The Washington herald., 1918-09-06

much of senator Lawrence Sherman's
efforts to discredit the administration
and to give his rhetoric chance to
make unusual flights.
Really, there is little to commend
the Ilinoisan's speeches to the public.
There is fun in them. perhaps, but
that Ia all-but fun that could very
easily be left to some time more
appropriate than when we are In the
grim business of making war.
IT'S a pity that two serious MINDED
individuals cannot be sent TO the
Senate from a great state Ike INN
ols. The oddities of the Democfltic
Senator and the crudities OF the Ee-
publican Senator from the Middle
Western State are all right I'D tnef
place-but are very m :cn OUT OIL phace
when nc; are being killed by tire
hundreds in a war Tnicn suhsea
straight at our sx'ctence.
Pink vests and green-corn SOCKS
and carmine whiskers go very well
on the stage where life is depicted
by those who remember 1t only as
long as they remember their INES
And a lose tongue, and waving arms
and rhetoric richer with expression
than it is with thought is acceptaoie
in a dramatic contest But these
things should not be visited upon
patient, serious minded, patriotic
Senate when the calendar is fuii OF
business that should be attended 10.
Not that either ]. Ham Lewis OF
Lawrence Sherman could not make
desirable Senators-if they only re-
solved to do away with the tinseL
They both could do better, II they
only would.
]. Ham could shave his whiskers
there are dozens of BARRIERS In the
city who would perform the task
for the right to display the eaten
in their show windows-and Sher-
man could drop his idiosyncrasies.
And both Of them by doing away
with their oddities could muster
sound Judgment, and reserve ana
dignity in place of the lurid quail
tiles they now possess. The result
would not only be beneficial to the
men themselves, but to their con-
stituents who certainly have been
sufficiently regaled with their per-
formances not TO need more Tor
some time to come.
Senators like these two in their
present makeup are luxuries. SEN
ators with sense and dignity are
essentials nowadays. There Is no
reason on earth why both of them
should not get out of the former
class and into the latter-and do II
before the people themselves decide
to take a hand and perform the
operation.
Americas efforts to win over the
complete confidence of the South and
Central american peoples is COM
mendable-and we hope, with all ear
nestness, that it will succeed to the
utmost.
There are signs, however. that some
of the problems are not being ham
died with that wisdom so charac-
teristic of the wisdom seen in some
Of our departments. The South and
Central American republics them
selves are having their amusement
over it-and It is this that draws 1t
to our attention-and we hope from
the stir which some remarks have
created that information will be gath
cred on this before it is everlast-
ingly too late.
Big men are needed to carry on
the work, in the first place. The
State Department canpot afford to
toy with little men when the work
ahead calls for the utmost in dis
cretion and foresight and business
and diplomatic courage.
Then we must know our ground.
We must make a study OF the con-
ditions in each and all of the coun-
tries concerned. II there are differ
ences between them we must know
what they are and figure out ways
and means to meet them and per-
haps to bring about their settle
ment. We must work wisely, but at
all times upon the most reliable in
formation. Work founded upon in
complete and inaccurate informa-
tion will not only have to be done
over again but it might make it
impossible to retrace our footsteps
no matter how much we would try.
There are selfish American inter-
ests working day and night for
themselves and without though of
their country's welfare. These con-
Germs are doing much to hamper the
development of trade relations with
the Southern and Central American
countries and moreover are building
up barriers which may be insur-
mountable when the time comes to
take final diplomatic steps with
those countries. These selfish con-
Germs should be dealt with firmly.
If they stand in the way of their
country they should be set out of
the way. If they are serving other
interests than their country's inter-
ests. at this time, they should be
taken in hand and compelled to
desist. Perhaps, in some instances,
they should be punished.
The Administration. the State De-
partment's highest officials and the
people generally want everything
done to produce amity and friendship
with other countries of our hemls-
phere. We should work toward that
end. The men who are responsible for
the shaping of our policies should see
that this is being done-and they
should take only the word of those
subordinate whom they know will
give them all the information.
Much depends on this and the time
is ripe to start in the right direction.
Vance Mccormick, Democratic na-
tional chairman. has taken an interest
in political affairs. finally. and much to
the surprise of some of his friends. it
is against the interests of the Demo
cratic party's gubernatorial candidate
in Pennsylvania. The substance of
the charge seems to be that the candi-
date is too near and ear to the cause
Of Penroism in the William Penn COM
monwealth.
If Mr.. McCormick's charges are we'll
grounded-and they must be on view
now Of his frankness in stating them
publicly-they should be investigated
and set up as a lesson to the Demo-
Gratis OF Pennsylvania. There is no
political organization in the world en-
titled to name its own and the "en-
emy's candidates as well. The ma
chine which accumulates such vast