The Washington herald., 1918-04-24

MemDer8 OF the senate discussed
yesterday, with some acrimony, the
position of this country with respect
to a war declaration against Turkey
and Bulgaria.
Former Secretary Of State Knox,
particularly. showed some vigor in his
discussion OF the subject, and with
out doubt demanded what many
Americans ARE today hoping to see
cleared up.
Senator Pomerene agreed that 1t
was not at all out of the way, or
necessarily detrimental to our ma
tional interests, for the Senate to be
given an official Interpretation of the
situation.
This. 1t strikes most men, would not
be out of the way. The pressing need
of the hour was unconsciously shown
by Senator Shafroth when he stated,
in an interruption Of the Ohio man,
that "the President knows many
things about the situation which we
do not know" 1t strikes us that 1t
is incumbent upon the Senate, or at
least a portion of that body, to find
out some OF these things.
The day of open, frank and above
| board diplomacy would hardly permit
of any other handling of the situa-
ton. Even some of the Democrats
and the question, of course, Is not to
be thought of in a political light at
| all-agree that daylight diplomacy
means a public discussion of just such
matters as this. II it does not then
Senate application of the principles
of daylight diplomacy is at fault.
Daylight diplomacy, in short, means
| daylight democracy-and happens to
be precisely one OF the things We are
fighting for at this time.
1t Is impossible to conceive that any
good can come to our cause, or that
we can harm the Kaiser to any con-
siderable extent, by denying the re-
ports of submarine sinkings from time
to time. 1t the Germans do not know
the exact totals, they at least know
approximately the exact tonnage
losses, and we are fooling nobody but
ourselves when We utter false state
ments.
And fooling ourselves as to the sit
uation is so dangerous a proceeding
| that we seriously doubt il anyone
who has Americas cause at heart will
indulge in it at this period of the
| war
| Last week many papers carried the
foolish story that only three or four
| American ships had been sunk by
submarines since we entered the war,
and that since the war had been go
ing only forty had been forced down
| by this means.
| The table given out by the Nauti-
cal Gazette, which many officials here
accept as final and entirely reliable.
shows that since the war has been
| going seventy-nine American ships
| with total gross tonnage of 20c, 700
tons have been sunk-and that fifty
eight of these have been sunk between
| the dates of April 6. 1917, and up to
January 6 of this year.
With these facts facing US why
minimize the cost of the German sub
| marine warfare to our shipping? Why
not face the situation and make our
| efforts to curb the German spirit Just
| that much stronger?
Let's tell the truth and fight hard.
No compromise on the Overman bill
means that a fight to the finish will
be waged in the Senate, with the
probable result that the measure will
either be defeated or considerably
| amended. OF the two situations fac
ing this legislation the latter seems
most acceptable. so a number of
Senators on both sides stated yes
| terday. The amendment Of the meas
ure will not be as serious as to ham
per the efforts Of the administration
to reorganize our war activities.
Much of the reorganization already
| accomplished will be showing results
by the time action Is taken on the
Overman bill and much of It that
was needed can and will be brought
about without reference to that or
to any other legislation.
As Col. Harvey has stated in pub
lie. there is no crying need for this
legislation in order to win the war
The President now has power to do
things that are needed and he can
do them without further legislation.
All he needs is the inclination to
see things the way Col. Harvey and
others of our nation well-wishers see
them.
Interest attaches to the Supreme
Court decision affecting the division
of Virginia and West Virginia and
the damages which the latter State
must pay after half a hundred years
of litigation. The court provides for
reargument of certain points of
the controversy. When that Is had
the soqEt 81 Ns take Il from ths
8 3. gtss. - 4 -t.s5I- +. s.55.,. -