Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1917-10-11

iEe uproar ia congress because OF
h charges made that some Of the
members were not above suspicion u
having profited through their pro-Cer-
man activities, has not Yet died away. !
II was and probably always will be
impossible 10 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 Ia
See as n goes over the record Of
the past what II was that led II con-
gresham 10 give voice To his suspi-
ZION 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-eierinaniSm, but the activities NJ
many of the members prior TO the en-
try Of the United States into the con-
EIcf made II appear thnt ut that time
the!y 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 conver-
sion.
Senators and representatives are
human and a 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
sibillty Of defeat at the polls ut the
next election there are senators and
representatives who yield to the temp
tatlon to hedge in their expressed opin-
ions 50 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 devei-
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 bcsh ends
against the middle"
May Tell Their Names.
There Is n belief in Washington
which amounts almost to conviction
that In forthcoming additional dis.
closures concerning German In
trigue in this country Secretary Ian.
sing viii give the names of persons II
the capital against whom proof OF &C
tivity in behulf of n foreign power has
been secured.
The recent publication of the detail.
Of plots Matched in the United State.
BEFORE this country declared wa
against Germany. and before Coun
Won Bernstorlf had received his dis
missal papers, carried with it the
names Of some persons and orcaniza
aIolS dliVStif NbllllSNlNN WIN tHC Plok
making. 1t has been believed in Wash
ington, however, for a long time tina
Mr.. Lansing has in his possession tn
names Of persons in this city who ar
more than suspected OF being carrier
OF tales and information to Count VOL
Bernstorf at his residence on the Ter
, race overlooking Massachusetts ave
nue..
One day the secretary Of state Wen
. SO far as TO say to a group Of IIsen tina
, among those to whom he was talkin
were several who he knew were actin
us instant carriers Of information con
. corning his daily conversations to tn
German embassy.
Washington correspondents knew
!, Secretary Lansing well enough to un
/, derstnnd that, cautious as he is unde
all circumstances, he would not hav'
, said what he did unless he had goo'
, proof Of the truth Of his words.
!, was somewhat later than this that tn
/. secretary gave an intimation OF tn
, possession Of material which. II mad
public, would convince the American
, people beyond any kind Of n doubt tina
| German agents were seeking to divid
, this country against itself to the ad
. vantage of the kaiser's cause.
Disclosures Well Timed. 8
It Is nothing ley for Washington t
t realize that suspicion IS directe,
against certain persons in this capital
There Is realization today that per
/. haps the secretary of state has done
wise thing In spreading out his dis
closures concerning German intrigue
He has timed each disclosure 40 that
. would come coincidently with som
( attempt on the part Of Germany to be
cloud the issues or to secure peac
virtually on its " terms. The VOl
g Bernstorff message with It's request 70
n $4,000 fund to influence congress
and the Won lyle disclosures came a
most simultaneously with the answer
Of Germany and Austria to the pope
peace proposals. In the days that hav
D elapsed since the disclosure was mad
there have come additional reasons I
. make II seem certain that the Vol
3 Bernstorff material was given pub
J licity then because the moment wa
, thought to be the right n 10 which I
strike.
The Won BernstOrf influences wer
felt In all ranks Of Washington society
After his juniors had been sent ava
, because Of their discovered plotting
against the good Of this country. tn
/, ambassador remained here and no ia
as o~f,cialdom was concerned was II
. -A-.st.. Anoo,so no had mt heel