The Washington herald., 1918-07-30
AFIELD WITH
THE
OBSERVER

Wilmington, Del, July 29.-1f
there is any place on earth where
politics could be adjourned" and will
be. this is the place.
But with chances growing stronger
daily that oficial fights are to be
waged, the adjournment" is apt to
take a different turn than the Presi-
dent spoke of in his memorable state
ment Of some time ago.
The people are going to adjourn
politics in the sense we think IL 1t. but
they're going to indulge in a great
deal of Americanism while they are
electing officials for the coming terms.
particularly those officials who have
to do with things at Washington.
Folks here are too busy to deal with
a multitude OF issues such as a strict
ly political fight would mean. Their
time must be taken up with essential
industries-and politics of a partisan
nature is very much un-essential these
days. This is the way they look at
it here.
The sole test OF candidates will be
their Americanism and their individ-
ual fitness for Office in the major re-
quirement of pulling with the party
in power to win the war. If Republic
ans can do this and measure up in
every way, and If they promise to
work hard, regardless of party.
toward winning the war. they will
stand a good chance of obtaining
what they want at the hands of the
voters. But II the Democrats promise
the same thing and show indications
of being as strongly fitted for the off,
ces as their Republican opponents
then these democrats may have the
inside track and may be able to per-
suade the voters to send them rather
than the Republican candidates to
office.
There is no sign here, however, that
the prewar records of candidates
will be counted too strongly against
them. 1t is a lonely man these days
who finds his present actions and
words able to jibe with his actions
and words of the three years preced-
ing the entrance Of America into the
war.
The President himself has been
guilty of Inconsistencies in this direc-
ton. and so has the party which
named him as its nominee and the
people who voted for him and who
were able to elect him over Mr..
Hughes. But this should not count
against the President any more than
1t should against some of the very
estimable gentlemen who did not vote
as he thought they should have voted
on some of the questions at the com
mencement of the war, or just be-
fore. This is the idea of many rank
and file people whom one meets here
III
ton of our great nation.
The Endorsement of the Davies CAM
paign in Wisconsin. for instance. is
not as popular as some of the leaders
thought it would be. II the White
House were to follow the same course
in the fall fights as was followed in
that affair the effect would be dis
astrous to the Democratic party and
to the country. It will not be fol-
lowed because some of the most alert
members of the House of Represen-
tatives happened to vote for the Nc.
Lemore resolution, and the Presiden'
and his Cabinet members are quite
as anxious to have some of these
members back as the members are
desirous Of coming back. The same
thing pertains to other issues which
came up from time to time in the six
months preceding Americas precipi
tation into the conflict.
There may be presented some Bol.
shevik candidates for office here this
year, and there unquestionably will
be German votes to be found goins
in their direction. But the effect
it is believed. will not be harmful
to the cause OF Americanism. The
loyal vote will take care of this ir
good shape. Many candidates are
openly proclaiming their desire t.
ALLEVIATE the German vote, while thost
candidates who might find It agree
able to cater to that vote are not max
ing their solicitations from the house
tops, by any means. They are go
ing to keep mum about 1t. In thi,
way they may gather some of tn,
unsuspecting voters into their camps
but the number will not be larg,
Of those voters who express them
selves upon candidates without frs
4 knowing in full their desire to ait
our country in winning the war.
The impression exists here that tn,
| Democratic National Committee ID
| to have a strong hand in conductin,
the Congressional fights and that tn,
course of the party Is to be chartet
| by men familiar with conditions oye
| the country rather than by men wh,
purpose to accomplish their end
through compelling others to bow I,
theix jvdgment. Which = Rnothe