Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1917-04-20
WAsHMGroN's ONLY DEMOCRATIC CON.
GRESHAM

Comment of the Democratic newspapers of his
district on the action of Washngtons only Dem
ocratic congressman, C. C. Dill of Spokane, in
voting against the state of war resolution couple
of weeks ago. is highly critical so far as it
has come to our notice, except for the opin-
ion expressed by the Inland Empire News, pub
lished at Hillyard, near Spokane. Not all of the
Democratic newspapers of the state have COM
mented on Dill's action, but not one Of them we
have seen but takes vigorous stand in support
of the presidents policy, from which we may
rightly conclude that they likewise disapprove of
Dill's conduct The Democratic criticism Of him
in fact, is as vigorous as the Republican-his own
party resents his conduct.
Let us first dispose of Dill's one defender.
After quoting the congressman explanatory
speech in full, the Inland Empire News INDUCES
in lengthy comment, the burden of which it tells
in the following paragraph:
This paper insists that Congressman Dill
would have proved himself an untrustworthy rep
resentatve of the people of this district if he had
voted against his honest convictions, and that he
would have been a man untitled to represent an
intelligent people had he done so'
The weakness and fallacy Of this sort Of argu-
ment Is readily apparent and is exposed by the
Douglas County Press, whose editor has long been
oAe Of the most Democratic of Democratic editors
sf the state. Pointing out that Mr.. Dill prom
isd 70 stand by the president -Dill's whole
campaign for reelection last fall based the
plea, Stand by Wilson, and when the SUI
preme test came, failed,,' the Press declares
Congressman Dill stubbed his toe and studded
4 badly and adds: sIt is the duty Of congress
msn 70 protect the rights Of their constituency
and If they were not assailed in this case, there
never was case Of assailment. Mr. Dill
promised to obey the win Of the people, but when
~ test came, set up his judgment as superior to
thsirs. The worst feature Of it, the Press
adds il that Mr.. Dill by his vote gave aid and
encouragement to an enemy and gave coloring to
the claim Of the kaiser that we were not united
people. =
Somewhat along the same line is the comment
Of the Colville Examiner, another Democratic
paper in Dil's district While not SO outspoken
with reference to Dill, it says: 1.-THE real COM
plant that be made against Dill is that he did
mt change with the mass Of the people, but re.
tanned the former idea which many of us had that
our material welfare would best be subserved by
keeping out Of war"
The editor of the Davenport Tribune, published
in city whose residents at big mass meeting
adopted resolutions scoring Dill for his action,
also rejects the argument Of the Inland Empire
News. I'VE didn't want war, as has been repeat
odly said, none Of US wanted war" is his COM
ment, but when national crisis faced the Amer
lean people and the administration needed the
undivided support Of congress, it was no time to
oppose the president by either word or action and
Mr.. Din, with forty mine others who voted as he
did, should have risen higher than their personal
feelings in the matter and given their whole sup
port to the president. The statement that should
the war resolution carry, the government would
And them supporting it in every way, was weak
From these comments it may be readily con-
cluded that Dill's act is roundly resented by the
Democrats Of his district. The editor Of this
Newspaper has known him since college days-we
have feared he would elbow up sooner or later
Aside from the saving grace of having heretofore
been able to get away with his political ambitions
Diu has been failure, due to an opinion of his
own greatness which amounted almost to an OBJ
session His action in this national crisis is the
measure of him-he knew more than the president
did, more than his cabinet, more than nine -tenths
Of the members Of Congress
And knowing so much, he stubbed his toe and
zen into his own political grave He belongs
there--the state of Washington wants none like
nm, or his brother congressman, LaFollette, rep
Eesenting It in the national assembly.