Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1918-02-21
Plain Words on Party Politics.
st. Louis Glohe-Democrat.

VOW 'aah " &t.J
The National Committee of the Re-
publican party meets in st. Louis to-
day for the election Of n chairman and
the consideration of such other mat
ters as may come before it. The
Glohe-Damocrat welcomes these
eminent Representatives of the party
whose principles it has SO long and
ardently supported, and whose battles
it has helped TO fight to many
triumphs and to few defeats. But it
has a few words to say on the subject
Of party politics i'll the crisis and it
feels that this IL the time to say them.
They are not, however, directed at
the national committee, for we have
no reason to believe that its attitude
is not in accord with ours.
The supreme test Of a party, as Of Il
citizen, Id loyalty. Measured by this
standard the Republican party has
never been found wanting. Born In q
passion for national unity, it has ever
been distinguished by its firm ad-
herence to the highest ideals OF ma.
tionism. tt has hattled for a united
America on the fields, in the halls OF
legislation, on the rostrum and at the
polls. "America" il written on its
heart. The word il there now, this
day. craven Deep, deep, inerasable.
Ii has proven this in the great cam
paign that ia O being waged for the
preservation OF human rights and
Christian civilization against the on
slaughts Of a degenerate but powerful
barbarism, Republicans Of every
rank have joined heart and soul WITH
their brothers of other faith in .he
battle for the common cattse. Cast
ing aside all partisan bitterness. al
partisan prejudice, all thought Of par
ty profit, us unworthy of them in thi.
hour, the masses OF the party and
most OF its leaders have drawn up witt
uneAampled solidarity for the suppor'
OF the nation.
But now an election is approaching
and a few Republican politicians are
saying the party must abandon this
spirit and action OF whole-heartat
and disinterested cooperation anc
"stand as a party Of constructive
criticism" "The Republicans Of the
United States" says one of these
''have a patriotic duty to perform in
this war, and that is to exercise theil
legitimate function as a party in OPP
position to the administration to re-
duce 10 the minimum the wal mis-
takes of the administration" And il
is urged by some that a campaign fol
the congressional election should be
inaugurated upon the basis Of thil
principle. A "party Of opposition
is Il party Of antagonism. No euphemF
ism a disguise or alter that fact
A campaign along this line would sure
ly array a large element Of the peopl,
against the government. 1t woult
mean a partisan campaign that, how
ever 1t might be CLOSED by patriot,
phrases, would be for partisan ends
Instead OF solidifying the people II
support OF the M great cause that Il
far, far, far above all parties, it wou!'
split them into wrangling factions
Instead OF the splendid teamwork 0
the past year, we should be pulling
one against the other. The partisan
spirit would be intensified on boil
sides. The war would not be speed
ed up" but delayed, hampered, an
from the seeds Of discord might grow
defeat. "United we stand, divided W
fall" II ia an old saying, but ii 10 su
premely true The Globe demo
J crat believes in party organization
II believes that parties are ~essentia
: to democratic government. 1t
profoundly devoted to the principle
Of the Republican party. But when
nations honor and its life are al stake
everyone of its political element
should act in coalition and accord 70
the national interest alone. We war
/. to elect men to the next Congress (
! high intelligence, of assured loyalt.
l.. and OF unqnestioned honor. It mat
tiers little In this emergency what "
label them, II We know that they ar
Americans in every sense OF the prou
term. l..
: Constructive criticism Is good. ]
y IL necessary. The American peop.
will not be blindly led by any man (