Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1917-03-23

fifth congress less than a month away
or sooner, II the president calls the
session earlier on account Of the in
ternational situation-it seems safe
to predict that its organization will
not be preceded by q deadlock of po-
litical parties in the house over the
speakership and other matters relat-
ing to house organization. The extra
session may be a war congress, for all
that anybody knows, which means. If
public men sense things Alright, that
patriotism will take precedence over
partisanship.
Who is to be speaker, and what
political party he will represent. will
be of less importance to the entire
country than getting the congress
promptly to work so that it may be
a quick reflection Of public opinion
in a time of crisis. The consensus Of
opinion appears to be that Champ
Clark will be reelected to the posi-
ton he has held ever since the Dem
ocrats gained control of the lower
house in 1910.
Partisanship Will Disappear.
There have been in this country
several speakership contests of his
toric Importance and interest, and
reference will be made to them later
on, but they came at times of world
peace, and when the action to be
taken did not threaten the country's
international relations. The saying
that "partisanship stops at the
waters edge" originated at the time
of the Armada, and Good Queen
Bess" at that time had the proud sat
isfaction of knowing that a united
England stood at her back to repel
the Spanish foe. President Wilson
will also know, unless everybody
whose opinion is worth noting Is
wrong, that in the hour Of emergency
partisanship will disappear in this
country.
If a guess were in order. it would
be that the Democrats will have the
speaker and will divide the house
chairmanships with the Republicans
But even II the Republicans are te
win, with the help of the little grouE
of independents, the struggle Will be
brief. If the contest should threaten
to engender strife and consume valu
able time, somebody will speak the
word that will rally the membership
to the support of the flag. and will
an uproarious outburst of patriotism
the house will proceed to put itself ir
working order.
A great many men look for the con
test to be decided in advance of the
session. Both sides are working tc
that end, and all the leaders expect
it, for they realize that public senti
ment would not indorse a partisan
struggle. perhaps lasting for weeks
and even months. as has been the case
in the past, at a time when the coun-
try Is facing an international situa-
ton of the gravest Importance.
|, It has been we'll said that the pres
ident has not called the special SEES
sion solely because of important leg
islation defeated in the last session
The call has gone out because the
country Is ON the verge Of war, and
the whole machinery of government
should be in operation at such time
to deal effectively with situations az
they present themselves. It thus hap
pens, as the matter is viewed at the
national capital, that the occasion ii
one calling for the display Of patriot.
ism. It is regarded as imperative
that the country should present ar
appearance of dignity, union, loyalty
and earnestness.
Dangers Pointed Out.
But II, instead of this, congress, on
converting, should find the house un
able to organize: II weeks and per
haps months should be consumed ir
fruitless balloting for party candi
dates, in which, because of the lacl
of a majority. the inevitable deals
and dickers should appear; and Il
during this delay no business coult
be transacted, not even the receipt o.
the presidents message, the impress
sion made upon our own people woult
be one of disgust and hopelessness
The consequence Of spreading tina
feeling abroad on what may be thu
eve of war would be harmful to thu
last degree.
1t may be said without fear of con
tradiction that If partisanship doesn'
stop at the waters edge on this oc
casion, the men responsible for tina
state of affairs will probably find thu
rest of their lives one long regret.
Since the beginning of the Civi
war every speaker has been named
l in caucus, and there has been nj
= spectacular fight for the chair in thu
: house itself. True, the party eau
. cuses frequently have been thu