The Washington herald., 1918-08-26

Senator Lodges acceptance Of the
Republican leadership means that no
further dispute will be had over that
honor. II belongs to the Bay State
solon without dispute. He will lead
his party. too. to some of the most
interesting drives ever attempted In
the American Senate and particularly
during the next two months when the
most difficult problems will surround
him as a political general
Senator Lodges speech, initiating
his leadership. shows clearly what the
attitude of the Republicans will be.
He means to leave the impression
and the move Is a party one. largely
that the Republican fear Is that
President Wilson will negotiate peace
sooner than II should be negotiated.
He makes 1t clear that the Republi-
can viewpoint will permit no such
q step. But in this respect, we fear.
the Republican move will go sadly
awry for we very much doubt II
President Wilson has any such plan
in mind. The development of the
question. however, will be interesting
to the observers, and not entirely
disadvantageous to the people of the
nation whose affairs 1t is so closely
identified with in every way.
Senator Penrose thought to get a
dog-hold on the administration on
Saturday by insisting that the new
man-power legislation was nothing
more nor less than the Fall amend
ment contemplated in July, and that
the White House defeated II then only
so that 1t could bring it up now on
its own initiative.
The fact is the present legislation
is precisely the same as was indorsed
then by both Secretary Baker and
Gen. March. Neither these officials
nor Senators Chamberlain or Hitch.
cock. who explained the administra.
ton viewpoint to the public, wanted
the Fall amendment attached to the
army appropriation bill then for two
reasons: First, because negotiations
were on with Great Britain and
France relative to men to be furnish.
ed for the 1919 campaigns and, sec.
ond. because full details of the legis.
lation had not been looked into a,
that time.
Senator Hitchcock made his points
SO conclusive that Senator Penrose
did not reply-and probably the New
york paper will not do so either.
some members of Congress who
nave been sightseers on the battle.
nelds of Europe have returned home
only to make political capital out OF
tneir trips. The stunt Is an Irregular
one and disgustingly plebeian. We
nope 1t will not be resorted to gen.
erally. 1t Is not fair to the candi-
dates who oppose them nor to the
people whose votes they expect ID
solicit through this means. II there
are men who should not be in Con-
sress, a trip to the battlefields will
not purge them. They should be
right from head to foot without
tne trip. II they are not they should
not be allowed to make the trip o:
to profit by 1t in a public way. after
tney 90 SO and return to this coun-
try. -
Marked opposition to the Gompers
attitude on the Thomas work -or-fight
amendment to the draft bill has been
heard from some directions, The
eventual success Of the fight against
the amendment Is assured. however.
now that the administration has
taken hand against Il. But 1t is
not hnal to yield to the impulse IN
this way And we find hundreds OF
men In Khaki who agree positively
In this. But II the fight is nut of.
now 1t will be staged later, And
when the men In khaki return from
Europe the matter will have its full
share Of attention. The claim of ship.
builders to strike for a dollar a day
more when they are now obtaining
IS and - day Is not granted by
the majority Of the men of the coun.
try-though the majority with theii
minds full Of reason and sanity are
| not able to attend to the troubles
which have arisen as a result of the
demands Of some men who lacl
reason and sanity. This is one OF tn,
great problems Of reconstruction
which will occupy the attention of oui
men when they get through doine
their task abroard.
Labor has unquestionably beer
ground into earth hundreds of time.
In the past twenty years. But nov
that labor occupies a formidable
place It Is succeeding quite well II
doing a little grinding Of It own
And the process Is more gruelling be-
cause II comes at this time. We hops
that those responsible for II will bs
subjected to torments galore In tn,
days to come and that those pro-
fiteers-whose deeds are as grave and
a. destructive OF splindid morale--wil
be Joined with them ana made e
suffer the sane serious penalities