The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1917-03-15
Not Partisanship But Good
Government.

The statement frequently made by
prominent Republicans, both in Con-
gress and out, that Republicans will
not do anything for partisan purposes
to embarrass the president during the
differences with foreign countries, is
absolutely true, but no more true now
than it has been at all times since
Wilson has been president. Neither
now nor at any other time have Re
publicans pursued any course for mere
partisan advantage.
However, Republicans have said and
done many things that have been EN-
barrassing to the president and they
will probably do so in the future.
Their course in this respect has not
been prompted by desire to promote
party advantage, but By desire to
promote the best interests of the coun-
try. We advocate certain things, not
because they are for party advantage,
but because we believe the welfare of
the United States requires the advocacy
of the policies we support. We have
criticised many things the Democratic
party has done, not merely because
they were done by the Democratic par
ty, but because they were done against
the interests of good government.
We have advocated protective tar
iff and denounced free trade, not for
partisan advantages, but for the bene-
fit of all the people of the United
States.w
We embarrassed the president by ex-
posing his violation of his pledge to
support the merit system in the civil
service. That exposure was prompted
not by partisan interest, but by de-
sire to conserve efficiency in govern
ment service
We have exposed and criticised the
appointment of totally incompetent
men in the consular and diplomatic SER
vice, and have criticised such acts as
the attempted promotion of the presi-
dents personal physician over the
heads of Ia superior officers who are
more entitled to consideration than he.
And all this Las been done, not for
mere partisan advantage, but for the
purpose of attaining and maintaining
higher standards in public service.
Undoubtedly, Republicans caused
great embarrassment to President Will
son by insisting upon the "leak" in
vestigation, which disclosed the fact
that certain spectators obtained adj
vance information regarding the char
acter of the president s peace note
through the brokerage firm of which
tie president IS brother-in-law was then
member. We are sorry that this was
embarrassing to the president, and that
it occurred during time when our dip
lomatic relations with other countries
arc stroiaed, but we believe it would
be disastrous to the interests of good
government if such things were to be
CLOSED over or disregarded just be-
cause we have foreign complications.
A multitude OF ether subjects that
have been discussed in the past and
that probably will be discussed in the
future might be enumerated, showing
that although many things have been
embarrassing to the president because
discreditable to his administration, vet
they have been subjects upon which
patriotic American citizens could not
be silent without being derelict in their
duty.
Those persons who grow profuse in
their protestations that all Republicans
will be loyal to the president" are
not judicious in their choice of words.
The loyalty Of both Republicans and
Democrats is to the government of the
United States and it's institutions. We
owe no greater obligation of loyalty
than does the president himself. The
president is the servant and not the
master Of the American people, and all
loyal citizens will aid him in rendering
the best service possible. We shall not,
however, transform him into a dictator
and ourselves into subjects, merely be-
cause one of his tasks is that Of deal
ing with foreign relations.