New-York tribune., 1918-01-10
National Committee Will
Gather in St. Louis on
February IL
To Solve War Problem
Plans To Be Laid to Capture
Next Senate and
House

William r. Wilcox, chairman of the
Republican National Committee, yes
terdav sent out notices calling meet
ing of the National Committee, to be
held in st. Louis on February L.
Mr.. Wilcox said, concerning the OBJ
jects Of the meeting:
cat a meeting of the Executive Com
mittee last year, it was decided to have
q meeting of the National Committee
once a year. Inasmuch as at the cleo
tions next fall an entire new House OF
Representatives and one-third of the
membership of the Senate Will be
chosen. directly or indirectly, we be-
lieye it is exercising sound Judgment
for the Republican National Committee
TO Get together for conference and ac-
ton.
There has not been time in many
wears when it has been more important
for Republicans to gain control OF the
House of Representatives and to eject
as many Senators as possible as this
wear. The Importance OF the economic
questions that will come up for solu-
tion at the close of the war, or even
before. cannot be overstated. The his
tory of this nation in the last sixty
wears shows that the Democratic party
has never shown competence, particu-
larry in crisis, in dealing with the
great economic questions of the cOun-
try The importance, therefore, of the
coming elections cannot be Overestl-
mated.
War Is Nations Chief Interest
"The all-absorbing subject of the day
is the successful prosecution of the
war. The United States has practically
underwritten the stupendous undertak-
ing, and it is our clearly defined duty
to so consecrate our spiritual and ma
ferial resources to the task as to bring
to pass victorious and lasting peace.
'The Republican members in the
Senate and Congress have shown the
highest degree of patriotism in sup
porting every measure looking to the
prosecution of the war. The Republi-
can party. in the present crisis, must
not be disgraced by any Val'andighams,
either in the Senate or House. l be-
leve that the Republican candidates in
the elections next fall should all be
men who are devoted to the principle
OF supporting the government in bring
ing the war to q victorious conclusion.
"Ths is no time for recognition of
obstructive pacifsts, no matter how
we'll meaning. they may be, nor is it e
time for good citizens to be divided
in their zeal for upholding the govern.
ment. National unity should be the
watchword all along the line. This
does not mean that there should be
any slackening of the efforts of Re.
publicans to elect Congressman and
Senators in the fall elections. The
Republican party stands for fealty tc
the government as no other political
organization ever did or can.
Many Chairmanship Rumors
Mr.. Wilcox would not discuss the
rumors from Washington and other
sources to the effect that the National
Committee at its February meeting
would select a new chairman. 1t is
understood that he attaches little OF
no Importance to the rumors. Hi,
supporters have made an informal can
vass of the committee, and demon
strated that no one of chairmanshir
size is reaching out for the place a
this time. The chances are that thing:
will run along as in former years, thu
chairman holding Office for the full
four-year term.
While it is admitted in Washington
and elsewhere that the so-called col,
guard" element in the Republican Na
tional Committe would prefer som
man of the Smoot or Penrose type, tn
friends of Chairman Wilcox asscr
that the more progressive elemen
dominates the committee, and that i,
any "showing of hands" the Roosevelt
Hughes Wilcox men will clearly dem
Onstrate control of the committee