The Lamar register., 1917-03-21


known as the Potomac Military
Road" from the city of Washington
to the government reservation at Win
throp, Maryland. The route TO be
followed included Fort Washington
and Fort Foote on the Potomac river,
the Indian Head proving grounds, and
other federal establishments. Cooper
alton with the highway commission of
the state of Maryland was provided
in the measure, and the collection Of
tolls on the road forbidden. The bill
failed Of action during the short ses-
sion, but will probably be reintroduced
and pressed for consideration in the
new congress.
Flood Control by Levee System
An earnest advocate of the leyee
system for the protection of the lower
Mississippi valley from floods is SEN
ator Knute Nelson of Minnesota. The
senator's opinion has been formed as
the result of first-hand study Of the
river from its source to the Gulf. He
declares that the scheme Of building
dams TO impound the flood waters be
fore they reach the lower river is i'm
practicable, because it would mean
the overflow Of far more land than if
the water were allowed to run un-
checked. Mr.. Nelson believes the gov
ernment should contribute Literally for
the maintenance of the lcvees and not
require the people Of those regions
to pay half-and-half at this time, as
they have spent such large sums on
the project in the past.
Stone Stays
Many newspapers in many parts Of
the country have made an effort to
have Senator Stone displaced from the
chnirmanship Of the committee on for
eign relations. Many citizens and or
ganizations have also tried to get this
change made. But all to no avail.
That particular Stone will remain
about the neck of the committee.
Whose Head VIII Fall?
/ The report that ex-senator Kern is
to be made member Of the boundary
commission causes wonderment as to
which of the three men who now hold
down those well-paid jobs is 90 re
tire The sole republican member Of
the board is congressman Tawney
of Minnesota and the two democrats
are ex-GOv. Glenn Of North Carolina
and ex-senator Gardner Of Maine. II
/ is, Of course, inconceivable that "a
I North Carolina democrat should be
severed from the payroll during this
administration; but there Is no such
friendly feeling in White House circles
for d Maine democrat since that state
went so strongly republican last fall.
So maybe Mr. Gardner's head will gu
in the basket in order to make "a place
for Kern. It is by no means impossible
that the president might displace Mr.
Tawney for this purpose. The law
creating the commission does not pro
vide, we believe, for mandatory mi
nority representation, and the admin
istration has never shown itself very
keen either in keeping republicans in
office, even when the law required it.
Proceeding Deliberately
Everywhere the arming Of American
merchantmen is Interpreted as mean
ing war Yet no nation ever set out
upon such a venture more calmly than
America is going into the pathway Of
hostilities. To those of US who can
recall the feverish days Of 1895 and
10 that fewer number who remember
the excitement Of 1861, there is some
thing uncanny about this. The military
condition Of the country, to be sure,
is not such as to excite enthusiasm.
Quite the contrary. And we hope that
the calm seriousness with which we
are apparently marching into war
means that the real mind Of the ma
tion is finally concentrated upon our
needs with a determination 10 go
through to the end with whatever is
necessary.
All Will Cooperate
The prompt compliance Of the news
papers with the administration re-
quest for silence regarding the move
ment Of ships is proof that all the