Arizona republican., 1917-08-21
It is MT. Gerard's Fight

We hope that this will be read in connection with a communication which is printed this this morning. from MT. H. N Spofford of Ray, reader of The Republican who we think misapprehends editorial which he crtcises with fervor. The statement to which he refers is made by MT. Gerard Germans believed that the last presi dential election national declaration against war an in any circumstances and that so long MT. Wilson president, America could not be provoked to We will let MT Spofford fight that with MT. Gerard friend and appontee of the president. and certainly qualified by his position and intimate rea ton with the German leaders form opinion what they thought.
 It is true that Germany did not like MT. Wilson and concede that a majority the Germans in country opposed him. though the election figures dis closed much smaller majority in strong German American centers than was expected The German vote in this country however could not be construed to be vote for against but a vote against MT. Wilson because German moulders thought in Amer ica had taught their f6llowers-that MT. Wilson had been unfair to Germany ThatShas nothing to do, though with what Mr. GerardEfeand in Germany
 In its comment the statenent of MT. Gerard. The Republican agreed that while there could be no doubt that the Germans in Germany construed the re- election of MT. Wilson be yate against war, that did rot in any way affect the course of Germany; that the ruthless submarine warfare would have been entered if MT. Hughes had been elected The Republican does not believe that the could been averted by any possible result election In any event would have had fight lie down.
 Equally misapprehensive is MT. Spofford to the attitude of The Republican toward the administration It has advocated everything MT Wilson has asked congress to do except to establish censorship It has urged that the president given power and it has opposed every scheme proposed in congress to restrict and ernbarrass him. believes that policy of the country in should be formed and d rected by with supreme power without any limitations except such imposed by the loosest possible construction of the constitution It is the duty in the opinion of The Republican, of all Ameri- can citizens to support any relating to the counduct of the whether they think it is wise not But every citizen and every newspaper has the right to criticise not adopted and adopted plans but the means by which they carried out. That is prvilge that is exercised in all the allied governments and it has in the present at least twice saved Great Britain from destruction But for the newspapers and their merciless exposures the muddling politics of the Asquith government Great Britain would have the saving ministry of Lloyd George.
 Mir Spofford will recall closely what he has read in the Republican within the last nine months he will fail to find expression of regret the presidential election any hint the decara- ton of state of war, that would have been more wisely and ably conducted by another admins tration than MT. Wilson's We have no means of knowing that it would have been We know though that there other administration and that the war be conducted only through the existing one that it not be successfully conducted without the in teligent support of the people