The Washington herald., 1918-03-04

Public ownership and installation
of an automatic phone system-ad-
mittedly the best in existence
would bring all manner OF desirable
changes.
But Congress will not grant either
just now in spite of the indorse-
ment. so a number OF the members
think. In the first place there are
too many other things to do. The
war must be attended to. the mem
bers say. and then will come the
changes.
There are a number OF the menu
bers who think that If the POST
office Department attends to its
work during the rush period OF the
war it will have all that it can do.
There are innumerable directions
in which the service can be bet
tered in the East and it will take
,the Postoffice Department working
overtime to do things it should do,
without encroaching upon other
fields.
John Sharp Williams, Of course.
sounded the slogan of what will be
a general call to reactionaries to
stand against many things pre-
sented in the name of exigencies of
war. when he made his speech de-
claring against negro woman suf-
frage," and so on. 1t was the cry
of the men who used to stop prog
ress. and who were able, for many
years, to Stave off the attainment
of many progressive steps in our
government. The progressives of
the Senate and the House. as well,
regard it in that light, at any rate.
and they are ready to go to bat any
time John Sharp wants to on almost
anything he can name. One of the
distinct surprises will be the
strength which the woman suffrage
amendment will have in some OF the
Southern States, too, they add.
The very interesting subject of
farm labor-something which the
food raisers of the country are
bringing their minds to bear upon
with all intensity with the coming
of spring-was given attention in
the Senate. And it will be given
further attention. For the fact is
the members have been receiving an
impassiohed assortment of appeals
from the home folks. urging Con-
greSsional consideration of some
thing to help out at this time. There
is no question, from the tone of the
letters. that all forms of farm ac-
tivities will be greatly cut down
the country over unless something
is done. For not only is there a
general decrease in the number of
available farm hands but the work
is left in the hands of those who
are least able to attend to it with
dispatch and with discretion. too, in
many instances. The subject is Sc
rious and further discussion will
signalize the sessions this week.
James ShorthilI. farmer, who
represented the Cooperative Farm
and Livestock associations of eleven
States here most Of the war session,
wired to Hoover the other day.
Don't let McAdoo unload on you.
He hasn't the cars and should know
he hasn't. II he has. tell him where
he can very quickly pick up food
and then see him hedge" The facts
are. according to Mr.. Shorthill, the
cars are not forthcoming. and Mr..
oilOi llhC " nave NIL
Adoo come out in the field with him
and he would very quickly take him
to ten or eleven States where this
is the case.
Mr.. Brisbane said Mr.. Bryan was
twice a candidate for the .Presi-
dency. He should have written 1t
''thrice"-for doesn't he recall 1896,
1900 and again in 1908? It was
three times and out for Mr.. Bryah,
too, though he had hoped so de-
voutly that It would be in"
The idea of taking a little time
of and gbing home to get acquaint-
ed with the District is pleasing a
number of the members. While
they declare that the expense would
be rather sharp at this time, many
of them are ready to bear 1t, for
they believe in the long runtheir un-
derstanding would be enhanced and
they would be in far better posi-
tion to do good for their country.
The labor situation and the market
ing situation, as well as the ap-
proach of the liberty loan, make
the moment propitious. We wonder
If Congress really will lean toward
the idea with sufficient zeal to adopt
it?
Shortly the members Of the con-
-