Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-11-02
The Real Issue.

nc 4NCc1A ISSLE.
President Wilson's appeal for a congress which
VIII strengthen or least not weaken, his hand il
dealing with peace problems and IN the interna-
t5ouaI maueuyeriug that viii inevitably attend the
tee5ustructon does not apply in the Fourteenth con-
sressoual district because the presidents party l.
making no contest here. It does apply, however in
the election Of d United States senator from Illinois
ana in that form is brought home to the voters Of
his community.
There is no use trying ignore the fact that The
Republican party remains the party Of the vested
interests This odious term is one which should not
have been mentioned in this campaign but there is
Id way 10 avoid resorring TO it,
In his outline OF war detectives the president
included pledge to give every country. so far as
it, lay in his power an break with every other
country The small and the weak were not to be
bulIied and subjugated by more powerful neighbors,
nor were the same ends to be attained by oppressive
and unfair commercial regulations. And theTein lay
The rub
The free trade nightmare rose in the minds Of
certain eminent Republican leaders at the bare hint
Of trade equality. If that became accepted pol
icy their occupation would be gone forever, There
would be no chance Of revival Of the fat campaign
special tariff 1avors The big party guns which were
bored to use only standard high tariff ammunition
would be slenced once and for all The American
manufacture, with superior production methods,
better labor and abundance of raw material might
hold his own in fair competition with tie rest Of
-la world but tie old fashioned Republican poll
licans would be out Of d job.
While the issue Of the war remained in suspense
che aforesaid O. F. r P remained dscreetly silent,
BUT no sooner had it become reasonably certain that
should triumph ana that the principles that the
president enunciated and our allies had endorsed
might soon be put 70 the test than commotion be-
came audible in high Republican circles. Colonel
Roosevelt declared the presidents principles were
thoroughly mischievous," meaning that they were
too liberal too lair and just if you please. The
colonel very frankly intlmatef that he thought tho
United States. being now the big dog in the pack.
ought to grab off few bones for itself Nobody
q could stop us and it would be so easy! Else what
was the use Of being big dog?
The colonel and some others whose chief business
is politics set out to gather following and their
lvites-the pressure they brought to bear to force
this country to repuLiate its fair promises-to be
plain -welcher." caused the president to make his
appeal for q congress which will continue to back
aim up
There Is not the slightest question in the mind Of
any wen informed and fair-minded ulinoisan as to
the respective positions Of the candidates for United
States senator in this state Senator Lewis has been
an ardent supporter of the president throughout the
war Medlu Mccormick has not supported the presi-
lent in private life would he support in con
gress and for the fundamental reason herein set
forth.
The voters should make their choice on this ISSUE
-or there other involved in the campaign that
approaches it in Importance