The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1918-10-26
parties occupy the high offices and the
war cabinet of these partisans.

~
When the Civil war broke, Lincoln,
the Republican, called into his cabinet
the great minds Of the Democratic party
to help him to carry through to a success
full conclusion the great war for the pres
ervation Of the union. And Lincoln did
so over the protests Of the small politi-
clans Of his own party who then, as now,
can see no virtue except within the con-
fines Of their own partisan organization
But Lincoln was great enough to over
ride hotse Of small minds and to endure
the bitterness of their criticism.
The English government at the pres
ent time is spending about half as much
in the conduct Of this war as is the Unit
ed States. Several reasons may contri-
butte to this, but not the least Of these is
believed to be the fact that with the par
ties having an equal share in the actual
administration Of the war and dividing
equally the responsibility, a more econ
pmical conduct Of war affairs is. possible
than in this country where one party as
sumes the principal positions IF power
and attempts to assume all responsible
ity. The result Of this in some cases has
been that gross extravaganza has been
practised.
! This waste has been especially notice.
able in the matter Of aircraft production,
where, according to reports Of investi-
gators, many millions Of the peoples
money have been wasted and the air pro-
gram delayed at great expense of time
and perhaps of lives as well.
The Republicans at times in the last
year and half or so have refrained from
attempting to right things that they
could plainly see were going wrong, be-
cause they feared that their criticism
would be interpreted as of partisan char
acter, while they knew that such criti-
cism would be purely patriotic service.
Finally in conjunction with loyal Demo-
situation, they brought about investiga-
tons that have resulted in immense good
though very late, and in the speeding up
of the war. But for this theywere de-
(, nounced in some quarters almostsas trail
tors as were the few Democrats who
stood with them.
And yet-get this-when President
Wilson asked the Congress to pass the
first Selective service law, Mr.. Dent, q
Democrat, chairman Of the Military AZ
fairs committee of the House, refused
absolutely to give the support asked by
the President and it was necessary for
julius Kahn Of California, Republican
minority leader, to come forward and
carry through the bill that meant so much
to the administration in its effort to
make war measures effective.
But-also, get this-when the Repub-
licans Of the House by whose efforts the
selective service law had been passed,
asked that Congressional committees be
appointed to oversee the expenditure of
money that had been voted for war pur-
poses, the Democrats lined up soidly
against the idea, saying that such COM
,lnittees would delay the work of the war.
| Now with the billions of dollars spent
and scores Of -storics afloat as to the ex-
travagance Of the expenditure, nothing
apparently can be done in the matter and
Congress and the people are left to twid
| die their thumbs.
Under coalition government this sit
uation could not exist because one party
under such circumstances would have
kept an accurate check on the other,
many millions of dollars would have been
saved and the war instead of being hin
dered would have beenspeeded.
1t is certain that no nonpartisan nor
omni partisan conduct of the war can be
expected under the present administers