The Washington herald., 1918-03-06

In 1916 the Republican national
platform contained a Federal rail-
road rate-making plank. 1t was put
in there. OF course. to square Mr..
Hughes with his decision in the
now famous Shreveport case.
But the Democrats shot grapeshot
and canister at that with their
heavy artillery They insisted that
this was return to Capitalization
OF the most insidious sort and that
it should never, never be tolerated
in this nation.
Put in the railroad bill now being
whipped into shape in conference the
Democrats have gone the Republi-
cans one better. and maybe two.
They have centralized in a way that
! puts TO flight all their contention
Of 1916.
Several reluctant and unambitious
delegates to the st. Louis Demo-
cratic convention of 1916, men who
had long heads but no long hair
insisted among themselves that the
Democrats should have a Federal
rate-making plank in their platform
mo, no." said some of the lead
ers. The Republicans have such
a plank and we can make votes by
assailing it. That's good stun here
in the West We can make 'em
sweat before they get through with
it."
And they did-and they made ap-
prcCiablc gains for their ticket on
this account, among others.
The only purpose OF writing this.
at this time, is 10 let the people
know that plans OF mice and men
and politicians sometimes so astray
and often conflict with their previ-
Gus plans. 1t is the most notorious
! example i'm national politics in many
years and there is n possibility that
this fall the matter will form the
theme of some stump orations over
the country. Barely possible. we
should say.
Col. Harvey seems bent on making
note of Secretary of War Bakers
brothers connection with some COM
pany or other in Ohio which is
doing work for the government The
sin, so we arc led to believe. is not
in this so much as 1t is in the fact
that after the Baker brother was
supposed to have retired from the
company he Is still found to be con-
nected with II. We very much doubt
whether Col. Harvey is doing him
self or the country any good by
this so-called expose The coun-
try is not so much interested in
keeping contracts away from men
as II is in letting contracts to men
who are willing to give full value.
At least, Congress takes this view
of it.
If such a thing could be brought
about as bringing Herbert Hoover
and the farmers of the West to-
| gether for a frank and comprehen-
sive discussion of the troubles now
besetting each, it would be a great
step forward. Mr. Hoover is con-
sldering the matter now, so we are
informed. He can do good by fol-
lowing up this lead, and the ma
ton and the farmers, we are sure,
would profit by it. Numerous Con-
gressmen endorse the idea.
Ambassador Gerard is not being, or
has not been. consulted by the Pres
ident as often as some of the for
mer ambassadors friends think he
| should have. There may be some
basis to this, and we doubt not, IL
the President does not care to talk
to Mr.. Gerard, that the executive
has good reason for doing so. But
1t is inconceivable that the Presi-
dent cannot find something of in
terest in what information Mr. Gei
rard has. Certainly an effort should
he made to find a point of sensitive
contact.
The mysterious Mr.. House has a
fund of information on all subjects.
of course. and is valuable member
to the White House society Just