The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-03-08
THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
DEMOCRATS


Congressman Page Of North Caro-
lima has announced that he will not
be a candidate for re election. As
a member of the dominant party he
feels under the necessity of voting
with the chief of the Administration
on matters of vital Importance to
country and party. Yet he cannot
agree with the President on the for
eign policy regarding our maritime
rights, and, therefore, he is willing
to retire from Congress.
Along with the Page announce
ment comes very similar one from
Congressman Sherwood of Ohio,
another veteran in House leadership
for the Democratic party. General
Sherwood states that he will vote
with the Administration in the pres
ent Congressional crisis, but that at
the end of his present term he will
step aside and permit his district
to "pick big-army man for his sue
cessor."
In both of these announcements
there is suggested the very import
ant possibility that the statesmen af-
fected are retiring not merely be-
/ cause they are out of harmony with
the President, but also out of har-
mony with their constituents. In
the case of Mr.. Page, it is declared
by prominent Democratic politician
who has recently visited the North
; Carolina district, that the over
whelming majority of voters of al
parties there are for Il strong pre-
paredness program, and in sympathy
with the allies in Europe. In the
case of General Sherwood, there is
the generals own admission of a
like situation, for he says he will
stand aside so that his people may
"pick'a big-army man." Evidently in
each case the retirement of the in
cumbent is really a good deal Of a
concession to home opinion.
1t is a good thing to see members
recognizing the Importance of max
ing concessions that will open the
way to establish both party and ma
tional solidarity on this whole big
question of foreign policy. Here arc
two representative districts, one
North, one South; one in Ohio, one
, in North Carolina. In each the men,
! Der of anti-preparedness views, OF
, peace-at-any-price tendencies, is re-
firing. Will each be succeeded by O
man of the opposite persuasion?
1t would be a tremendous public
service if about 100 other members
of the House, and less number in
J the Senate, would follow this lead
| Let the case be fairly presented tc
. the people of the districts; let Tie
people decide. Let it be known
} whether the South and the Middle
. West are really as determinedly op
) posed to military preparedness, to {
= firm foreign policy, as has been al
/. legged.
!, Aside from a very small group o
: districts in which the foreign-borI
3 voters distinctly dominate, Thu
( Times does not believe there is an!
5 part Of the country in which such
: test would return Congressman o
Senators opposed to vigorous for
eign policy. 1t believes that, re
CARELESS of party, this country j
overwhelmingly in favor of main
: tanning American rights at sea, an,
S overwhelmingly in favor of sucl
n naval and military measures as ma
r be necessary to sustain its self-re
Z spect before the world. It believe
n that gentlemen who sacrifice thei
!, places in public life in order to Civ
3 the sentiment of their constituents
fair hearing, are doing a real publ,
h service.
p The man who, in a crisis like tn
g present, continues to let his persona
: political fortunes stand between tn
. people and a fair expression of thei
" sentiments, is not doing the servic
: that represents true patriotism,