Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-01-25

NOT A PARTY QUESTION.

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NOT A PARTY QUESTION.
Senator Stone not only tilted the lid
which had for ten months suppressed
open mention of partisan politics in
congress and throughout Washington:
he actually upset the whole box Of
tricks, subjected the administration
to criticism and issued an open invita-
ton to the whole country to indulge
in the sort of political discussion
which it seemed had been barred for
the period of the war"
The Courier does not intend to par
ticipate in such a proceeding. Mr..
Stones baseless accusations do not, In
our opinion, call for extended defense
on the part of republican senators nor
the republican press. In common
with republicans in congress, The
Courier and practically every other
newspaper identified with the republi-
can party have given loyal support to
the administration Of President Wilson
since the nation became party to the
war. We intend to continue that
course as long as it can be followed
conscientiously.
He is a poor sort of American who
does not value the future of his coun-
try far more highly than he values the
welfare of his or any other party. That
statement applies to democrat and re-
publican alike. In its support of Pres
ident Wilson's general war policy The
Courier has been governed by that
fact, and its opinions have been
voiced without regard for their effect
on parties. But we would be less than
loyal If we were more considerable OF
democratic interests than Of republi-
can interests, merely because the pres
ident was elected on the democratic
ticket
Therefore, in criticising the lack Of
cooperation among governmental de-
partments and the failure Of the war
department in particular to measure
up to the mark it should attain, The
Courier has entertained no political
nor partisan animosity but has been
guided only by its desire to see re-
forms in the administration which
would improve Americas chances for
winning the war.
II happens that Iowa has repubh-
can administration, but that fact has
not deferred The Courier from criti-
cising the actions of certain state Off
Gals which, in our opinion, fall short
of the mark which should characterize
proper official procedure.
What follows, then, Is written with
out regard for partisan politics and
with an eye single to the interests OF
the whole country in that country's
greatest crisis.
President Wilson's ill-tempered re-
buke to Senator Chamberlain for the
latters assertion that the war depart
ment has been derelict Is reminiscent
of the Roosevelt administrations and
the "Ananias club" which the impul-
sive Theodore created. Accustomed
as we are to President Wilson's meas
ured sentences, his perfect diction and
his admirable poise, it is with some
thing of q shock that we read in his
statement of hast night that Senator
Chamberlain's statement as to the
present inaction and ineffectiveness Of
the government is an astonishing and
absolutely unjustfiable distortion of
the truth"
To be sure, Mr.. Wilson specifies the
present inacton," but he goes on to
defend Secretary Bakers whole course
as a cabinet official and, by inference,
to defend as we'll all the sorry story
of inefficiency, mismanagement, ne
elect and incompetency which Is the
record of some of the war depart
ment's bureaus from the day. not long
before war was declared, when Colonel
Rice of the ordnance department re.
plied to a manufacturers plea for or
ders to manufacture machine guns:
1--WE are not interested"
President Wilson cannot grant alb
solution to the men who have dem
onstrated and admitted their ineffici-
ency in the war department by assum-
ing responsibility for their actions nor
by his statement that mo mistake has
been made which had been repeated"
1t is regrettable that the presidents
defense of Mr. Baker and his rather
iu-tempered declaration that he will
fight to finish to block Senator
Chamberlain's bill for the creation Of
war cabinet should be presented to
the public at the same time with Sen.
ator Stones unprovoked assault on
the republican party. 1t is important,
for the good of the country and for
the administration, that republicans
understand that Senator Stones
speech was not inspired by the presi-
dent, but, to the contrary, was made
in defiance Of advice from some Of the
presidents closest confidantes, includ-
ing Postmaster General Burleson.
The fact that Senator Chamberlain
is democrat saves the president from
the charge Of defending Seccekaky