Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-10-31

/ .
danger from the Democratic view
point. These men professed to believe
the President would have annihilated
the Republican party If he had taken
II into his confidence and relied upon
the successful outcome of the war for
the prestige which that would give.
| They also objected on the ground
that in making the appeal the Presi-
dent was compelled to admit the equal
patriotism OF the Republican organ
ization as compared with the Demo-
cratic, which in turn left the infer
ence to be drawn that IL was personal
/ loyalty which the President sought
rather than loyal adherents to the
cause of the country.
They frankly feared bareback
from the appeal. But since it was
made there is absolute unanimity of
! Democratic belief that ii shall be
backed up. They realize that since
the President has asked for a vote of
/ confidence failure TO receive it would
have extremely serious consequences
TO the Democratic party. The inten-
sity with which they feel this is
assumed to be responsible for the
somewhat violent political argument
advanced by certain members of the
Cabinet among whom Secretary Dan
iels has assumed prominent posi-
/ tion because of his characterization
/ of the Republicans as 'Junkers."
Has United Republican Party
/ Never since the split in the Repub-
lican party over the Taft-RooseNelt
contest has there been such unan-
! unity of spirit among Republican
( leaders whether they were once "Old
Guard" Republicans or Progressive"
! folx
Miles Poindexter and others are join
+ ing hands with representatives of the
regular Republicans like Lodge, Pen
IIose, Smoot, Nelson and others.
Reports from all over the country
/ received at Washington are to the
effect that the Republicans are fight
| ing mad. mad clear through, and that
there has been remarkable realign-
ment of the party. The doubtful ele-
Iment of the situation lies with the
/ possible effect of the appeal among
the rank and file of the Republican
| party, which like the rank and file of
/ the Democratic party, is intensely
! loyal to the country and which has
been taught to regard party lines
Tightly in the past few years. Demo-
Gratis hope and Republicans fear that
this element of the party will prefer
p 10 support lUt IENSluGlll NOW NAAAAS
the war is in progress and leave party
matters to be settled later.
! In spite of these elements of doubt,
! Republican leaders believe the ap-
peal to the country has fallen on
deaf ears. They insist the country
| is no more of the opinion that the
success of the war depends upon the
| election of a Democratic Congress
/ than was the Senate impressed with
! the belief that the passage of the
woman suffrage amendment was
necessary to its successful prosecu-
ton.
They point out that the present
/ Democratic administration was elect
ed by the aid of Republican votes
and that the country acted upon
/ the assumption il was electing
/ party group to keep the country out
of war rather than 10 conduct one.
One of the issues that will be
/ clearly settled in the contest is
whether the country believes the war
should be fought TO a definite con-
clusion or whether there should be
a settlement by negotiations. Sena-
tor Lodge, who would become the
chairman of the Foreign Relations
| Committee of the Senate in the event
that body becomes Republican, has
left no doubt of his position. He
stands for unconditional surrender
of Germany. That position is sup
ported by such Senate leaders as Nell
son, of Minnesota; McCumber, of
North Dakota, and others, while the
two former Presidents. Taft and
Roosevelt. leave no doubt as to the
/ position they occupy.
For a Coalition Government
Republican leaders to-day definite
I ly predicted that the next Congress.
/ House and Senate, would be cap
/ tured from the Democrats.
They base their prediction upon
! the belief that the voters throughout
| the country resent the appeal to put
| only Democrats on guard and they
/ indicate that the verdict at the polls.
/ while il will not be in any sense a
/ reputation of the President. will be
a verdict for a coalition government,
with the present Democratic Presi-
dent continued in power supported
/ by a Republican Congress
/ The fact that the principal COM
mittees of Congress are now in the
/ hands of men whose war records are
/ decidedly dubious, is one of the chief
/ reasons Republicans give for expect
/ ing the voters to change the political
] complexion of the House and Senate
I The appointment of such men as
Lodge at the head of the Foreign Af-
fairs Committee of the Senate; PEN
| rose as chairman of the Finance
| Committee, it is pointed out, will in
| sure the settlement of peace terms
upon the basis that the majority of
the American people desire, and the
drafting of a revenue measure which
VIII distribute the burden of taxation
/ in an equitable manner.
AS indicative of the attitude of
many voters throughout the country.
a telegram from the three county
chairmen in Iowa was received bv
Representative Towner to-day. in
which it was stated that the Repub-
licans of that section resent the in
sinuation that a Democratic Con-
gress is necessary to winning the
war.
We stand aghast at Wilson's an
peal for the power OF. Caesar" the
communication stated. We believe
that Republicans in Congress who
have led in legislation for national
preparedness and for vigorous prose-
cution of the war can more safely he
trusted by 100 per cent. Americans To
make peace terms with Germany
than Democrats of the Kitchin. Dent
and Clark type who have obstructed
that legislation. We indorse Senator
Lodges two-word platform of nm
conditional surrender and oppose any
peace by negotiation"