The Washington herald., 1918-07-18
We admire George Creel.

We admire George Creei.
We say this advisedly because we
have thought, with our hands in the
air. that he would never rise to the
emergency in the present affair Eut
he has done so.
He has suffered many things, but
apparently mas measured up to the
standard. and will profit by the many
attacks which have been made upon
him. This is a test of his Ameri-
canism. and it will, We are sure,
make a better official out of him.
No men who have really amounted
to anything in public life, have been
free of attack in many things. The
men who have made good have been
those who profited by the attacks
and who rose to the occasion and
did things afterward. This is what
George Creel is doing. He is ad-
hitting his mistakes and is profit
ing by them to an extent which even
surprises some of the members of
Congress.
In this connection we cannot help
but feel that President Wilson knew
perhaps that Creel needed some
STRENGTHENING out" but that he
would get in abundant measure once
he took public office. II the Presi-
dent thought this his expectations
have been met. Moreover mis- ex-
pectatlons with respect to an in
crease in CreeIs broadness of vision
have been met.
The fre of public attack is a
good thing, after all. Men who are
worth while survive II and gain by
II. Men who are not big enough
for the position fall down uilder it
and wither away. George Creel
has apparently grown stronger. and
we delight in this because the
change is so essentially American
We would lose faith in American
institutions il we did not see it op-
crate effectively now and then.
What will be the attitude of Ameri-
ca on the next revenue legislation?
Members of the House and Senate
are going home to find out this thing.
1t does not seem to us, however, that
any great amouEI of research is nee
essary to determine this. The people
are manifestly so strong for taxation
Of luxuries and leveling the incomes
OF the rich that those who have much
must suffer the more or less eXcru-
ciating pain of having it taken away
from them.
What will come of the idea no one
knows now, of course. IL the inten-
tion is to stave off this matter until
after election there is a possibility
that some of the men who would be
hardest hit will not be hit-or that the
common people may be harder hit
than they now appear to want to
be touched"
We do not feel that the best judg-
ment of the party In power will coun-
sci the delay OF this matter, however
We feel that the people of the coun-
try know the need for raising excess
sive revenue and are willing to go
about the task in a sensible and
straightforward fashion. II the mon
ey must be raised-and 1t must no one
denies-it should be raised as soon as
possible and in the most discreet man.
ner possible and with fairness to all
classes of people. For all classes of
our people must contribute their share
to the winning of the war. in this
connection.
This angle will appeal to the work
ers of the party in power we are
sure. And the revenue legislat ton
will be forthcoming before election II
II is humanity possible to put II
through before then. OF this We are
sure, for we are sure that this very
practical side will appeal to the men,
bers of the party in power.
Colonel Roosevelt and his estimable
wife, the mother OF Lieut.. Roosevelt.
will have the sympathy OF the entire
country in the loss of their son. And
while it brings sadness to them they
will doubtless feel the Rooseveltian
Joy at having shown the fiber OF their
family to be of the highest patriotism
and devotion to Americas cause.
There are other American fathers and
mothers who have suffered the same
as the Colonel and Mrs. Roosevelt are
suffering today. 1t is the democracy
of our cause that shows in the suffer
ing OF our parents as well as in the
selection of our soldiers. Our men are
drawn from high places and from low.
and our deaths must be accorded to
high places as well as to low. 1t is
the way of the war. And praise must
20 to both low and high places-and
really all places are high because OF
the great leveler, War.
THE OBSERVER.