The Washington herald., 1918-01-11

Americans now see, when their
President has spoken. that some of the
aims for which we are fighting are not
necessarily the causes OF our entrance
into the European war.
This is quite natural, and no unusual
disturbance should accompany the
Presidents announcement. We are
firmly bound to the allies now. and We
must OF necessity stand with them for
certain things for which they are con-
tending. 1t is right that we should
do this-although We might expect, II
we. could hear from the pacifists, that
this should not be the ground upon
which We agree to a termination of the
war.
Congress is glad that this is so, with
cut question. The members have been
convinced. since the rather sudden
but probably expected request of the
President in April for a war declara-
ton, that the end of German autocracy
can only be brought about by attain
ment OF definite. hard-and-fast pro-
gram with respect to world affairs
Such a program is outlined in the
Presidents message, and If Congress
knows America, it Is a program for
which this country will pledge every
thing.
This latter fact, duly impressed upon
Willy-across-the-sea may be a most
potent factor in bringing him around
to his senses. 1t may be. in fact. that
1t is his recognition of this now that
makes him rather anxious 10 discuss
the subject Of peace. Congress frankly
looks for something tangible to be ac-
complished within the next month or
two.
A former national Republican leader,
a man who is still very much in the
counsels of his party, said yesterday:
TT is a pity that the President in
dorsed free trade in that third para
graph of his fourteen ragraph
statement of American war aims. We
did not go to war to establish the doc
trine of free-trade in the world. There
are some Of us who have been doing
everything we could to help out this
war, who do not believe in such a doc
trine. We hope the President will
amplify this part of his statement be-
fore we go much farther"
Some of the members of Congress
to whom this was repeated declared
that it might be well for this Repub-
lican leader to wait bit before he
offered his criticism. The President,
We may be sure, is not endeavoring
to play the political game in the worlds
arena. because he has fought singularly
shy OF playing such game. even in
this country. On fact, in this respect,
he has sometimes greatly disconnected
some of the democratic moguls.) 1t
might be that 1t would prove profitable
for the Republicans to wait until they
launched their opposition against this
principle. A complete explanation of
the offensive" paragraph may induce
the Republicans to indorse it with
vigor.
In truth, we shall expect to see some
Of them later confessing that they
spoke too hurriedly.
Congressman Lundeen and T. r.
have made up, since the Kansas City
Star article in which the latter called
the former "a shadow Hun" Mimeo-
graphed copies telling the story of the
makeup have been given to some of
the leading members of both houses.
The story is told in a couple of
thousand words but here 1t is in a
few sentences.
Said Congressman Lundeen: '1 did
vote against war but I took a referen-
dunn in my district and the majority
vote was strong against fighting. /
regarded that as a mandate to me to
vote against war. But I hope to see
you, T. R.. going to Europe at the
head of a formidable unit-and I want
to command one of your companies"
Said T. R.: 81 can see that you
thought you were doing right. I'll for
give you. You're good American. 1
hope I can go to Europe-yet. And
IL do I'd like a good American like
you to go with me-"
Nice. isn't it?
We are steadily making toward a
better understanding of Japan, ac-
cording to the statements of sew
eral members of Congress who
have been studying the situation.
And as we learn more about the