Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-10-22
A WEAK SPOT

A WEAK SPOT
Senator Hitchcock, of Nebraska, Is the recognised
leader of the administration forces in the senate. He
is regarded as the spokesman of the president on most
matters Of legislation in which the president is specially
interested. He is charged especially with the manage
ment Of the senatorial campaign for ratification Of the
German peace treaty substantially unchanged. Mr.. Hitch
cock has given evidence Of a good deal of ability in man
agement and in debate. But he labors under the burden
of a record on some questions related to the war which,
when 1t was made, did not represent the dominant senti-
ment of the country and which is strikingly out Of ac-
cord with the public sentiment which has become crystal
ixeds in these later years. ta
In the early period Of the war in Europe. before the
United States had become a party to it, Mr.. Hitchcock
proposed a resolution placing an embargo on the export
Of munitions. He was by no means alone in advocating
such restrictions, but the moment such a course was sug-
gested it was shown clearly and repeatedly that this ac-
ton would be one of the grossest partisanship. and that
it would make the United States the assistant, If not the
formal ally, of Germany.
The United States could and did make for sale large
quantities of goods for export, munitions of war as well
as other things. All the belligerent nations wanted these
munitions. and all were at liberty to buy them from
American factories. During the years Of our neutrality
our ports were open on equal terms to the ships Of all
nations. It was a fact not of our making that Great Brit
ain could cross the ocean and obtain these materials and
Germany could not The conditions certainly operated
TO the disadvantage of Germany, but the German au-
thorities were conversant with the conditions before they
went to war. Germany, being unable to obtain NUM-
tions here, was anxious that Great Britain should be de-
prived OF the right to do so. Therefore every possible ef-
fort was put forth by German propasandists to bring
about legislation which would have stopped the sale of
munitions to any Of the belligerent powers. We were
asked to enact laws which would have neutralized in
favor OF Germany the superior sea strength which the
Allies possessed. Congress refused to enact such laws.
and public opinion supported congress in its attitude.
Senator Hitchcock was one Of the public men who
took q wrong view Of the situation, and who sought to
have that view expressed in law. There were many 9TH
es who needed time to get their bearings on the war,
but it appears that on this subject Mr.. Hitchcock is still
ut sea. When he was tainted on the floor Of the senate
the other day on his position on the embargo question,
he not only admitted his acts-which are matters Of rec
ord. but he reiterated the opinion that the course which
he proposed was the correct one.
Whatever may be his attitude on questions which
arc pressing now, Mr.. Hitchcock has evidently learned,
nothing on one of the most vital issues involved in the
war. He stands where he did. stubborn and unyieldins-
and absolutely wrong.
Few people have ever seen radium. No one, even
with the most powerful microscope, has even seen it in
the ore in which it is contained. To all intents, it is Inn
pereeptibie to the senses. Yet, invisible and tnpercepti-
Die though It Is. it's existence is known. is presence is
rscosntzsd1sand many Of its properties are understood.
It's not only known; It Il used. ana in . number OF very
practicai Ways This II one OF the parallels to which
stiidents Of lnsntai science can point in support Of their
belief that there are moss things In heaven ana earth
tha AZ ne dfsansd q 8 our philosophy.
#asf ----------1zss----
s8gsSlf N 80 truth wers tsl4.sa lot o. shtntnsS iishts
swcuiA sassrHp sssssry dimiy. 40 many ! tiny hits spark
wosls Sssssn forth q I f1ooas u ssdi.aes. rhsrs ars both
sat4eAsat6 fEsyop knsw.H ssagSs
sSsSsSs 6 phone ss~tcs intssiITssJpttsda y prossss-
sPsAas1s1lfn Hithsrto chicasoo lankkuass ra.siy ~
6NEaSeaSss go tisaa y sSrspit hsrs and 49,
Sg1AssAsAsss y that - rssansl ths res4y %ith o.:
sa1saa gsssst sss'ss fssassr 4 ,sr lsk -