The Washington herald., 1918-05-20

Two great lessons should come out
Of Mr.. Creel's late experience. which
preceded his abject apology to a House
committee chairman.
First. men who aspire to be states
men should be careful not to talk too
much. They should weigh their words
carefully. They should think before
they speak. and they should think
calmly and considerably and toler-
antly.
The second lesson is that the people
themselves should take care. insofar
as they can. in the men they choose
to be their statesmen. This is a time
for courageous men who have ability
and judgment. 1t is a time for men to
be elevated to Office who have stability,
discretion. and poise. Doubtfully con-
structed men along these ines slould
be left alone altogether. The people
should avoid them as they would
avoid a scourge.
If we were in Russia's predicament
we might find some reason for al
lowing men of slight discretion. inn
mature judgment and half-developed
ideas to occupy high places in our
midst. But we are not in Russia's
position. We are supposed to he lead
ing the world in all the best thought
and we should lead the world. We
can only do so by putting men of
ability and judgment into our high
seats.
A very sharp question has come up
between certain members of the pres
ent Congress and il would not be sur
prising if action upon some phase OF
it were taken before the present ses-
sion adjourns.
1t hangs around this tenn. which
recently appeared in a trade news
paper:
IF we are to avoid a coal famine
we must take cars from non-essential
industries and convert them into coal
carriers. Recently at Detroit three
hundred cars were taken from coal
service and were loaded with automo-
biles consigned for a distant point
Drastic action by the government be-
comes more imperative every day-No
excuses will suffice next winter if the
people are required to wait in long
lines before coal sheds, with the Their
mometer below zero and less than
enough coal in their bins to last them
overnight"
The situation. some OF the members
insist, should be given attention right
now. Something must be done that
will save US from serious difficulty
next winter. If people want automo-
biles and other so-called luxuries now,
instead of coal next winter. well and
good. BUT members say they do not
believe the people want the luxuries.
They believe the majority of the peo-
pie want drastic steps taken now, in
order to assure us of coal next winter.
And if the people cannot get these
steps through the ordinary channels
there are some of the members who
believe legislation should be passed
forthwith giving US a chance to pro-
tect ourselves.
One of the most drastic steps taken
in England has been the almost COM
plete obliteration of the operation of
automobiles as pleasure cars. There
are some of the leading men in war
work mere now who think America
should very shortly take the same
step. We hope we are not in such
bad way that we have to do it, but in
view of the talk on the hill and in
certain of the executive departments
here we think 1t Is somebody's duty
to tell us just what the situation is.
Who among all our government ex-
perts here-dollar year men, partic-
ularly-will speak up and give us the
exact truth of the situation? Who'll
be first? Come let US hear.
There are three classes Of persons
who oppose the levying of more taxes
during the present year to meet the
war demands.
One class comprises those who look
at 1t solely from a political stand
point. They think the Democratic
party would be injured by the levy
and frankly say that it should be
postponed until after election.
Another class believes that no fur
ther levy Is necessary. This class has
not made careful study of our needs
and its estimate must necessarily be
said to be based on ignorance of our
program and a lack of conception of
the scope Of the task ahead of us.
The other class believes that
agencies already created should be
depended upon to meet the needs.
They think we have provided enough
means for raising revenue and that
the sincerity of the people can be
trusted to compel them to buy war
savings stamps and liberty bonds and
the like. in a sufficient amount to tide
US over the hard portions of the path.
They seem TO make the fatal mistake