Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-07-19

REPRESENTATIVES, declared Former
United States Senator Elihu Root, in
an address he delivered here tonight
before the informal Republican State
Convention.
The proper conduct Of the war
REQUIRES loyal Republican. in Con-
gress,'' continued Mr.. Root NO
government can afford to go on with
out the tests and criticisms Of policy
and performance which can hardly
be furnished during the continuance
OF this war except by putting Repub-
licans in Congress. With the ire
mendous power which the eXigencies
Of war have vested in the executive
branch of government, il is very diff
ficult for legislative members of the
party in power to express, or indeed
to form. independent judgment, and
to subject measures proposed Tor leg
islatiOn To the process OF correction
and improvement BY discussion and
.nendment yet without this, terri
bile mistakes are certain 10 he made.
\ study Of recent legislation Will
show that the independent support I
The Republicans in the Senate and in
the House given TO every forward
step Of the President in t-.e conduct
of the war. not because 4 party lead
er told thcm to give it, hut because
their loyalty and Judgment con-
strained them to give it, has been of
the highest value. No nation can
dispense with the kind of independ-
ent and fearless service which was
rendered by Augustus Gardner of
Massachusetts when he led the fight
for preparedness. and by Julius Kahn
OF California when he led the House
of Repre- cntatiVes in the passage OF
the selectiVe draft act. 1t is a mod
crate ST tement that a large part of
the democrats who exercise power n
Washington are not very familiar
with til. vast and complicated indus
try and commerce and finance which
underIic The taXpaying power of the
United States. Nor are they very
/ sympathetic with the men who are
engaged in that industry and COM
merce and finance There are some
men among them who seem to feel
that an element Of punishment may
properly be included in taxation.
That is dangerous in the highest de-
gree Taxation should he absolutely
controlled by the purpose to raise the
necess2r,- revenue ana preserve the
sources Of revenue by fair distribu-
tion Of the burden, and unless there
is independence and courage to insist
upon this principle we are liable to
be hampered in the War by sharp
decline in our power 10 raise money.
There is another reason for send
ing Republicans to Washington aris-
ing from the effect upon American
political and social institutions which
must result from the measures nee
essary to carry on the war
We have been building up by a
great mass Of statutes an executive
authority unprecedented in scope and
, absolutism We have done it with
alacrity because it was necessary for
, the conduct of the war We shall
, continue il so Ions as the war lasts
, But when the war ends. all this sys-
, ten Of executive government vii
have to be unscramhled and we shall
have to get back to a government OF
limited powers and individual free
, dom. We shall not go back where
we were. That never can be done
! And it ought not to he done, because
we are learning valuable lessons an(
we must utilize Them in the rear.
rangement which follows the war
: But that Encouragement must be
: based upon the same Fundamental
2 principles which have made America
t great and free. Never in American
] history have brains and charactel
!. been needed more in the Congress o
= the United States than they will bt
I at the time, probably within the lift
. of the Eext Congress- when German,
t breaks and peace comes.
= Beyond that day Of victory, new
r world will rise from the ashes of sac
:. rifce. The new relations in a com
1 nlunity of nations subject to the ruiz
y of law and morals. and the exten
a sion ard development of The prnci
pie Of self governed freedom, win de
mand the highest capacity for pOlit
. ical organization and public service
! In that day the party that has beel
faithful to the right. without fee, TIL
: party that rises to the greatness o
0 these spacious times with vision ans
e unselfish devotion. Will have its re
r ward in the confidence and trust 0
= the American people"