The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1917-03-10
COME IN PUNCHES
TROUBLES AND TRIALS ASSAll
THE ADMINISTRATION IN
RECENT WEEKS.
MAKE A FORMIDABLE LIST
Break With Germany, Disturbance Of
Commerce, Peace-at-Any-Price Pro-
paganda and carranza's Effort to
Iniure Us Among Them.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

Observation-Disclosures come in com
panies 10 the United States said
high official of government Il day OF
two ago, and then he was asked. Was
ever an administration 50 beSet with
trials?"
Things have been coming pretty fast
here in recent days. The officials in
Washington took and tabulated the
happenings, big and little, as they
came. The list was long and each
item on it was enough in itself 10
cause apprehension. First in order,
and in importance, Of course, was the
German prOnOunCement Of intention %
carry on submarine warfare without
regard 10 flags or nations. Then came
the presidents act Of breaking dip
lomatic relations with the German EN-
pire.
From this point 1t became a case of
waiting and II may be said that the
watchfulnesS Of the waiting was ac-
centuated to the strength of forty
times that in evidence when the Mex
ican cloud Of trouble first appeared
on the southern horizon.
List of Our Troubles.
Here is list Of the things as they
happened almost day by day:
Germany renewed its submarine ac-
tivities, sinking the passenger ship
California and many merchant vessels
carrying neutral flags.
Then came the announced intention
Of the German government 10 keep in
custody - American sailors who had
been taken by commerce raiders.
Then to cause keen anxiety and APP
prehensiOn TO the administration, came
the word that our ambassador to Ber-
lin, James w. Gerard. would not be
given his passports until certain prom
iSeS had been made by the United
as if this treatment Of the ambassador
would bring things to an issue al
once.
COinCident with these other things
was the worry caused by the reten'
ton in American harbOrs Of American
steamships which had every right I'm,
der international law to sail the seas
but which in an unarmed condition
and without direct approval of the
government were disinclined to sail.
Then came reports from all over the
country that the holding up of Oul
ships was causing freight congestion
and that the people were unable tC
get their goods TO legitimate markets
The Peace Propaganda.
Then along came a note, supposedly
from Germany. which intimated tina
the emperOr's government was willin!
to reopen negotiations with this cOun
try with the view TO avoiding war. bu
coupled with the refusal to conside
in the debate any modification of tn,
submarine order.
Then seemingly II was proved tina
this note did not come from the Ger
man government, but expressed tn
m - Of one or two active German
y hizers in this country VIII
We're IN sympathetic coalition wit
some peace-at-any-price persons VIII
seemingly were willing to hamper tn
American administration in its effort
TO do it's duty not only by peace bu
by the United States.
Then Carranza, the Mexican. fired
shot. In truth ii was only a verba
shot. but it was intended to hit tn
United States and to injure it in il
! foreign relations.
On the top of this came the new
Of an attempted revolution in Cuba.
| country over which America exercise
a sort Of foster fatherhood.
Add TO this list half dozen othe
/ things, and one can readily understan
reasons for the worry and anxiety G
! official Washington.
There have been two camps of opir
| ion in this city ever since trouble
| threatened. There were a few me
| who wanted almost anything don
| rather than that war should come, an
| there were a few men who believe
that already the provocation was S
great that the country could not longe
withhold a declaration Of hostilitie
without losing It's standing as a coul
try insistent on its honor.
The president of the United State
| during all the troublOus times has bee
literally pelted with hail of con
munIcations from all over the Unite
States.
1t makes no difference what a man
partisan feelings are or what his view
are concerning peace or war when
comes to a matter Of sympathy wit
the administration which has bee
under a crossfire for weeks. Mr.. Wi
son has been bombarded with adviC
and with entreaties until he ought
be able to qualify as a veteran Of Il
firing line.
Red Cross Well Prepared.
The American National Re
Cross is moving into Its new an
beautiful building situated between c
lonial hall of the Daughters Of Il