Semi-weekly herald., 1917-08-02
WAR ABOLISHES POLITICAL
PULL In UNITED STATES


death when America went to war. 1t
was, in fact, first on the casualty list
of old-established customs which
have met u sad fate since Uncle Sam
began to battle for democracy. Care
full investigation today proved this.
The politicians, congressman, senat-
ors, professional lobbyists and influ-
0ential citizens are still staggering
from the blow.
But bit by bit it is being borne in
upon their consciousness that Wash
ington is a great world war capital.
Go into any of the teeming depart
ment offices today and you hear men
on all sides debating frigid and
squelching replies to judges, county
chairmen, state and local politicians
from Maine to California and from
the Great Lakes to the gulf of Mex
leo explaining to them crisply ex-
actly what has happened.
Here's an an example heard in the
office of a cabinet member replying
to a plea for special favor, regard
less of the welfare of the nation,
from certain big politician and of
flee holder in the middle west:
Dear Judge:-
81 have your letter concerning
Blank Blank Blank. must decline
to make any recommendation to the
Secretary of Blank concerning the
disposition of matter which, is af-
ter all, his own business.
Very truly yours"
Today came a letter from a Cham
ber of Commerce Secretary in mid
western city begging a once influ-
ential Washington politician to use
his influence in putting across an
aviation training camp for his par
ticular city. The politician sat down
and wrote this reply:
"Don't waste your time trying to
get politicians to plug for you. Do
not send lobby down here to put
the thing over. 1t won't do you a bit
of good.
Politics has been absolutely elm
mated from this war. Merit alone
wins. Make your application direct
to the proper authority for what IL
is worth from the standpoint of war
efficiency. That is the only basis
on which it will be considered any
how.
"All the government departments
have been three weeks ahead of con-
gress at every jump in the road since
the war began. They have forced
congress into everything it has done
and they have not time to listen to
wishes of political favor.
In peace times department heads
had time to listen. Some of them
did. But now, they don't have to.
For the first time in their lives they
are in position to tell congressman,
senators and professional politicians
to go to hell, and they certainly are
doing it."
The selection of Des Moines as an
army cantonment site is another case
in point.
Sioux City was wild for the camp
it learned that its big lobby, its let
ter writing campaign, its personal
pleas from Senator Kenyon and all
the other frantic efforts it had made
to land the camp had been of no
avail and that st. Paul had been the
chosen spot.
Immediately Sioux City setx up
plot against st. Paul. 1t produced
exhaustive reports to show that st.
Paul was the only wet spot for many
states around and that Sioux City
was morally better than st. Paul
for the troops.
Result: The war department re-
called its decision in favor of st.
Paul.
OFF for home went kilograms from
the Sioux City lobby yelling "We've
won.'
But no sooner had they turned
away from the telegraph office and
hot-footed it back to the war depart
ment to hear the sweet word that
Sioux City had been chosen than
they were met with the announce
ment that the camp would be at Des
Moines.
Now not only had Des Moines
never asked for the camp, but it was
the home of Senator Cummins. who
was looked upon as not at all friend
ly to the administration and who had
never lifted his voice to make a sim
gle plea either for or against the
location of that camp.
The Sioux Cityites were furious.
They were informed that after they