country, n
I, ambassador remained here and so Ii
IF as oficialdom was concerned was
IS good standing because he had not bee
D. caught as his juniors had been In u
r active work of trouble making. Durir
a. =, .h,s Elmo tbara were men and Won