Evening journal., 1918-09-23
By GUS j. kARGAR.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23.-"I accepted
the chairmanship OF the National Re
publican Congressional Committee be
cause of the unanimity with which /
was rendered, guaranteeing the elm
ination OF all factional differences. Be
ing thoroughly convinced that a Repub
lican Congress is demanded in the in
terest of the country, | Obeyed the cal
from a sense Of patriotic duty"
This was the statement today OF
Representative Simeon d. Fess, or Ohio
former president Of Antioch College
whose participation in practical rather
than theoretical politics began in 1910
when he became a member Of the Ohio
Constitutional convention, and whose
experiences in the field. then new Ia
him, have rlpened since his entrance
into Congress in 1912.
lie attains a position Of national lead
. ership ina the Republican party with a
reputation in the House we'll estab-
lished. Always a student and a think
or, the days Of the classroom are fa
enough behind him TO relieve him both
Of inclination toward or reputation for
pedantry Throughout his Congress
ional career nc has demonstrated high
ability to avoid impractical theOrizing
and to apply profound knowledge to
the desiderata Of a progressive age and
nation.
Thus equipped, he assumes charge
Of the campaign, the purpose Of which
is to wipe out Democratic plurality
Of four in the House and turn il intG
a Republican majority, and TO rear
range the political balance in the SEN
ate, where the Democrats now control
by vote OF y to "A. Not an insigniil-
cant undertaking, but Chairman Fess
believes that it will be done.
| talked with him in his room i'm the
House Oflce building with reference to
The character OF the campaign that Is
10 be waged, with regard TO the issues
that will be urged upon the attention
Of the electorate. Although but re-
Gently inducted into his high office,
Mr.. Fess already had held numerous
conferences on the subject, had sought
the advice Of other leaders, and had
mapped out the situation in the orderly
manner which is hsbitual with him.
MY belief i'm Republican success in
the coming elections" he said, "is
based upon the conviction that the
public holds in high esteem the atti-
tude OF Republicans who before the
war showed their insistence for a poll
icy Of preparedness. and who since tn.
war have given vigorous support to
every measure Of war, even though by
so doing they added to the popular
prestige Of the opposition party, re-
spOnsible for the affairs Of government.
The Republican attitude, from the be-
ginning, has been an unscllsh one,
stripped OF all desire for partisan ad-
vantage. l believe the American people
appreciate that attitude and will voice
that appreciation at the polls"
Chairman Fess went at once more
deeply into his subiect-the conduct Of
the coming campaign.
mo active campaigning can begin. "
he explained, until the drive for the
Fourth Liberty Loan shall have come
TO an end on October 10. The Republi-
can party is so vitality concerned in the
success Of that loan, that IL can per-
nit no other consideration TO divert the
attention Of the public from il. The
winning Of the war is the first and
fOremOst-aye the Only-cOnsideratiO
The intense interest OF the Republicans
in the loan IS clearly shown by the
fact that Republicans OF both House
and Senate are doing their utmost so
TO shape the business OF Congress as
TO permit them 10 take individual part
I'm the campaign for the sale Of the Sc
curties. Their patriotic support Of the
loan precludes the possibility OF en-
tering them for campaign service be-
fore the success of the loan itself shall
have been assured. Then, and not until
then, the vigorous campaign which is
now being mapped out will be set in
motion. Necessarily brief, yet this pO..
lltical campaign will be Of vital i'm
portance 10 the nation. II will be con-
Quoted, along the lines with which the
public is familiar, through speakers,
literature, newspaper discussion, local,
district and Slate organization. / have
already conferred with the State chair
men and other conferences will follow,
i'm which candidates for Congress and
district chairmen will participate. OF
the cooperation Of the Republican Ma
tional Committee l am assured by
Chairman Hays with whom l have dis
cussed the situation fully"
what issues will be emphasized in
the campaign" l asked the chair
man.
More vigorous prosecution Of the
war will be the Republican demand" d"
he returned. Perhaps such real is
sues as involve an affirmative by one
party and a negative by the other may
be lacking. That is due TO the fact
that the Republican party for the dur
alton Of the war has abandoned the or
dinary function Of a minority party,
which is to hold up and oppose legis-
lation by the majority. We have not
constituted a minority party in that
sense, in fact, we may not PROPERLY be
designated the minority party in the
House at all In the major measures
designed to speed the war and develop
the war power Of the nation. the adj
ministration has been Obliged to turn
from its own unwilling leaders and
look TO eager patriots on the Republic
can side to assume the responsibility
which really belonged TO the Demo-
cratic party, but which il would not
shoulder.
Republicans have done much to
stimulate governmental war energy,
and constructive Republican criticism
has helped overcome Democratic negli-
gence and ineillciency that would have
scored heavily against us. Constantly