The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1919-01-10
CAPITOL Correspondence

| have been recently asked to
write, for very dear person, "a
political letter" telling what
thought of present conditions. This
| will cheerfully do but with this
reservation that many of my
thoughts on this all absorbing sub
ject are too deep to be expressed
clearly in words.
Politically speaking this country
is not in the best of condition.
True We have come through the
world war with flying colors and it
was hoped that from this time on
the politicians would place country
first and after that their own pol
itical preferences, but any one who
follows the work of our legislative
bodies can readily see that the
above formula has been reversed.
The United States Senate at this
time is a menace to the country.
The only thing that has saved the
day thus far les in the fact that
, we have president who has mind
of his own. The Senate itself is
weak, very weak. Carping critic
ism of practically every department
of government is the order of the
day. Every act must be investigat-
ed with the definite object IN view
of putting the administration in a
hole.
No one will deny that the things
accomplished by our government
in the war so happily closed, will
stand out as the eighth wonder of
the world. 1t is something for
which history gives us no parallel.
That there has been lnefficiency every
one admits but all stand amazed at
the things accomplished. This
ought to have some weight with the
politicians but it hasn't.
The recent election changed the
political complexion of both Houses
i. hut the Senate by very narrow
margin. There was not enough of
new blood injected to make any i'm
provement so that no relief for in
, efficiency is in sight. There is hope,
: however, that the half dozen pro-
) gressive republicans in the senate,
of whom Senator Borah is consplc-
uous figure, will compel their hide
bound associates to get in line with
their duties.
The preparation for carrying on
the war was made on a gigantic
: scale and without any apparent
notion as to the length of time re-
quired to lick Germany. This num-
bic scribe, as many Kendrick people
are aware, insisted last spring that
5 the war would close before the
5 snow f1ies' while at the same time
, the great Taft was insisting, with
far greater following, that pre-
: parations were needed for "four
years rore of war" while as a mat
: ter of fact the war endeed in four
months. Of course the senate be-
, lieved Taft.
&. There are great problems con-
I fronting us. The need of disinter-
, ested craftsmanship was never in
S greater demand. Our last hope is
in President Wilson. Ii he cannot
win by playing lone hand against
: all the powers of Europe then in
deed may it be said, "All the fruits
, of the war are mockery when the
: sacrifice made is considered"
: The senate--it is this body that is
D shirking its plain duties-may not
> be needed in the settlement of the
J. great problems before the country.
The ratification of the treaties of
peace may be, for it, as is hoped a
perfunctory matter. Senators Lodge
and Knox, may after all have no in
fuence in thwarting the plans of
President Wilson who is about ready
v to compel the European nations to
o beat their swords into plowshar es
s and their spears INTO pruning
s hooks" If it shall so happen that
e "natlon shall not lift up sword
s against nation, neither shall they
: learn war any more" it will be
@ clearly evident that the United
g States Senate has little or 70 part in
ushering in the greatest year of
@ jubilee since the world began.