Evening star., 1922-06-12
Bottomley's Conviction Removes
an Anglo-Americau Friction Cause.

an Anglo-American Friction Cause.
There is no sympathy in sight be-
cause of the downfall of Horatio Bot
tomley, British parliament member.
American batter and convicted swim
dler of the British workingmen, who
invested heavily in his fraudulent
schemes. United States newspapers
believe that his sentence to imprison-
ment will be of great benefit to the
relations between this country and
Great Britain. They are convinced
that he will be unable to renew his
assa ults upon America and Americans
when he finally regains his freedom.
There was no doubt. of course. that
Bottomley was within his rights"
Americans in his publication. the New
York Tribune points out admitting
further that sit is possible for
blatherskite to be honest. Bottomley.
however. proves to have been bad
un. British juries are singularly
hardboiled. At this distance it seems
, that few bullies and frauds are less
entitled to sympathy in adversely
than the one whose career has been
ended at the Old Bailey" While the
convicted editor did good work for
England during the war. lining up
laborers and soldiers for the allied
cause. the Philadelphia Public Ledger
calls attention to the fact that ne
capitalized the idolatry to his own
profit. He used for his personal gain
the trust reposed in him and the
affection he had attracted
Both England and America can
breathe more freely as the result of
I, hn
thinks, because "a British court with
customary dispatch has made an end
to this unfortunate career. When the
news reached these shores our news
papers carried the headline Enemy of
America Goes to JAIN Bottomley was
all decent people. He was menace
to the peace of the world and good
will among nations" But III mis-
using peoples money will bring such
a man to JAIL the New York Even
ing World asks how about misusing
their minds?" His attacks on Ameri-
cans, the Scranton Times believes.
produced little more than contempt
in this country" and he furnished an
example "of the bombastic individual.
ever calling attention to his own vir-
tues, and admitting no virtues in any
one else. Invariably such persons
bear watching and investigation.
Comparing him to Dickens Pecksnif.
the Atlantic City Press suggests that
every city has it's Bottomleys. May
they all take the same cropper that
has befallen the titled skunk who has
been found guilty by a jury Of his
own people,
Bottomley was especially dangerous,
in the viewpoint of the kalamazoo
Gazette because though possessed of
exceptional attainmentS as writer
| and a speaker he was without scruple.
His policy of vilification brought him
constantly in the courts. where ne
only added to his fame by his master
! ly defense of himself and his
methods" This very fact, the Fort
Wayne journal Gazette points out, re-
suited in 1.-The court anticipating a
popular demonstration of sympathy.
sought a way to spirit him from the
courtroom to the prison. II is evident
from this that there are still a few
| in England who entertain no cousin
| ly affection for the United States.
His conviction, however. the Water
bury Republican thinks. will dis
credit him with the very class of peo-
pie to whom he has hitherto been able
American propaganda after he gets
| out of Jail it will not have the inf1u-
| ence it has had in the past
English courts work quickly and
effectively" the Nashville Banner is
convinced. "Bottomley's appeal halts
keeps him in prison. If his appeal is
refused he will be out of the way for
some thing like five years. making al
lowance for good behavior. Would
that other Bottomleys could see q
| warning and turn to useful ways.
That he fully realized the mischief OF
his antf-American attitude the Dayton
| News is convinced and "it Is no small
| task to attempt to discredit an entire
nation simply to satisfy the animosity
J which an individual or group OF in
dividuals may harbor. But this has
been done repeatedly in many nations.
I And the result has been, that strained
| relationships have followed much to
| the detriment of all states con-
cerned" The thing to do now, how
ton News and Courier says: because
"he has got what he deserved" but so
! far as the New Orleans States Is con-
cerned it regrets that I'VE cannot
have in America such rigid and ex-
| peditious justice. IT we had we should
! have much less lawbreaking." How
/ Bottomley came to be elected to the
British parliament is puzzle to the
Chattanooga News. which declares
| that "his public record indicates the
| atmosphere in which he lives or pre-
| fers to live. He Is an onense TO de-
cent society"
His sentence by the court merely
was confirming the opinion of Mr..
Bottomley held by large part Of the
British public for many years." the
Cincinnati Times Star points out, and
his passing from the stage of Eng
lish public life will cause no regret
Herald believes that wherever you
find the professional demagogue-the
sublimated chap who spends his time
endeayoring to incite racial or reli-
! eious or national or class prejudices--
! you'll find Horatio Bottomley. you'll
| man."
The Minister Who Never Strikes.
At a conference Of Church secre-