The Washington herald., 1918-07-12

Taking the measure OF men VIII De
one OF the principal occupations Of
voters of the nation during the next
three and a half months.
The result will be the election Of
those men whom the people OF the
various districts deem fit to come TO
Washington to represent them-and
the defeat OF those men whom they
deem not as well fitted as their op-
ponents to perform that duty.
In Michigan the voters of the State
will take the measure OF Henry Ford
and of William Alden Smith who is
quite sure to oppose him. In taking
that measure the efforts OF Henry
Ford along peace lines will be con-
sidered-and those who have con-
tended with some vigor that Henry
is not At to be a Senator will go over
his record with a fiine-tooth comb to
gather evidence to sustain their con-
tentions.
Probably the attitude OF Mr.. Ford is
best indicated by a letter which he
sent to several OF the congressional
leaders under date OF December I.
1915, and which We reprint here in full
so that you readers may Judge of
Henry's fitness-or the opposite II you
have 1t that way-for the place he
seeks
We print 1t without friendly or un-
friendly comment. 1t appears to US
to speak for itself. Judge of 1t reader.
whether on this showing and the
maneuvers of the good ship Oscar the
Second, you would bar him-and IL
what you know Of Henry's meteoric
rise in the business world you would
Judge him to be less desirable for the
voters to send here than Mr.. Smith.
The letter follows:
81 take the liberty OF addressing
you, in behalf of the suffering ma
tions of Europe, and enlisting your
support in an earnest and positive
effort to establish peace.
las the largest of the neutral ma
tions, the duty devolves upon the
United States of America to do every
thing in its power to help to stop
the devastating war under which our
brothers in Europt now lie PROSTATE
and to bring about a condition of
peace and good will that shall be
permanent.
''In no country do the common peo-
pie wish to fight. Upon them the
burden falls heaviest. This is well
known. But it has also been ascer-
tanned by delegates to the belligerents
that the rulers and diplomats them
selves. even those who rushed into
this struggle most blindly, are tired
Of the strife and earnestly long for
peace. But they feel that they can
do nothing on their own behalf. The
diplomatic machinery has broken
down and been swept away. A rev.
erence for traditional military pro-
cedure prevents any plea for peace
on the part Of belligerents lest IL
be construed by their enemies" as
a sign Of weakness.
This deadlock cannot be broken
except by the Intervention of those
who are friendly to the people of all
nations, and It Is this thought that
has prompted the peace expedition,
which will sail on the Oscar II, De-
cember 4. This ship will contain rep
resentative and respected citizens
drawn from every part Of our country
and from many walks Of life. II
will be a ship with a constructive
mission. Its only ammunition will
be spirit of helpfulnes and a de-
termination to heal the wounds of
bleeding Europe. It's only weapon
will be a wireless instrument which
will constantly radiate peace and good
will to all peoples. Its slogan will
be: "Out of the trenches before
Christmas, never to return" ana this
we will expect TO accomplish by CO.
operating with representative citizens
from other neutral nations many of
whom have already signifed their
faith in the expedition and their de-
sire to assist
But Americas duty is two-fold.
This nation must not only offer its
mediatory services to the warning
nations; II must also set a good ex-
ample. We cannot ask the rules of
earth to lay down their arms, dis
band their armies and dismantIe
their navies. IL at the same time we,
misled by a hysterical cry of pre-
paredness," present the revolving
spectacle OF engaging in a mad, ex-
| travagant and uncontrolled increase
Of both our army and our navy.
This tremendously important
matter. this most vital question of
all that now confront our people,
is In the hands of Congress. There
fore, we cannot feel that the pri-
vate delegates on the Ship OF Peace
can reach the highest degree of
success as they sail abroad. they
| areksupported at home by the ON
: cinX Iexislatfyo Representatives