The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-07-17
At the London Farley
(Katherine Dayton in Washington

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katherine Dayton in Washington
Starr
This week, it seems to us, has made
new low in what can no longer be
called the infant industry of political
communicating. Which, we hasten to
add, is not at all the fault of the po-
litical commentators, God bless 'em
every one!
Goodness knows Grade A political
commentators are bringing more on
the hoof than they have in years.
But this notwithstanding stuff
Is getting them. It is the old, old
paradox ever new-the bigger the
story, the harder to write. And this
week in politics hasn't confined itself
to one tremendous story. It's been
more like an anthology.
More history has been made, +. o.
b., in both Washington and London
this week than we can remember, but
to put political commentator On it
Is like putting the well-known cham
eleon on plaid-they simply go all to
pieces. Naturally, they keep right on
communicating, because that's what
they're paid for. But what is there to
say?
Take our own case. OF course, COM
mentating Is pretty new to us and we
just play at 1t, as you might say, so
you may think our case is not typical,
though it is all the more pitiable. AS
usual, we tied on our long, white
beard and got out both pairs Of spec
tacleS-our rose-colored ones and the
smoked ones-and took a bird's-eye
view of the state of the Nation pre-
paratory to emitting some erudite
opinions on whittier practically every
thing was drifting.
What we saw, as we peered near
sightedly, was much too much more
than, as the saying goes, an eyeful!
In Washington, intrepid Gen. Hugh
Johnson jumped from code to code
carrying little International indus
trial recovery act to you, if you pre-
fer to be formal-while leaders Of
what may be roughly divided into
capital and labor and Mr.. Donald
Richberg and his staff bayed at his
heels. In London-but what's the
good of going into that all over over
again! The more we looked, the more
everything seemed to be going round
and round. We knew that history
was being made, because everybody
said so. but we couldn't make out just
what the history was.
That made us begin to wonder
about history, and the place in it this
big moment we were living through
| without knowing darn thing about
it, would hold. What would we answer
to any hypothetical little Peterkins
Of the future who would gather about
our old knees saying, "Gramma, tel
us exactly what happened at the Lon.
don Monetary and Economic Confer
ence Of 1888, and what was it that
America wanted?"
Gould we say, as did our fortunate
forbears: Taxation without repre-.
sanitation could no longer be borne?'
Or, This nation cannot exist hall
slave and half free?" Or even, RE.
member the Maine?" Alas, no. W.
will have to humble something about
"fetishes Of so-called internationa.
bankers were being replaced by effort;
to plan national currencies with the
objective Of giving to those curren.
cies a continuing purchasing power
which does not greatly vary in term.
Of the commodities and need Of mod.
ern civilization"
And If little Peterkin, drat him
says: But what does that NEAR
grandma?"-well, you've got to admit
that the answer is going to sount
pretty silly, even If it is the right one
And speaking Of history and poll.
tical commentators, there is at leas
q crumb of comfort to be derived
from the experience of that prince o.
them all, Horace Walpole. Writing ir
March, 1774, he says:
even America gives us no pain
at least it makes little sensation, fol
the opposition have not taken up thu
cause; the general tone agains
the Bostonians Is threats. It remain!
to be seen whether America will b,
as plant as we say they must be.
don't pretend to guess, for seldom
guess right, but we could even affore
to lose America"
Isn't that cheering? It makes u.
almost-but not quite-feel like goinl
out and drawing a few conclusion.
ourselves from this weeks news. Com,
on. boys-everybody off on the gronl
foot!
Copyright, 1889