The Washington herald., 1918-06-22


who plays opposite J. Ham Lewis of
that State-committed the same indis-
cretion his colleague did the other day.
He sought TO make statements about
ill-advised and founded on an utter
misunderstanding of the facts.
As with his colleagues remarks
Senator Sherman spoke of the Russian
situaH Hon with its japanese modifica-
tions. This is a situation which re-
quires discreet handling. Neither Sem
ator Sherman nor his colleague has the
necessary Information. disregardinG
the necessary poise. TO speak for this
country. Both of them. think their
fellow members, would do well. there
fore, to restrain themselves. and to
make other matters. less important TO
our welfare. the subjects upon which
they may express opinions to the
American people.
Had the good roads movements years
ago grown to such proportions in this
/ nation as many good roads boosters
would have had them grow, We would
now be in a much better position to
encounter the internal rigors of war.
No question of this statement is
found among members of Congress
who have given the matter some at
tentiOn. In fact, the very plain opin-
ion is expressed by some OF the dis
cerning members that we would do
well to pay considerable attention to
good road matters, even with the enor-
nous increase in our other expenses
Eventually we must depend upon the
roads. they reason, and we will save
ourselves money in the long run IL we
will go ahead and complete them now.
The wide use of the motor truck
something which has surprised some
of the anti-road legislators of other
days-has been responsible for opening
the possibilities of countrywide road
development to us. The cost of trans
portation is much lower than it was
felt it could be made. and it promises
to be reduced gradually as the country
learns more about highway transpor-
tation methods.
Congress will probably take on i'm
mediate steps to aid highway develop
ment-that is, steps beyond what have
already been taken. But one of the
first reconstruction or post-bellum
measures to be considered will be leg
islation of this nature. And when the
time comes, so We hope, there will be
less objection than came from some
interests when II was proposed to have
a great network of permanent high
ways in this nation available for this
new method of transportation.
If we have settled upon an
economic solution Of Russian trou-
bles-which some of the members of
Congress say is true, from their re-
ports from the lower end OF Penn
sylvania avenue-we still have the
military aspects to consider.
The members believe economic
intervention in Russia must be fol-
lowed by military Intervention
and the strange thing is that the
Russians themselves. when they con-
slider the question OF submitting to
economic Intervention will feel that
eventually a concession in this direc-
ton will also mean concessions toward
military intervention. This is the
phase of the affair that will bring
trouble so some of the members
fear. They believe the German
propagandists will utilize it to the
utmost and to our disadyange.
Prohibition and woman suffrags
are very much to the fore just now
and the Indications are that. both
will be disposed Of BY the time an
other week has gone by. This. per-
haps. will be for the best. IL they
can be definitely settled. For as
long as they are before Congress,
in a suspended way. they are apt to
be the causes of some little trouble
in connection with other legislation.
If prohibition carries, naturally
the States where 1t is not now effec-
tive will become upset-and the in
dustrial States, particularly,. where
our great war work is being done.
The prohibitionists have obtained
the passage of the national prohi-
bition amendment to the Constitu-
tion-and this appears to us to be
enough for them now. They should
call off their fight and straishtaway
so home.
The suffrage question probably
can be settled with definiteness only
one way-the way the prosuffra-
gists want it. If they get this they
should leave Congress alone-and
they very probably will do. so. II
they do not they will continue the
fight Congress, it appears, can re-
lieve itself of the matter by vot-
ing Aye and not by any other
method can this end be achieved.