The Washington herald., 1918-07-19

They talk. on the hill. about rub
ber-stamp" members OF the Senate
and House.
They mean members OF either body
who follow blindly and implicitly the
course laid down to them by the
White House. The term. therefore.
is OF interest because the campaign
this fall is likely to have something
to do with the matter.
Cases OF ''rubber-stamp" work, or
course, are to be found on the hill
Many members do no thinking for
themselves but rely on their support
of the President and his popularity
to carry them through any and every
political emergency.
These men, however, deceive them
selves. The President wants men TO
follow him on the big issue Of course,
and on necessary war legislation.
But he wants Congress to work out
the details and he believes men should
express themselves frequently and
decisively on the details OF all legis-
lation. He thinks more Of men who
do SO than he does of men who never
take this course-and he thereby
Yields to a pronouncedly American
tradition in SO doing.
II a campaign issue 10 made OF the
matter, in the race against some OF
members running for reelection, It
will bring on a discussion OF the cub
ject which will considerably enlighten
the politicians. Moreover, 1t will
probably be the means OF showing the
American people Just what kind OF
an executive the President IL, ana
lust what men stand with him in bow
ing to the basic principles OF repre-
sentative government. 1t will point
the way to so-called rubber stamps
and it will further give clue to the
people as to what may be expected
at war sessions which would not be
expected of ordinary sessions OF Con-
gress. In other words, this disclosure
OF the real situation In Congress will
probably end in the illumination of all
dark spots, and the complete vindica-
tion of the White House and Congress
in the present relationships, which
relationships are not and never have
been determined necessarily by the
rubber stamp"
Senator Knox, we are pleased to
announce, has made great headway IN
the work of keeping Hiram Johnson
in the Republican party. The chances
are, from a very recent review ct the
subject by a few confidential friends
of Chairman Hays, that Senator
johnson will be. strongly entrenehed
In the Republican fold this fall ana
that he may be found on the stump
for Republican candidates.
The work. however, Is not ended.
80 hAy
beIligerent Californian until 1890 when
they hope to reverse the Presidential
results in his home State. II they
can do that Senator Knox will prob
ably be voted cross of devotion
by members of the party's committee
and it may then be said of MIN that
he has conformed entirely to the
highest traditions Of the State from
which he came. We said Mt the out
set of the disclosure of this matter.
months ago, that Senator Knox was
the very man to be assigned to this
ta ask-and we say It again with re-
ncwed fervor.
The sight Of japanese minister
praying In the United States Senate
gives added weight to the efforts Of
Vifcount Ishii and the members OF
the pro-American party In Japan to
have the utmost friendly feeling with
the United States. Now that 1t Is
clearly apparent that We worship the
same Master, 1t Is apparent that we
should get along with the Orientcl
nation Just the same as We do with
other brothers OF the cause.
Before we get through with the
great work we are in We will convince
the members OF the anti" party In
Jaran, as well as the "antis' In our
own country, that the two nations
can live in concord and need not cross
each other. A few more offensiYes
on the part Of the allies In France
and this conviction will grow more
strongly upon us-and upon our dark
er-hued little brothers across the
Peace ocean.
II time proves that Theodore Roose-
Welt has really lost a son abroad. add
ed weight will be given to what he
says IN matters pertaining TO the war,
For he will be looked upon as q man
who gave supreme sacrifice to the
cause which he has so ardently IL not
always wisely advanced, With four
sons IN the armies OF Freedom and
with all of them having fought on tho
hattie lines, the colonel Is well forti.
fled In his insistence that America do
its utmost IN the cause of right. Wa
think perhaps the Colonel spoke his
full heart when he said at q New
York meeting last fall that he would
Infinitely rather be In the thick OF It
than have his sons there. but that u