The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-01-17

the board with zeal and universally
heretofore unknown.
Tips on the market, good and bad,
have floated through corridors and
departments and committee rooms as
thick as the particles in the air. Sec
retaries and subordinates, according
to common report, have open accounts
with stock bankers and brokers. Talk
to any of them and they are as wise
as the average Chinaman looks when
1t comes to knowing, or pretending to,
which way the stock cat is going to
Jump. The names OF the high govern.
ment officials which Lawson on the
stand released to the congressional
committee have been batted about by
rumor for months. 1t is an old, old
story here. That inevitably it must
come to some sort OF an official de-
nouement has been the expectation for
long time What has happened has
not given Washington a shock and a
Jolt, as 1t has the outlying country. But
Washington is, in the main, downright
glad that the disclosure has aroused
the people of the country to feeling
of suspicion and resentment which
has been experienced here for no short
while.
One Of the criticisms of President
Wilson which has been made by men
of his own party as we'll as men OF
Understanding in other parties, prior
to and most prominently in the last
campaign, was that he had probably
unintenttonally but nevertheless in.
evitably, surrounded himself WITH an
official company OF advisers and co.
workers in which men OF exceeding
mediocre calibre were regrettedly
largely in TIE majority. Not only was
this criticism aimed at the ability of
the officials in question, but it went
even further, in many cases. question
ing their trustworthiness, their integ.
rtty and their patriotism. especially
when put to the test of making per
sonal affairs, submersive. This criti-
cism was recognized by men i'll posi-
ton to justly pass upon it us by no
means wholly without sound and JUS
ttfiable cause. That President Wilson
was aware OF 1t isn't doubted. Tha.
he would meet 1t with changes in his
cabinet and elsewhere was believed
very generally here and throughout
the country when his reelection be.
came settled fact. That lie showed
no intention OF doing SO, but on the
contrary let it be known that there
would be no change, was u profound
disappointment to the highest class
OF his supporters and of the American
people. The present scandal Is, there
lore, regarded as a consequence most
naturally to have been looked for.
The outcome of the present lin
vestigation" may bring about the
changes which many had hoped that
the President would make. Ii it does
1t will not have been made in vain,
and will be hailed with patriotic ap.
plause by good people everywhere
without regard to party connections.
In tho broadcast sense, it isn't a parti.
san matter; it is q scandal which at
tects the government as whole, and
the people who live under our flag on
the continent and in our furtherest isl.
and possessions. Some of those in
charge Of the Investigation" and those
who are directly or indirectly connect
ed with the scandal, would make 1t a
party matter. In fact, they are doing
their level best to. They did not want
the investigation in tho first place,
They flouted it as triviality and as
bubble,
Chairman Henry, of the committee,
it will be remembered, brought in a
resolution ten days ago. after his first
interview with Lawson, which de-
clared that there was nothing to It,"
He made speech in an effort to have
tho resolution passed and the matter
dropped. Fur the first time in several
years the Republicans rallied and
closed up their gaps. They tainted
Henry and the majority side. They
dared them to slit the skin and insert
the probe. In the face of those
taunts, the resolution would have pass.
ed just the same but for one thing -
James Campbell CantriIl, Democrat,
of Kentucky, objected. He is a mem.
Der of the Rules committee-the Hen.
ry committee-and he didn't like this
thing of humping through resolution
and disregardlng matter which look.
ed serious to him, although he didn't
believe that an investigation would
show anything Of a tangible and sub.
stantial nature to the Lawson charges.
This was the first time, in the six
years he had been member Of the