South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-10-23
Other Editors Than Ours
No DIVIDED GOVERNMENT.
New York World.)

misfortune which may easily be turned into d national
calamity
This universally recognized The parliamentary
system Of Great Britain has easy that
try ayCd general election during years OF
but there is for the United States. The man
date OF the constitution Is neNoraole mouse OF rep
rcsenatyes and onethrd of the must be chosen
in November, come what may.
In the circumstances the only of the campaign
IS whether the American pc ope will carry the,
cEd establish peace through united government try
TO through a divided government That is what
election viii decide that decision the
Try must abide until March g. 1921.
80 question Of patriotism involved in this election
NO doubts that republican congress will be
as patriotic IN the accepted sense of the word as
/ democratic congress. No sane doubts that a
publican congress Will be loyal the Flag and
eager 70 win the war as democratic congress Their
individual democrats who have proved equally un-
verify, but these particular do affect the
eral rule that there is nothing choose between the
patriotism OF the two parties.
Nevertheless the election of a republican house
republican senate might readily work injury 10
the United States than Germany itself is capable Of in
hi2tng. That could about for the simple
that politics politics and politicians politicians.
A republican victory in the congressional election
would be interpreted 10y the republican leaders az PROOF
that the country had repudiated Prest Wilson's
duct and his peace. They would
nave right so 10 interpret H. and 10 act accordingly
They would inevitably seek the conduct OF
/ the presidents hands they did
before, when they seized upon the scheme for a
cabinet They would likewise put forth their
program, however much it conficted with the prest-
dents program. They could well say in ali
]
do and that # the country had been satisfied with
( PRIEST Wilson's way doing things would have
kept the presidents party in control of congress.
All this would a kind of political civil with
i'm the government United while the ma
ton was engaged greatest foreign all his
Unless the president prepared TO abdicate
and he would be bound to resist the encroach
ments a republican congress and whoever trumphed
the war-nlaking power United states would be-
weakened, while the peace-making power might be
nullihed.
These are not idle coniectures They are supported
r-
pie Just no" the elecuoh OF d republican congress
would be interpreted Germany only guess.
40 other the world is bitterly hated within
the kaiser'4 realms as Pres't Wilson no other mans
political discontinue embarrassment would be 50
enthusiastically welcomed. All the OF the Ger
men propaganda thrown against him in 1915, and
IL to congress in 1918 every German
paper would point the result conclusive proof
of the familiar German contention that Prest Wilson
forced United States the contrary the
WISHES of the American people.
This. however the least serious of the for
egn situation. because Germany going be beaten
regardless of what the Germans think OF the November
elections. What is far more important Is the effect in
Great Britain France and Italy in respect to Pres
Wilson's foreign policies lie Is recognized today as the
leader OF world democracy but it must be remembered
that his foreign policies have been accepted by
British, French Italian imperialsts, who have no
more liking a democratic peace than the junkers
themselves. These elements have been submerged by
The great waves of popular approval that have been
accorded Pres't Wilson's peace program,
but they viii quickly come to the surface again
il they believe that the president has
To divide the United states government in time OF
war dangerous and desperate eXpedient which can
be justified Only by the gravest of political reasons
No such reasons exist No argument can be advanced
In OF change which is not trivial and foolish
in of the tremendous consequences involved. We
20 not mean the democrats congress arc
collectively superior 10 the republicans i'm respect
whatever. do not believe they The fact is
that both parties i'm congress bankrupt i'm leader
ulanshp which opened The doors OF opportunity
IL congress has merely instrument regis
ter policies of the president it is because con
gres itself has been without single constructive poc'
OF its own for the presidents Intervention
tEe country would be houoderng in bog of legisla
tive incompetency.
The World holds no brief for democratic congress
cas- congress. No newspaper has spoken more freely
of its limitations and its ack OF vision and we should
be ashamed 30 advocate the election of democrats,
congress any and sordid partisan
advantage whatever faults the present congress
has congress chat has INSTRUCTED the conduc
Of the and thanks TO party discipline the presiden
has been able obtain from ii the greatest and best
war that any congress ever enacted An army
II 100000 American troops in France who ara tho
military equals of troops in the world, with rein
forcenens crossing the uninterrupted pro
cessiou of s0oO GOO month the unanswerable reply
TO criticism these and TO the manner IN
which they have been carried Out.
The words democratic and republican have little rea
meaning today but the old party lines still exist, tbs
old party prejudces and passions and ambitions have
not eradicated by the Politicians remain poll
tcans and the smaller they are the greater their
|pgcity for evil when they intrusted with power.
The American people want PRIEST Wilson 10 win thu
war. We believe they peace IN accordance witt
the presidents enlightened which has appeal
ed So viydly 10 the imagination and idealism of th
common people the whole world III that is the case
the least they do is give him congress tina
.vu harass him. that viii bedevn him. tina
IwlI not obstruct nina congress that viii be com
, |peIled by the unwriten OF American politics q
support and sustain him in carrying through Thu
iUighty task They cannot expect the president TO sue
iced they wantonly frvoously add his burden
by electng congress to oppose him When they 81
20 the polls they must remember that his failure vii