The twice-a-week Twin Falls times. (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1916-1918, 1918-03-14
Up TO RANK AND FILE


The action of the Republican com
mitteemen in charge of the manage
ment OF the next congressional cam
paign in deciding to make the alleged
failure of the war as conducted the
issue at the fall elections, following
the announcement of a program of CO.
operation between Republican con-
gressional leaders and Democratic in
surgents to prevent the administration
from getting legislation which it feels
necessary for the successful conduct
of the struggle. shows a purpose prev
iously pointed out by The TIMES to
defeat the international program Of
President Wilson. after first defeat
ing his national program and war
plans.
From a purely partisan point Of
view nothing could be more satisfac-
tory to the Democratic party than the
Republican adoption of this policy.
But from the viewpoint of effective
ness in the war. it can only result un-
fortunately during the progress of the
campaign Many of the greatest Re
publican leaders have by word and
act assumed positions which show
that they are far from even thinking
of attempting to carry out a program
at once unpatriotic and suicidal
What the rank and file of the party
thinks of such program is evident
from the result Of the special cleo
tions in the four New York City dis
trict March 5. to fill congressional va
cancies. All Democrats stood square
ly on platforms endorsing the admin
istration Republicans attacked the
Wilson war record. The following re-
port, which is worth repeating, tells
the story
The Democrats scored marked and
decisive victory in each of the four
congressional districts in which spec
ial elections were held yesterday, in
dicating popular support Of the poi
icies of the administration at Wash
cratic control in the House.
Three of the districts, ordinarily
classed as Democratic, returned plu-
ralities for the Democratic candi-
dates which, considering the size of
the total vote cast. were literally
overwhelming. The fourth district.
the Twenty-first, which is classed as
Republican. gave the Democratic can
dfdate a nluralitV of 9 102
So poorly did the Republican candi-
date run in the Bronx district, the
Twenty-secOnd, that he was "nosed
out" for second place by the Socialist
candidate, with a difference of 211
votes. Il was in this district alone.
however that the Socialist made any
showing worth mentioning. The fact
that the Socialist ran second will be
regarded as a severe reflection on the
Republicans. The Democratic can
didate had a clear majority in this
district of 1854.
If the Republicans constituting the
rank and file of the party attend the
primaries and make it quite plain,
while so doing that a "scuttle" pol
icy will not be tolerated: in other
words, if they effectively support
what they believe, the committeeman
viii be compelled to reverse their
plan OF campaign If they fail to dc
this, the New York result will be dup
Heated throughout the country in No
vember.
It is up to the Republican party
membership. If they adopt the atti-
tude toward war conduct assumed by
former President Taft, they can come
out of the struggle with credit; if thes
do not, their submergence as a party
will be inevitable and merited.
II further proof is needed that the
fatuous leaders now in charge of III,
Republican campaign. with theil
Democratic collaborators from trust
ridden states, are interested in defeat
ing the international policies of Pres
ident Wilson, it can be found in tA'
declaration yesterday of Republican
Chairman Hays. opposing the propos
ing of solutions for war settlement un
til the end Of the struggle. In othe:
words. do as the Salt Lake Herald
Republican advocated ~ drop oui
ideals.
These men fail to realize that it il
the enunciation of these very ideals
by President Wilson. and their adop
ton by liberal statesmen abroad tina
has united the laboring masses TO
Democracy. Considering the charac
ter OF the men behind Hays, it is cas-!
to imagine the sort of monopolisti'
settlement that would be made
should we drop ideals and place ad
justment in the hands of their masters
at the close OF the war This issue
from a partisan point OF view. the