The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1919-02-14
WITH THE EDITORS
THE RESURRECTION OF HEBRON

Professor George Heron separated himself from
the faculty of Grinne college, for the good OF the
college, have been wondering how it happened that
President Wilson came to select him as one OF the
American commissioners to the conference with
the Russians at Princes Islands. -
Since Professor Heron left Iowa with a new
wife who was reputed to be wealthy and estab-
lished school of Socialism in New York, most
everybody hereabouts had forgotten about him,
but it appears that he took up headquarters some
years ago in Switzerland and that recently he has
been touring Europe bearing American passports
as member of commission of Socialists which
has been publicly thanked for it's services by our
state department.
| In seeking now to account for his selection for
this particular mission we are reminded Of recent
book, issued by Professor Heron, entitled,
"Wocdrow Wilson and the Worlds Peace" One
reviewer speaks of this work as lone of unre-
strained euogy, a sort of religious rhapsody"
Some features of this work are quite interesting
In it we find that the presidents address of Janu
airy q, 1917, uttered as plea for peace without
victory" is treated as asort Of political Sermon on
the Mount summoning the world to political and
industrial repentance. In this connection the
author, Professor Heron, describes President
Wilson as "the worlds first international states
man." He thinks that if the presidents ideals
were realized, Europe would become different
and wel-nigh Edenic continent" But the presi-
dent he says, is not merely an idealst; he has
spiritual adroitness," whatever that may be. He
tells US that Notwithstanding his "too proud toll
fight" kept us out of war; and peace without
victory" sentiments, and his Shadow Lawn speech
of October, 1916, accusing the opposition Of de-
sire to ncmbroil" the country in the war, we must
ascribe an TIE credit for TIE en-
<trancesDf the United States into the war on the
side Of the Allies "Mr. Hughes" he says, "was
the avowed candidate Of Berlin for nomination and
eection'-a very distressing; revelation indeed. y
r But it is when Professor Heron, the "Chris-
tiai Socialist" undertakes to interpret the presi-
dent, az he understands him. that we get clearly
the Viewpoint which the aathor of this interesting
work Would Aayeaustake. o0drow WisOfn sk he
says IL not only the greatest statesman that has
appeared in the world in years." but The is also
determined and tremendous radical. :.
He is revolutionary beyond anything his words re-
veal; beyond anything his contemporaries have
discerned. 49,. He has indeed been ex-
traordinarily shifty in the accomplishment of the
things he believes basic and right; but the shifts
he has made have been linked together in a divine
ly democratic professional. He
has knowingly undermined certain of the founda-
tons upon which the capitalist society rests. :.
. As compared with Woodrow Wilson there
are Socialist spokesunen who are bourbon in their
understanding &M(sympathy."
Of courses it is quite possible that the president
never heard of this book, but we do not think it
probable; neither does the reader. If this is a
misnterpretation Of the president; if he would not
be sounderstood and represented, and had knowl-
edge Of the book it seems quite improbable that he
would have selected the author for mission of
this kind.
There may be some other explanation for the
discovery and the preferment of this Socialist for
this important mission 1t may even be contended
that as commissioner to deal with hostile Rus
sian groups, some of which are Socialists, it is
desirable to select Socialist; but it would seem as
if someone might be discovered who had not, as
Professor Heron has, come to the conclusion that
If she Germany will but realize this new kind
of national integrity, this new order of national
being, then may Germany even now and at once
step into place of stupendous spiritual leader
ship, her sons becoming the first born of that
superhumanity which the prophets of all times
and races foreshadowed. 1t is even
possible that Germany might suddenly beseech
Woodrow Wilson to lead the world in the pursuit
of this ineffable goal.'
What is there about this Herronesque concep-
ton of the German character which would pecu-
liarly qualify the representative of America, even
if he must be Socialist, for dealing with the tools
of Germany in Russia? If there must be Social
list on that commission for America why this man
Why not John Spargo, or Charles Edward Russell
or Allan T. Benson?