The Washington herald., 1918-02-14

Acting upon information which he
has from various sources. President
Wilson has made IL known to Aus
tria what encouragement America will
give to her clamOr for peace.
The move must unquestionably be
encouraged. No other word is so
quickly understood by n nation in
Austria's position as a word of SYM
pathy. of aid, Of encouragement. And
that is what President Wilson has
provided.
II the effort does not result sue
cessfuIly at this time II will at least
give spur to future efforts along the
same line. The accumulative value Of
all such efforts will be to bring peace
nearer and nearer, until it is as last
won.
1t is plain to see. from the world
politics being played in the open.
that Germany is weakening. 1t is not
difficult to see, either. she does not
possess the same astuteness in the
forum that her statesmen boast she
displays on the field of battle. This
is not so much the fault of the men
who are playing the game. however,
as it Is of the perniciOus system
of autocracy. the foolish, untowaTd
bounds of which restrict and con-
fine her to the great disadvantage OF
the common people.
German autocracy is slowly but
surely proving its own undOiRg. And
just as slowly. but as surely, de-
moeracy is winning its way into the
hearts of a world sick and tired of
war, and anxious. oh, so anxious.
to partake of the fruits OF the free
dom that comes with democracy.
Thus does the American Congress
In a word regard it-and from this
| angle will do those things which are
helpful to Americas cause in the
achievement Of a lasting peace.
The American people note with ap-
proval the desire OF the President
now to take into his confidence mem
bers of both parties in Congress This
is as it should be. A sympathetic
| contact between the Executive De-
partment and the Legislative Branch
is necessary always. IL the country
is to go forward. But it is doubly
necessary during such a crisis as
we face. The President IL bearing
great burden and is achieving great
things for Americas cause. But the
| American people are those whose aid
| makes it possible for him to achieve
those things The representatives of
the American people, the members
| Of Congress. want to bear their share,
and II is right that he should share
with them some of the war man.
agenlent. For. after all, 1t is the
peoples money and the peoples lives
the President uses in his fight.
-
II will not be the fault of Con-
gress IL failure is met during the
spring, summer and fall for next
winters fuel supply. A broad pol
icy upon this line is to be deter
mined shortly, at the coal admins
tration. it is said. and the hope of
congress Is that labor to meet the
emergency will be forthcoming. Some
OF the stories brought to Congress
indicate that this will not be as easy
problem as 1t would have been
mad mines been kept running last
fall, at the outset of the Garfield
administration. But the hope is that,
IN spite OF the decided setback, the
future viii enable us to make suffi-
cient headway to guard against short
ages next winter. The people of the
NceANAS H0'O ooihO IitCTebI IN Tnll
problem, and will stand for no ex-
periments from now on. Theories NAV
be given trials at times when the
nation stands near the brink of no
peril. But when danger threatens
none Of the people care to see the
ories utilized to the exclusion Of good,
common 'hoss'' sense.
Farmers Of several OF the Mississ-
ippi Valley towns have written in
to their representatives in Congress
and said, why the meatless days
II our supply of meat, which we
have gone to great trouble and ex-
pense to raise in greater quantities,
Is not to be sold in the market ?
What are we to do with it?" The
problem is not extensive, SO IL Is
sai6 on good authority. xha hope