Charlevoix county herald., 1918-08-16

ID, ana the American VIII Iool Inc
same way about the German"
Will they? VIII our soldiers feel
that they have been. wrong IL killing
the modern. Huns, assassins of the
innocent and helpless. the Wholesale
violators OF women, the perpetrators
OF nameless denominations upon help
less prisoners? Will Americans feel
that the Germans are as good as
they are? II We are to send into our
national councils men, of such simple
and childlike innocence of the most
elementary of historical and political
facts, we shall deserve our certain
retribution.
There is, however, another aspect
OF the situation which can hardly be
overlooked. Mr.. Ford has announced
that he Is Mr.. Wilson's choice for
senator, with the inference that his
election will show that the state is
supporting the war; This same issue
has already been created in Wiscon-
sin and Minnesota, and since | have
some familiarity with the situation In
the state of Wisconsin, may perhaps
draw a lesson from it. Mr.. Lenroot
and Mr.. Davies, the Republican and
Democratic candidates respectively,
have been long personally known to
me, and both are unquestionably loyal
and able men. Mr.. Davies Is, however,
without political experience in ma.
tional affairs, but was appointed to
an important Office by Mr.. Wilson and
is his ardent supporter. Mr.. Wilson
sent letter to Mr.. Davies, naming
Davies as his choice and casting
aspersions upon the loyalty Of Mr..
Lenroot; and the Vice-President of
the United States campaigned the
state OF Wisconsin in an attempt TO
defeat Mr.. Lenroot on the ground
that he was disloyal The latter took
up the gage of battle and replied:
1T was not l who said l was too
proud to fight or who wrote the
peace without victory message. That
was Mr.. Wilson" Mr.. Lenroot was
able to show that he had supported
the Administration in all important
war measures, but had dared to differ
with him on some points, and like
General Wood, had been relentlessly
prosecuted. Mr.. Lenroot won the
Senatorship despite the Administra-
tons opposition and the fact that
nearly one-third of the votes in the
election were cast for Berger running
on platform to stop the war;
No one who knows Michigan doubts
her absolute loyalty, and l do not
think she will tolerate dictation in
her own political affairs. "Stand by
the President" has through much
clever manipulation been too often
substituted for Stand by the Coun.
try which is what every loyal man
desires to do. 1t Is not true either
OF the President or of the King that
he can do no wrong, and it will cause
additional disquietitude among
thoughtful men that Mr.. Wilson has
named a pacifist as his choice for the
United States Senate. Considering
what Mr.. Ford's record has been and
how he is still regarded abroad, where
pacifism Cor defeatism, as IL is so
often there referred toy is recognized
as greater menace even than mill
tent Germany, the candidacy of Mr..
Ford cannot but produce distrust Of
America.
The New York Times, which has
generally been supporter of the Ad-
ministration, comments editorially
upon Mr.. Ford's candidacy (June
15th):
Michigan never has been noted
for anything exceptional about the
character Of her representation in
Congress, particularly in the Senate;
indeed, her reputation has been
rather below the average In that re-
spect.
This year she betrays no conscious
ness that any emergency exists or
that any special effort on her part is
called for f.. Mr.. Ford Is a highly
successful business man, an amiable
personality, a generous-hearted, altru-
istic and philanthropic citizen, but he
has demonstrated conclusively on
many occasions not only his lack of
acquaintance with basic international
and national affairs, but certain
quality Of mind which forbids the
hope that he will ever be able to
overcome that lack Of equipment-an
altogether too impressionable mind
for public Office.
1t is to be hoped that other States
will take a more serious view o. the
duties impending on the Reconstruc.
ton Congress. With Michigan 1t
would be useless to waste words.
Michigan Is joined to his idols; let
him alone"
Fortunately there is still time to
redeem the situation.
WILLIAM HERBERT HOBBS.
Ann Arbor, Michigan, June II, 1913.