The Washington herald., 1918-01-28

The influence welded in other coun-
| tries by the Bolshevists is finally seen
| in our own land. 1t comes here from
| England. where it also exhibited the
| same uncanny kind of power that
makes US all believe II will grow rath-
er than deterisrate, at least during the
progress of the war.
In England the release Of Marin
Livitinoff signaliZed its gripping Of
the British heart. Here the efforts
of the President to reverse proceed
ings in the Mooney case show that
the Bolshevists cause is very real and
very important to US.
In England the Bolsheviki agents
let 1t be known that unless Livitinoff
was released British representatives
in Petrograd and other parts of Rus
sia would at once be thrown into Jail.
In this country it is noticeable that
the Presidents interest in the Mooney
case came at a time when the Rus
slams were threatening to take unus-
ual liberties with our own representa-
tives in that country.
Just how far German intrigue is be-
hind this It Is hard to say. At the
Capitol there are many who believe
that the Bolshevilxi are acting quite
on their own initiative, and that lead
ers Of that turbulent cause have the
| situation well in hand without inter-
ference or spur from Germany. There
are others at the Capitol. however.
who fear that German brains are die
tating the big plays made by the Boil
| shevih leaders, and that the cause.
on that account, threatens US more
| than we may realize.
At any rate 1t is not time for Amer
| lea to be too greatly encouraged over
the Russian situation.
| There is one bright spot in the
movement, however, which may be
lost sight of in the multitude OF i'm
penetrable things the leaders are do
ing. But for the sake of finding one
thing about which we may rejoice we
must point It out. 1t Is that the Boil
sheviki demand Is not putting in a
menacing appearance alone in the al
! lied nations. but among the peoples
of the central powers as well. The
Austrian people seem to have caught
the spirit of the Russian rebellion,
and although we are denied public
reports from there, the undersurface
statements are that the fame is being
| famed by a high storm of popular
! demand for an ending of the war
This storm may grow to a sufficient
| size to impress the German empire.
and to emphasize the demands which
are coming from thousands of German
| Socialists and pro-peace advocates. II
| the Bolsheviki movement can make
firm imprint on Germany. and be a
means to bringing quicker concessions
on the part of Wilhelm, II will not
have been In vain, although It may
have been the means of Offering some
embarrassments or disappointments
| to our own cause.
The Bolsheviki will bear watching
The movement is not only interesting
but 1t is important. and eventually it
may exert enough influence on the en-
tire world to bring 1t to a realization
of what its inherent principles are.
One very important link In the chain
with which it is planned to encircle
the advocates Of efficiency and reor-
ganization of war matters, a leader
who has been very active lately, took
this attitude in speaking to one of
his colleagues:
LET us put down this Republican
revolution before it makes great head
way. II the war cabinet or the NUM-
tions director bills carry, It will be a
rebuke to the Democratic party. And
it is our duty to protect the party"
Still another. who is aiding in crack
ing the party whip, talked to one of
his thought-to-be neutral colleagues
along these lines:
I'VE don't want to let these bills
get far. While some of our Demo-
| cratic members are for them hon.
| estly and sincerely the aim Of this leg
islation is to discredit the Democratic
party"
Men who take this view Of the leg
islation are guilty of playing poll
tics to the same degree that men are
| who want to urge the legislation,
merely so they can put the Democrats
| in a hole.
| 1t Is just as disastrous to the well
fare of the country at large to de-
fend the present arrangement, on the
ground of politics, as II is to attack
| it on that ground.
The man Who lines up against the
legislation because It is intended to
i remedy defects Of the system imposed
by the present administration, is Just
| as thoughtless of his country as is
the man who endeavors to throw dis
credit upon the present administra-
tion because 1t is Democratic in fiber.
The two men quoted above have re-
peatedly said. during the past week.
that 1t was IAN outrage" for men to
play politics IN the present smer-