Feb. 23, 1917. 
Ir Is INTERESTING, WuILE Tuts Crisis is. perplex- 
ing us, to get the Canadian point of view. The Toronto 
Mail and Empire says that the aid of the United States 
is not needed and if she enters the conflict it must be of 
her own sotion, not upon the solicitation of the Entente 
Powers. They can obtain the victory and reach the goal 
desired without our aid and do not wish to be hampered 
by American aid because that would mean the entrance 
of this government at the last hour. In short “They 
‘would be well pleased if the United States clung to its 
neutrality to the end of the Chapter.” The Entente wish 
us to be neutral, we wish to be neutral and Germany evi- 
dently would prefer to have us remain neutral, and it 1s 
a pity that the Central Powers cannot conduct their strife 
so that this Government can take the path that it chooses 
and all the world desires it to take. 
THe War Days PRESENT opportunities for heroic 
service as well as the days of peace. Among the heroines 
of the last months must be written the name of Mlle. 
Marcelle Semmer, who wears the military medal given 
by the Legion of Honor. Near the village of Eclusier, 
during the retreat from Charleroi, she opened the locks 
of the great canal, the waters rushed in and despite 
‘the heavy fire of the enemy she was able to escape with- 
cut injury after having thrown the key into water. A 
whole army corps were thus effectually delayed for 
twenty-four hours. The deeds of heroism are many in 
these dreadful days of stress and strain. 
Tuere ARE Hoperurt SicNs that one cannot fail to 
read and that is that now twenty-two days have passed 
since the War Zone decree was issued and that up to this 
date the German Imperial Government has shown no. in- 
clination to follow out its course of destruction as far 
as American ships are concerned, although any day the 
news may be sent over the wire that the fateful vessel 
has been sunk, and American lives have ‘been lost.  Pa- 
cifists and hyphenates may cry for peace when there is no 
peace. America has awakened to the fact that she has 
been sleeping alongside of a dormant volcano that may 
become active at any time. 
It Is Now DEFINITELY STATED by a reliable witness 
that the Deutchland is in Plymouth Harbor, England, 
with nearly two hundred other submarines. The Ameri- 
can public has never been informed by the English Gov- 
ernment of its success in stopping the submarine peril and 
because of the constant rumors that have been coming 
from abroad and the testimony of reliable witnesses and 
the decrease in the amount of tonnage now being sunk 
daily the American newspapers are giving credence to the 
report that England is successfully meeting the new situa- 
tion. 
Tue Penpinc Drrricutty with the German Imperial 
Government has brought the (Cape Cod Canal into promi- 
nence quite suddenly. Deputy United States Marshals 
will protect the bridges and waterways. In the event of 
a war this short waterway from Boston to New York 
would be very valuable. 
Tur GERMAN GOVERNMENT has earned a reputation 
for omniscience that is remarkable. It is now known that 
the engines of the interned steamer Cecilie were damaged 
by orders of that Government. 
| Tur Boston Transcript Has BEEN in no way timid 
in expressing its opinions on the foreign question and it 
summarizes its feelings in this sentence: “makes no dif- 
2» 
ference, the Kaiser’s gotta quit kickin’ our dawg aroun’, 
NC) Rote Heres: EO Rubee: Reb HZ ee | 2 § 
RoLAND D. SAWYER, A REPRESENTATIVE to our .Gen- 
eral Court, has announced himself in favor of an en- 
larged Governor’s Council with greater power than it 
now possesses. The suggestion involves the payment of 
a nominal salary, the provision that no member hold any 
other office in the state and that the terms of service be 
lengthened and the powers increased, thus providing -for 
an efficient State council of which board the Governor 
would be the president. In short the program is that of 
a government by a form of commission. It is evident 
that the coming Constitutional convention will discuss 
the advisability of continuing the Governor’s council... As 
it is now constituted it merely gives the members an hon- 
orary position without many powers. How to increase 
their powers and not handicap the executive is a problem 
much greater than would appear in Mr. Sawyer’s sugges- 
tion. Ex-Governor Walsh would have the council abol- 
ished entirely. 
A Bit, Has BEEN INTRODUCED in the legislature that 
is of interest to every resident upon our Shore. By. it the 
Massachusetts Highway Commission is authorized. and 
directed to make a survey together with plans and, esti- 
mates of cost, and report to the legislature in Ig18 on a 
shore road along the Salem Harbor from Palmer’s. cove 
and continuing to Lafayette street nearly opposite the 
Lead works; and continuing along Forest River to a 
point on Loring avenue in Salem north of the pumping 
station. The new road appears desirable and will have 
the support of many persons resident in Salem and on 
the North Shore. 
THE Woman’s MunicipaL LEAGUE was able after 
careful investigations to report to the proper committee 
of the legislature of the prevalent use of basement bed- 
rooms in the City of Boston. Their case was well pre- 
pared and sustained by undeniable evidence and their peti- 
tion for legislative action was granted; a law prohibiting 
the use of basement rooms for sleeping purposes was 
passed. Now a David Mancovitz seeks to have the bill 
repealed. The Woman’s Municipal League has the sup- 
port of every person interested in social welfare work in 
its up-hill fight. 
THe State oF MAINE was territorially a part of the 
State of Massachusetts and the early Pilgrim settlers 
rraintained on the Kennebec River a trading post. The 
interest here in Massachusetts in the commemoration of 
the three hundredth anniversary of the landing of the 
Pilgrims has aroused Maine to a new interest in the early 
Massachusetts settlement on the banks of the Kennebec 
River. The simple celebration planned should be carried 
out and the monument placed by the people of Maine. 
THe Crry or BErEveRLY will continue its sidewalk 
policy at Beverly Farms begun under the Macdonald ad- 
ministration. A systematic sidewalk laying policy, con- 
tinued from year to’year, is proving much more advan- 
tageous than the haphazard policy of other days. 
UNFORTUNATE ARE THE Days that bring no good to 
someone. Despite the high prices the woolen and cotton 
industries are reaping unprecedented dividends and la- 
borers have more work and larger wages. 
Ir Is-Opp WHEN ONE ConsrperRs the fact that the 
President was severely criticised in a gathering called to 
support him in the present crisis. 
GENERAL FREDERICK FuUNSTON, commander of the 
southern department, has died and the nation has lost a 
great warrior, é 
