The Washington herald., 1917-12-15

the administrative Offices, SO is 1t q
time TO shut down the mills of dema-
gogery and OF deceit. There Is no
more of a demand for dema gogs now
than for profiteers, or selfish monopo-
lists. Both are insidious enemies of
the people. and Of the country. Both
can only do harm-and both. IL they
are given leeway. will only do harm.
The people must be discerning in
their selection of men. They must be
able to tell the demagog at sight, and
must have force to put him aside. just
as they must have force to insist upon
the subjugation Of the profiteer.
And in this process a great work
lies ahead of the newspapers and
magazines OF the land. There must
be no suppression OF their just rights,
no encouragement to their wide cir
culation. The newspapers and maga-
zines must continue to be as honest
and as fearless as they have been in
the past-and to be posse ssed of the
same intense loyalty that has charac-
teriZed their activities uniformly for
many years. There are profiteers in
the newspaper business and monopo-
lists and mouthpieces Of the danger
Gus interests. And there are dema-
soeS dllOhS wv iSuS biio fAb
lie knows where to seek them, and
can soon learn in some remote cases
where It does not now know.
The patriotic man of the present
and of the future-must be not only
willing to contribute money and blood
to his country's cause, but he must
be willing to live in daily sensitive
contact with his country's laws and
the public servants upon whom is
rested the burden of enforcing those
laws.
Democracies are safe only as the
people make them SO. Our democra-
cy. because It leads all the rest in
the world, must be made safer than
ever through the active and united
participation of all the people in
its affairs This appears to be the
view Of Congress now-ahd If Con-
gress sees that the export trade law
threatens our national existence it
will be quick to remove the cause.
There appears to be some demand.
now that the Anti-saloon League and
its friends see victory ahead in the
fight against strong drink, for a sup
preston Of the smoking of cigar
cites.
The effort. 1t may be put down
now. will find no general indorse-
ment in Congress. The leaders are
divided on it, indicating no united
action, and the rank and file of the
membership are strongly against it.
The belief is that this reform should
be left to deal with after the peo-
pie have spoken more conclusively
on it Anti-cigarette laws have not
been submitted for public approval
or rejection. The only record of op-
position is had from some dry work
ers who, now that they see themselves
out of active work, must discover
some reform in which they can con-
tinue to lead great public movements
at $50 much per annum."
Rather wisely these Anti-Saloon
Leaguers, however, have not shown
their desire too openly. The demand
for a national fight on cigarettes has
come from their close friends, MEM
bers of other anti-liquor organiza-
tions. But these men know what the
result will be II they can interest the
dry forces In such . movement. They
know that q fight of similar dimen-
saloon fight will be started and that
theirs will not be only some of the
glory. but a great deal Of the cash
Of the venture.
Congress is not willing to leap into
this breach. And particularly at q
time when the demand Of soldiers for
cigarettes is increasing. Congress ap-
pears not ITO be willing to cut of the
harmless liberties allowed our fighting
men.
The people must speak decisively
and extensively before Congress takes
I'D the anti-cigarette bludgeon. Per-
haps If the anti-cigarette forces know
this now 1t will save them some
trouble and their temperamental but
designing friends, the Anti-Saloon
League workers, q great deal Of en-
barrassment.