These hidden-hangers do not come out in the open, even to the extent of the semi-treasonable sentiments of the Pro-German Socialists at St. Louis. If they did, it wouldn't be necessary to pay any attention to them. They work in a more insidious way. Under the guise of American citizenship they rise up every now and then, individuals or organizations of doubtful origin and purpose, to demand why the United States is in the war and what its intentions are.... Americans are in no mood to tolerate national sabotage of this sort any more than plain and open aid and comfort to the enemy. Every man of common sense knows why we are in the war and what we want to do. We are in it because we were forced into it by outrageous aggressions and because we are determined to make the world safe for American democracy. _Chicago Herald, May, 1917._ [Illustration] _THE SOCIALIST BAIT FOR RUSSIA_ * * * * * At the last sitting of the executive committee of the Council of Workmen's and Soldiers' Delegates, M. Borgbjerg, on behalf of the Labour parties of Scandinavia--Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian--conveyed an official invitation to all Socialist parties in Russia to the proposed international conference at Stockholm. _Reuter, Petrograd, May 8, 1917._ [Illustration] _ON LAND AND WATER_ _The End of the Hindenburg Line?_ * * * * * The Washington correspondent of the Associated Press states that Congress will be asked to appropriate $1,000,000,000 (L200,000,000) for the building of an American merchant fleet to overcome the submarine menace. * * * * * The program of the Shipping Board contemplates the diversion to the Government of the product of every steel-mill in the United States and the cancelation of existing contracts between the mills and private consumers, and, where necessary, the payment of damages by the Government to the parties whose contracts are canceled. The Board estimates that from five to six million tons of steel and wooden vessels will be constructed by the Government in the next two years. _Associated Press, Washington, May 8, 1917._ [Illustration] _"A POISON-GAS ATTACK ON NEW RUSSIA"_ * * * * * Isolated groups of certain classes of the population, lacking conscientiousness, seek to realize their aspirations by the medium of violence, and threaten to destroy the discipline of internal policy and to create anarchy. The Provisional Government believes it to be its duty to declare frankly that this state of things, which renders the administration of the country difficult, may lead the country to internal disorganisation and defeat at the front. The phantom of anarchy and civil war threatening liberty arises before Russia. _Russian Provisional Government Proclamation, Petrograd, May 9, 1917._ [Illustration] _A FOOL'S PARADISE_ * * * * *