Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-10-26

tions. They hearing from capital that John
wants the whole pie and then some. They are
being told that Johns bicep Is Dared and his
jaw squared for the effort of appropriating unto
himself all the rafsins in the bread pudding Of
prosperity. It Is being limited that grabbing is
his long suit and that he doesn't and never
will know where to stop. They take 1t all with
a grain of salt-the nations faith in John is
deep-rooted-but they beginning to want
assurances. They wish that John would quit
looking inscrutable and that he'd talk turkey,
telling them in words of one or two syllables
just what he wants and when he will be salts
fed. They don't think he ought to try to get
by with this enigma stuff any further.
1t is only fair that If Tom and Dick and
Harry want John to talk in plain words they
should be equally explicit and frank with him.
Why not? Why not go to the gentleman In
question look him squarely in the eye, tell him
the ugly mfsgivings his enigmatic attitude in
spre and ask for a showdown That's mans
stuff that ought to appeal to him. So here
goes, John:
1--WE want to know just where you stand.
We want to know what you seek. Are you
asking and reaching for only those things
which are your heritage, returns from your
labor with which you may barter for the ele-
ments of comfort and peace and happiness to-
day. or do you demand and arrogate unto your
self our share in these things we'll? Is
there a goal to your ambitions do you pro-
pose to use the winning of each victory
a mere stepping stone to the ultimate czardom
of your interests? If you have limit, what
is it? Do you regard your interests part
of the interests of this nation. which is made
up of many interests, do you regard them
alone as imperous? Are you loyal patriot,
faithful the institutions upon which the
American government is based. or is there some
thing to these nasty insinuations that you favor
and are working for some ultra-modern govern
mental abortion that would spell ruin to
country? Talk turkey, John Are you for US.
the balance of the nation, you against us?
For If you for us, and will give fair evil
dence of the fact, we'll help you to whatever
you justly seek, as we have in the past And if
you're against and have only sought our
sympathy and aid till such time when you
felt yourself strong enough to proceed alone,
bidding be damned tell you this You're
not that strong yet. We are ready to go to
the mat with you And the Statue
of Liberty stands in New York harbor, once
we do, we'll throw you higher than the Wash
ington Monument"
That is mans talk, and John would under
stand 1t. He would undoubtedly respond vigor-
ously. At all events. whether he answered
not, wouldn't be puzzled any more. For any
student Of human nature knows that when
is invited in friendly terms to clear up, in
the minds of his friends, the insinuations that
he is Judas to his nation, he either comes
across in very definite and concise language,
should be rated according to the insinuations.
The attitude Of lit hurts that you should
feel it necessary to ask such a question, and 1
decline to dignity the insinuatons by any
Spouse whatever" doesn't and never has
ried any particular weight with plain folks.
x X X X
Yes John could certainly be counted upon
to respond. And unless the esteem in which