The Washington herald., 1918-06-10


| to the nations in their treaty-making
would doubtless prove a preventive
for what has pervaded Europe. The
| need of publicity has not been mani
fest to the same degree in this na-
ton, however. We have been singu-
| larly and commercially free OF what
has harassed Europe the most. We
| have been able to avoid the very
things which brought on this NAM
moth imbroglio in the old countries.
1t may be that Senator Borah de-
sires to set an example-knowing
Americas opportunity to do this
| which will be followed after the war
| in all nations. We think perhaps that
this is his ultimate object. The moral
effect of American initiative in this,
| of course. would be to awaken the
desire of the democratic hosts of
every nation to demand the same
thing. In this respect Senator Borah
has hit upon a novel solution for some
| of the troubles of other nations. and
incidentally, has seen a way whereby
II can be remedied by our own ma
| ton. without the charge being lodged
| against US that We were endeavoring
| to shape the diplomatic policies of our
allied or enemy nations.
Omaha. Neb., is to embark in the
ice business this season as a munich
| pal project. The legislature of that
| State gave the municipal water dis
trict the authority to enter this field,
| and the people have grasped their
| opportunity eagerly.
Some objection was heard from the
| allied ice companies, however. and
there were echoes of the affair heard
even in this city. A pitifuIly apparent
attempt was made to persuade the
Food Administration that no more
companies were. needed, and that the
! launching of this new industry was
incompatible with the desire of all
patriots to reduce the initiation of
| new work of this and other classes. 1t
was also. suggested that IL would be
| an unpatriotic act to give the city
/ Ice company a chance to get ammonia
| for the manufacture of its product
Both considerations were erased. how
| ever. when the Food Administration
had clear idea of what was taking
place and despite the complaint of
| private ice companies of the nation
the step will likely be completed with
out further objection.
The effect, of course, is to give the
people a better ice service and a
price Of reasonable proportions. The
muny' Ice plant will not be oper-
ated as charity affair, by any
means, but it will pay no more profits
than are warranted. and the profits
will go directly into the pockets OF
the people themselves. 1t will be con-
quoted Just as the water plant has
been conducted-with the utmost busi-
| ness caution, but with the utmost in
business returns to the people them
selves.
senator J. Ham Lewis statement
ABOUT million men abroad and his
more than optimistic statements OF
various kinds from time to time. nozt
or them wholly unwarranted BY the
facts, bring us again to. the subject Of
the honesty of public servants with
the people they are presumed to
serve. -
we have steadily adhered to the be
iiet that the people should know the
truth-and that no matter how bad it
Is tney VIII be better prepared, in
knowing it, to combat with more ha-
tience and better effect either an in
ternational enemy or a gigantic eco
nomic disease. The Biblical ipIunc-
ton to know the truth and "the truth
shall make us free is applicable this
year and next and the next, and will
continue to be applicable Just the
same as it was when uttered. ]. Ham
Lewis may not have meant to deceive
the people in his utterances-we doubt
II he even stopped to weigh the effect
OF his words-but our downrsght
opinion Is that no man should be per-
suaded. either by his ambitions or his
friends, to speak until he knows what
ne Is going to say and has checked up
carefully to see IL it tallies with the
truth.
1t is not asking too much Of a public
servant to do this. 1t would be tunfair
70 the people to ask him to DO less
than this.
More than inspiration is coming to
America now. from the splendid way
IN which We are getting into the war
We have come to a realization of its
seriousness now-both officials and
the people-and efficiency has re-
placed inefficiency and grim deter
minations has supplanted a rather
marked apathy. !
This means, in short, the extermina-
ton of the fiendish Hun systetn which
compelled our entrance into the war.
IL means that our own national ideals
are to be impressed upon the world
with more OF the doctrine OF lovo Il,
IAt fhnn ne Hnns nennf r.. .nna r