The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1918-01-11
WASHINGTON LETTER

exported 6O,OOO,OOO worth OF goods
to Russia by way of Europe and Asia
during the first nine months of 1916,
and 1856, 100000 worth during the
first nine months of the current year.
Prior to the European war our ex-
ports to Russia averaged about $780,
100000. How much of the 1916 and
1917 exports to the Land of the Bear
will fall into the hands of the Bolshe-
Wiki? Now that Russia is apparently
out of the struggle, will this marvel
Gus growth in exports be credited to
Mr.. Redfield's activities as salesman
of American goods in countries outside
the war zone?
| During the first part of Mr. Wilson's
first term about dozen Congressicn-
al investigating committees were ap-
pointed, known as smelling commit
tees" to track the wolves of big bus
mess and "insidious lobbies" to their
lairs, drag them forth and strangle
them before an admiring populace.
This pack started on the roundup
with Wilson master CT the hunt. AT
ter months of shifting, and no end of
expense, they dug out one small field
mouse, Mulhall, by name, who was
said to have made five or six thousand
dollars posing as a legislative scene
shifter. He was so utterly irrespon-
sible that the whole matter was drop
per, and no reports were rendered.
This session some more investiga-
tions have started. Already a sure
enough trail has been struck and more
has been brought to light in few
days than in as many months when
the smelling committees were at
work. For one thing, Congress is
exasperated because of the attempt
of the War Department to saddle
blame for delays onto the legislative
branch. For another, there are sever
al Republicans on the investigating
committees who spent the interim be-
tween the two sessions of Congress in
little quiet inspection at first hand.
No one need be surprised if some big
game is pulled out by the tail in the
course of these Investigations OF
that the game had fattened for long
winter on "cost plus" conracts and
other food from the public crib. Re-
sponsibility for many delays in war
preparations has now been fixed. The
public may get little peek inside to
see how it's money is being spent.
Thesinvestigations are bound to prove
salutary.
Arthur Brisbane, in his own paper
the Washington Times-lets the cat
out of the bag. Discussing the pas
sage of the prohibition amendment by
Congress, he warns the South that if
their representatives and voters in
sist upon this invasion of the "person-
al liberty" of the North, the North,
when it's turn comes in the swing of
the pendulum of politics, will retaliate
upon the South by insisting that the
colored men down there shall be free
to vote s.they please-something, de-
clares Mr.. Brisbane, which they are
not now permitted to do. We do not
care what the moving cause may be,
! but any such a movement to secure
equality of civil rights in the South
will be welcome to those who believe
in constitutional government and in
common honesty in politics. The con-
fession which Mr.. Brisbane makes re-
garding che manner in which the
South is maintained in state of solid
Democracy is interesting-almost as
interesting as the fact that the truth
had been blurted out in an excess of
anger over the rum question. 1t is
another demonstration of the old La
tin adage; In vino veritas.
1t must be clear to every observing
and thoughtful person that America
has not yet realized the magnitude of
the war task she has assumed nor de-
termined to make the sacrifices neces-
sary to it's speedy and successful ac-
complishment. The American people
either do not understand the need for
self denial, or they are unwilling to
make the sacrifice of personal comfort
and qualification.
There are illustrations on every
hand. The diamond and jewelry bus
mess is as thriving as usual. Pleasure
automobiles are as numerous as ever
upon the streets. Theatres are at
tracing crowds that fill space to
standing room. With a shortage of
freight cars, loaded cars are left
standing on the side tracks awaiting
the convenience of consignees. With
the railroads unable to handle their
passenger and mail traffice, relatives
of men in the training camps make
even transcontinental trips to visit
the soldier boys, thus hampering the
government in supplying their needs.
In almost every line of merchandise
and service, business is going too much
on a peace basis instead of adjusting
itself to the needs of war.
And this is true not merely of pri-
vate business but of public business
as well. The administration is con-
tinuing many activities that could as
well be curtailed or discontinued un-
til the war is over. Admissions re-
luctantly made before investigating
committees show that government de-