The Washington herald., 1918-06-07


made of ways by which Russia can
be saved from herself.
All of them are interesting and
most OF them are important from
Americas standpoint because it is
a matter of some concern to Amer
lea what becomes of Russia.
Mr.. Rumely, of the New York
Evening Mail insists with a show
of asperity. in fact, that American
machinery will save Russia, and
that it is needed there at once in
a great amount.
Insofar as machinery will bring
other results in the processes now
going on in Russia Mr.. Rumely is
right. But insofar as the direct
benefit of American machinery is
concerned. it appears to many men,
bers of Congress that he is dead
wrong.
Mr.. Rumely proceeds in a cour-
ageous. highly entertaining way To
tell several members of the Senate
in copies of his statements receiv-
ed by them, what has. led to his
conclusion. But he forgets that
back of the machinery which plows
lhC lHC SttuSi
and then harvests the golden grain
and transports 1t to market and
then turns it into food, there must
be a brain fit for the task and At
to understand the government I'M
der which the plowing and planting
and harvesting must be done.
American education is what is
needed in Russia. Until some system
founded on our own uneXcelled edu-
cational system is had there is little
hope that Russia can come to her
self. When she does attain a real
place in the educational world Rus
sia will take care of herself in an
ample way. She will meet her local
problems with precision and ingenu-
ity and loyalty, and the minority
will understand majority rule, and
the majority will rule along the
lines which will bring Russia into
her own.
So we supplement Mr.. Rumley's
statements with the statement that
while. Russia is getting machinery
to produce food. she should also be
furnishing herself with the machin-
cry. to produce good citizens-the
machinery of education. without
education the plowshares will rust
and the binding machines will de-
terioriate and flour mills will be-
come as a hindrance to their as
pirations. With it Russia will
thrive.
Congress is again being felt out
with respect, to the proposal to i'm
port Chinese labor for the period
Of the war. Several members have
been discussing the matter with
some intensity lately-some of them
in favor of the proposal and some
of them very much against it.
There are many reasons given by
the members why they believe the
United States should not allow it.
self to make such a bargain at this
time. They. are detailed in about
this way:
First. Japan would be opposed to
the proposal.
Second, union labor would not
relish it, nor would that large
group of unorganized labor in
dustries. which while opposed to
some of the foundation stones of
union labor still resents any en-
croachments upon its own pre-
serves.
Third. our own Pacific Coast
States would oppose it.
Ali i=of the probable forces of op-
position are worthy of attention,
but particularly the first which
should in itself be reason for
defeating any attempt at importa-
tion Just now, many of the men,
bers think. For they say Japan
is our ally at the present time,
she Ifs doing many things for us
and she may do much more before
we are through with the war. We
cannot, and should not, offend her
at this time by deliberately taking
ground which is a slap at her.
The situation can better be left
alone in our humble opinion. than
brought r with trouble upon us
through too. ambitious desire to
handle, our Internal problems in a
new and unique way. .'.
Senator Owens statements yes
terday on the decision. of the Fed
eral Supreme Court in the child
labor case: makes 1t plain that he
believes the work of one judge, who
would~haye been necessary to make
majority for sustaining the law,
defeated the expressed will of the
Congress of the United. States, of
the, President, and Of the people of
the nation
He suggests that one very par
tisan way ous of the difficulty would
be the enlargement Of the court BY