The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-09-14
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The Democratic newspapers and
Democratic politicians are ringing
the changes on the stand blythe
president" slogan. In a thousand
tones we-and by I'VE" is meant
the Republican party-are told how.
heavy is the presidents burdens.
how Mexico vexes him, how Hayti
bothers him, how the European war.
wears upon him; how he is presery-
ing US in peace, how he is bringing
us into prosperity" how he will
manage the national defense; and 1t
fs our duty. not as Republicans, but
as patriots, to stand by him and TO
support his policies.
What are those policies?' What Is
planned for Mexico? What will be
done further about the Lusitania
case? What recommendations have
been made for national defense?
How is the feo2le treasury to be
bolstered up?
Nobody can tell. But we are
asked to su0 art policies which the
president vi develop without con-
sultation With anyone representing
our party policies based upon
counsels taken from unofficial and
prejudiced sources and formulated
by the president alone. In due sea-
son we shall be notified. Meantime
1T is our duty to stand by the pres
ident" and to continue to do so.
In some degree there has been a
willingness to do this. But that
tendency has now been checked. and
by the president himself. With
jealousy cloalking every detail of his
policy for neutrality, for Mexico, for
defense for revenue, he has made
1T plain that one thing he is going
to insist upon at the next session
of Congress, and that is the passage
of the ship purchase bill.
The measure has been featured in
no party platform, has been con-
demned by the business interests o.
the country, is purely socialistic IN
its purpose, is fraught with infinite
danger to orr standing as neutral
nation, is repugnant to all iRepubli-
cans and TO many Democrats-yet
the president insists upon it. Moth
ing could better reveal his real ma
ture or better exemplify the insult
ing character of the hypocritical APP
peal to stand by the president"
Republicans are asked to surrender
their right of judgment regarding
fiscal and foreign policies in favor
OF some unknown theories which
have not yet taken shape even upon
the executive typewriter-while the
president is unwilling to abate any.
thing from his obstreperous backing
of an obnoxious measure. This ono
sided and jug-handled proposition is
likely to defeat itself. The Repuh-
licans are asked to concede every
thing. The president is willing to
concede nothing. Patriotism is
one thing and partisanship is an
other. But, In pushing the ship
purchase bill as he does the presi-
dent is neither patriotic nor partisan.
He is pettily personal and proud.
The scheme is not the peoples
scheme nor any party's scheme. 1t
is the presidents own scheme. To
persist in it, while beseeching Re-
publican support for other measures,
! means that the president looks upon
the Republican party as weak either
In purpose or intellect. Is it not
time to demonstrate that we are
neither?
If Woodrow Wilson expects Re-
publicans to stand by" him, 1t is
about time that he disIlays some of
that courteous spirit of concession
! which may rightfully be respected
when opponents cooperate for a
high purpose.