Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1916-03-14
PLAYING WITH FIRE.

into the SOIL, instead Oh lOupiuS ~
PLAYING WITH FIRE.
Times-Republican 1owa's delega-
ton in the house, irrespective OF par
ty, voted against tabling the McLe-
more resolution Of warning. In do
ing so there is not the least doubt
that the Iowa congressman expressed
Ia practically universal conclusion OF
the voters. of the state considered
without respect to party. Republic
cans of the eastern states which are
profitinp vastly by the war and OF
coast towns Historically favorable to
heavy ornaments on land and sea
voted with the democrats who had
been herded into a phalanx by the
activity of the presidential forces.
Some democrats there were who re-
fused to be driven and stood out. But
the White House won. The presi-
dent is commander in chief of con-
gress as of the army.
The democrats were up against
the buzz saw, jammed there by the
only candidate their party finds
available. No party was ever throt-
tied into submission by leader
more than the democrats are being
held by Wilson, the president,
through the power Of Wilson the
candidate. 1t was up to them to
stand by their administration or con-
fess that which would weaken that
candidate in the coming effort to re-
tain power, and of the two they
chose to stand by the president"
| If the point raised were one vital
ly important instead of technical the
country would be behind the presi-
dent as unit; but it isn't. In the
light of the presidential treatment
of Americans in Mexico the presj-
Dental policy in this case is hard for
the average man to explain to his
own satisfaction. Mr.. Murphy. in the
democratic department of the Des
Moines Register, insists that the
Mexican policy is in repression OF
business interests who desire to prof
lit from U. S. demands upon that
country. Without doubt big business
Interests have their projects con-
Injected with oil fields and Mexican
profits but thousands of legitimate
investors were warned to care , for
themselves in Mexico. No doubt the
Du Pont powder, company whose
profits amounted to more than $685.
900, 900 for the past year is in favor
of standing army of 100000 or
1 10000 and looks on the possible
lity of war with SNUG equanimity
should the technical rights of Amer
licans to ride armed ships wherever
they may go thus involve the Unit
ed States. But the country at large
breads even the possibility of war.
Not because this country is coward
lily, not because the average citizen
is not ready to stand up for any real
right of this country and its people
but because it fears involvement in
the insane orgy of death through
some minor and technical insistence.
The president won victory in the
congress. 1t is however one of those
victories of which it has been said
that two such would be worse than
defeat. The presidents successful
bulling through of his individual
views has not strengthened but
weakened him. However we'll the
people may have, thought OF him
there is strong distaste in America
for dictatorship and autocracy from
the executive mansion.
The president is playing with fire.
1t is to be hoped that he will burn
no fingers save his own.