Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-05-06

ond g~1s>;a-ss

| A DAY in Washington will quickly convince .
| n the visitor that this war business is beng
taken with all seriousness in othcial circles at the
| capital When went up to the War department
to call on General Crowder found board renee
barricade across the hall just inside OF the doors
with sentry at the gate and an information desk
at each side to which | was directed and where
had to sign up numbered blank, giving my name,
name of person sought after and nature OF busl,
ness. After this was passed on by some sort OF
censorship scrutiny | was assigned to the escort
OF a colored trooper who accompanied me TO the
particular office was looking Tor and also, Ten
eral Crowder happening to be out escorted me
back again to the entrance. This process, un-
derstand, is the regulation system followed there
since the declaration of war, chances being
taken on interlopers breaking through the lines.
The White House is also under guard, to say
nothing of the women suffrage pickets who are
still marching up and down with their banners on
the sidewalk approaches. The other departments
not so warke in aspect but it IS strictly bust
ness everywhere except in the halls OF congress,
where the customary oratory is being poured
forth to handful OF listening members and lew
stragglers in the galleries.
heard the speech of former Ambassador Ger
ard at the newspaper publishers banquet sharply
attacking Champ Clark and the New York Even
ing Post | think the consensus of opinion was
that, whatever the provocation for diplomat Mr..
Gerard was decidedly "undipomatic" N his re-
marks. He either forgot, or did not realize that
he was the guest OF an association of which the
New York Evening Post is member and in his
outburst was in fact assailing one OF his hosts,
which, to put it mildly, is gross breach OF
decorum in any society. The lapse recalled
similar occasion when the late Mayor Gaynor in
duged in furious TRADE against William r.
Hearst and his newspapers in speech delivered
at an Associated Press banquet-for which he was
called then and there. The publisher OF the New
York Evening Post came back at Mr.. Gerard at
the business session the next day and it is doubt
full il the episode, as whole, raised Mr.. Gerard
in the estimation of those to whose favor his
speech was intended to appeal.
This banquet, by the way, was spread for 300
people at a charge OF $40 plate-in other words,
it was an $4,000 dinner-and heard more than
few deploring the extravaganza that called for
such reckless lavishness by the very people who
are daily preaching economy and the simple lite.
By way Of offset, let me note observing in Chi
cago that all the downtown hotels and restau-
rants had conspicuous signs posted for their Gus
toners, announcing Friday will be a meatless
day." and were, was told, in agreement not to
serve any meat orders one day each week.
On the train came across my old friend, Pro-
fessor Edward A. Ross, well remembered as head
of the department OF sociology at our University
OF Nebraska before he went to Wisconsin univer-
sity. Professor Ross has heightened his reputa-
ton greatly by his special Investigations into
social and economic conditions in China and
South America and is now perfecting arrange
ments to go to Russia next month and undertake
a sociological survey there. He is convinced that
Russia offers the most interesting and fertile field
for this sort of study and looks to marked de-
velopment there of great deal of advanced So
cal, industrial and political activity. Talking at
random, Professor Ross told OF having been once
delegated, while out at Leland Stanford univer-
sy, to represent the faculty on the athletic board
which divided between two candidates for the
position of manager of the football team. sup
posed to pay about $780, or enough to pay the ex
penses of the boy in college.
1T just happened that mine was the deciding
vote" said he, "and | voted for the young fellow
who seemed to be best fitted and most deserving.
The boy to whom | refused the prize, however,
it later turned out, was none other than Herbert
c. Hoover, who has been making good so WON
derfully in Belgium and who is now to supervise
the food regulations for the whole United States"