The Washington herald., 1918-07-20

The Observer will take a trip next
week to begin n search OF American
hearts outside the National Capital
to learn what the rank and file of
the people are thinking and what in
fiuences they deem most necessary
to instill into our changing govern
mental affairs.
For instance, we will inquire wheth-
er or not there is the remotest dan
ger OF American popular opinion sup
porting any other than a thorough
and American-made peace.
We will inquire whether the people
want to continue our present revenue
raising system or whether they want
to supplant IL by other forms which
We have not yet tried, but which
may appeal TO them as more equita-
bic.
We want to know. also II the gov
ernment operation of railroads is such
as to encourage them TO own the
roads-or IL their experience in the
Postoffice Department has been suffi-
cient to show that autocratic hold of
some things might not be the best
for the people.
And we want to know a multitude
OF other things In which the people
are interested and which may be OF
interest to us ALL We have heard
the opinions of official Washin gton
and politicians and the ex-parte folks
for months past. And God made so
many of us common folks we hope
our opinions count for something
Anyway. we're going to find out
what the opinions are and we're 60
ing to serve them up daily for a time
for the readers of this paper.
Champ Clark simply won't hear to
the suggestions of his friends ami
others that he make trip out of
town for a few days and perhaps
indulge in some political talks while
Re is going or coming.
THE law says I cannot be away
for more THAI Il day. in that | cam
net name a Speaker for longer than
that time. Hence I'm going to stay
here the Speaker said to US yes
tsrday.
And this is the decision he's going
to abide by, como what may. HIS
conscience Is 50 much on the job
apparently, that 1t will compel him
to remain here during he hot weather
when some Of his colleagues are away
enjoying cool breezes and salt water
DIS.
DR.. c. Secord, the man who as much
as any other was responsible for keep
ing the president of Guatemala in the
path of rectitude when the affair with
Germany began to get serious. is in
the city and doubtless will call on
the State Department to learn some of
the ideas entertained there by our Of
ficials. DR.. Secord is an American of
unquestioned integrity and loyalty
and the motives which have actuated
him have been of the highest-and in
thorough accord with het Presidents
motives. The objection to some Of the
Central American countries Is that
they have been playing with German
fire and that their leaders did not ap-
pear to be in entire harmony with
the idea of Pan-Americanism. Mexico
naturally Is one of the countries
where much of the German propa-
ganda has been INDUCED In and from
which have gone forth influences at
work in nearby countries. Our coun-
try has many citizens in the lands
where the Germans have been work
ing most assiduously and while they
have been able to do much, not all of
them have been able to accomplish the
same results DR.. Secord has. And
not all of them have been in a coun-
try as well governed as Guatemala.
Sir Frederick Pollock recently dis
cussed with rare grace the question
of open negotiations in treaty making
with foreign nations. He pointed out
some Of the obvious defects Of giving
public view to all stages of the
process and said:
II must not pursue this topic fur
ther, but of two things I am sure.
One is that the cry for what is called
democratic control of foreign policy
Is rooted in the wholly fallacious as
sumption that democratic States are
uniformly or eminentiy pacific In their
external relations; the other that, IL
those who demand ii could have had
their way during the last twenty or
thirty years. we should more than
once been in imminent peril of war
with at least one of Our present al
lies.
There is yet another substantial
reason for the position OF the foreign
office in face Of the house OF COM
mons being peculiar: The intimate
connection of the foreign secretary's
work with the prime minister's.
"1n practice, under our norma;
scheme Of cabinet government tfen.
IL is too soon to generaiize from war
conditions. nor Is this the occasion
to speculate on eventual permanent
changes). the direction Of foreign
affairs y much more win tho premier