The Washington times., 1917-12-09

( port to Congress deals with the
Great Hereafter to follow the war
AS has been observed, Hereafter
is a long time"
AS we are just BEGINNING to think
of it, Secretary Lane seems to have
thought harder than any one else
On the street, when a man delivers
a real idea. we recognize it by the
high compliment: you have said
something"
This belongs to Secretary Lane as
I he has reported to Congress that il
! we become great enough to be
humble, we can become real masters
of men, conquerors of the invisible
kingdom Of mans mind"
Secretary Lane has certainly "said
something" We are otherwise in
formed that Humility" is the science
of keeping ION our base" with our
feet on the ground, instead Of being
"up in the air"
It has also been said otherwise
that as soon as we learn to do our
best in science, or in any other way,
we are likely to do our worst, if some
one does not stop US.
But as this can never occur unless
we are "of our base" Secretary
Lane seems to have covered the
Hereafter in his advice to Congress.
Although the Hereafter is a long
time" We may expect to make the
best of it when we are not "off our
base" and up in the air.
When the Senate resumes recon-
sideration of the bill to Promote
Export Trade and for Other Pur-
poses" it will have before it the
Cummins amendments. They were
partly considered Friday. Then the
Declaration of War took precedence
Export trade may not seem a thrill
ing subject. To some, this bill, with
the amendments, seems almost as
thrilling as war itself. For it may
have the question of bread and meat
in it-at home as well as abroad.
The bill is in the interest Of the
most powerful corporations of the
United States. They have at times
controlled the American market. II
would be a great thing for them and
for the country, if instead of con-
trolling at home, they would control
abroad. The Cummins amendments
virtually make the bill over again
perhaps, not as the great corpora
tons want it, but as Senator Cum
Minis thinks the people who need
bread, meat and clothing want it.
AS he has said, sweeping aside
"de,icacies Of phraseology." the bill
might be construed to give the con-
troll at home which is asked for
abroad. This might come under the
words, "other purposes" which are
usual in titles Of bills. As they are
explained only by discussion, educa-
tion may proceed when the bill comes
again before Congress.
At times, American goods have
been sod cheaper abroad than at
home. But our great exporters are
doing great work for the country.
After the war, they will do more
They do not wish to leave us the
sGueal Of the pig and export all of
the rest as a surplus" On questions
of bread and meat, however, educa-
ton in the meaning of "profiteering"
may need first aid frolI Congress as
soon as possible.
Neither House nor Senate being in
session yesterday, the interest in
Congress belonged chiefly to the at
mosphere of the Capitol. And the
atmosphere was pcrvaded by the
question Of taking over" or eco
Ordinating" the railroads, with or
without Thousand Million Dollars
to relieve their war sufferings.
We need d new hitch on language
We can coordinate" without takinr
over. If we take over" however
we must coordinate also. In either
event, the suiTerings of the railroad
managers from war are made morr
acute.y painful by "co-ordinated"
suiferings from anti-monopoly
clauses In all acts since the United