Grand Forks herald., 1917-03-09
Friend John:

Friend John:
At last fame-real fame-is mine!
I made my speech today. It was
great, John. I wish you had been
in the gallery to hear it. OF course.
you've heard that my filibuster killed
bill. But even II it had come to a
vote. they would have KILLED 1t. They
couldn't have done otherwise after
my speech. Chautauqua managers
have bombarded me with kilograms
all day. so perhaps. after all, you will
be able to hear 1t. But I'm afraid
that it will not sound 30 eloquent. so
chamber this morning.
remember. People had heard that I
was going to talk the bill to DEATH"
and. shortly after sunrise, they COM
menced crowding into the galleries.
When I entered. the people leaned
forward to get glimpse Of me. There
was no ovaton-that is an audible
one. but felt that that vast crowd
man who yet will live in history"
Then. when I got the floor, they
seemed to communicate their spirit to
mo- I realized that was fighting for
them. I realized that I was fighting
for all America. and it filled me with
noble desire to stay this bit Of ma
tional cynicism," as John Galsworthy
has 50 ably said. in his wonderful
play, The Mob" When I started to
me: Shall we turn the searchlight
of history upon yet another piece Of
national cynicism ?" "Searchlight Of.
history!" What a wonderful way of
putting 1t! But have directed its
rays elsewhere. .Modesty forbids men,
tioning upon whom they shall fall.
Gentlemen Of the senate" How
empty sounds that recognition. Can
we call men who seek war, who OPEN
ly boast that they want to sink Ger
man submarines, gentlemen? There
were few OF US, though. knew
could count upon them to speak, II
failed. Mr.. Gronna, Of North Da-
kota. for instance. can always
count on him. for he does just what
I do. anyway. Rather q small way
OF doing things. III admit; but very
You know that, John.
cover two years ago." I said to the
senate. Americans condemned Ger
many for her murderous march
across Belgium. For months, our
country shuddered at the awful heta-
tomb the kaiser had wrought. Now.
gentlemen. the president proposes
that that we do the same thing. Not
that we steam across the high seas
the free seas-and destroy German
submarines; that we take from them
their last means Of defense: that we
kill the only hope that women and
children of that isolated country have
Of getting food. Shall we let this be?
Shall we say to Mr.. Wilson: Go you.
Mr.: President, into the restricted
army, II needs be, and destroy the
German feet! Help England and
France and Russia win this war;
help them crush an enemy that 10 too
big for them!' say we must not. It
is none Of our business Our ships
have no right in that restricted area
Our citizens have no right to travC
to Europe. There is nothing there
for them. II they are wont to travel
upon belligerent ships, they must take
the consequences. But we must not
arm our ships that they may have
safe passage. We must not let our
ships out Of their harbors, for they
land-engines that will destroy Ger
many"
said all that, John, and a lot
more. When I finished, felt that I
had writ my name high. OF course,
you and may not live to read it up
on the tablets of fame, but we have
the satisfaction Of knowing that our
children will.
There are a few disloyal men who
condemn me, but, thank God! they
are very few. I should be in a sorry
plight If should follow them. I
am too patriotic for that. love my
country too well.
I expect to see you soon. John, and,
then. I shall rehearse the whole stir
ring scene for you. Bob.
Dear John:
am uneasy this morning.
dreamed an awful dream last night.
It has rather disconnected mo. It
has robbed me Of some Of the glory
felt was mine
dreamed that I was sitting in my
ONCE at the capitol Just after I had
delivered my speech against the pres
idents bill: There came a vision
that Of George Washington. He
looked at me-he had a terrible face