The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-10-29
THE DEMOCRATIC CAMP AIGN OF 1918
By Homer S. Cummings rVice-Chairman of the Democratic National Committee


 leaders of the Republican party, being quite aware of this situation, have sought to forestall 1t by urging that 1t would be better for the country to elect a Congress adverse to the Ad- ministration, than to choose one in harmony with it,
 The mere fact that such a sugges- ton Is seriously made is an indication of extreme poverty of invention, and proof of the hopeless plight in which the Republican party finds itself.
 The Republican party is a minority party. It is without a single attrac- tive issue upon which it can go be- fore the ctountry, and it is unable to suggest an alternative program, which the American people would, for one moment, think of endorsing. For ambitious politicians, who have made no pretence of adjourning politics, this is, indeed, a most distressing predica- ment.
 Manifestly the overwhelming bust- ness of America is to win the war. This a purpose to which all other considerations are subordinate. The outstanding fact is that President Will son is not only President of the Unit ed States and Commander-inCh O. the Army and Navy but he is the leader of his party, and is at the head of an administration which is actual ly conducting the war, and conduct ing 1t with success. The fundamental difficulty which the Republicans con- front grows out of the attempt to jus tify a distinction between support oG the President and such limited sup port of the President, for war pur- poses only, as the Republican leaders in their wisdom, think proper. To persuade majority of the American people that. it Is wise to make such |, distinction will require more plausi- bility than the Republican leaders 2 possess. It is a program whicT :. counsels domestic and political con 2 fusion during a period of war. It is a pregnant with opportunities for DO litical "sniping" and can serve nc purpose of patriotism. The resolutt spirit of the people at large require: a whole-hearted support of the Ad ministration. Any attempt to equiv ocate or to draw fine distinctions car lead only to the discontinue of tht person or the party making the at tempt. The great mass of our peo pie believe in the President and pro pose to stand by him. Surely thu Administration would be in a bette position to devote it's energies to thu problems of the war if supported, il Congress, by those who have conf : dence in 1t, rather than by those who openly or covertly, seek to take ad vantage of it. Our President ha become the leading figure in the af fairs of the world, his influence wa never greater than it is today, hi words carry into every quarter of tn globe and the statesmen of the alliet governments have accepted his lead ership. It would be a sorry com mentary upon popular government the results in November should i'm pair, in the least degree, the inf1uenc h of that illustrious and commandin figure.
 To Readjust the Processes of Peace
 Neither has the Republican part. as an organization, in any wise, purs ed itself of it's ancient vices or mad itself a trustworthy vehicle for tn expression of the best thought of tn American people. It is still marrow partisan and provincial. It has neitI CT fully grasped the significance ( the democratic ideal nor evinced an adequate appreciation of the grea ness or destiny of America. Durin all this formative period, when gref undertakings were afoot it has coi tented itself, for the most part, wit gloomy foreboding and futile crit cism.
 There is, today, a general recogn ton that the great purpose to whiC our people are committed has bee carried forward with expedition ar success. To readjust the process of peace so as to serve the activit of war has been an undertaking r quiring leadership of unexampl skill. So striking has been the r suit, so prompt has been the respon of the people, so free have our pub affairs been from any suggestion scandal or improper influence, that scarcely lies in the mouth of tho who conducted the Spanish-Americi war to indulge in the luxury of cri cism. This great business of t war has been scientifically handled.
 The plans of the AdministratiC avoiding the bizarre, the abortive a the spectacular, have been carefu considered and effectively mature Today we have one and one-half m lion men overseas, well armed, w provisioned, properly support sound in health, adequately train and under competent military lea ership. Day by day the numl grows. Under the careful adm istration of the Selective Draft La the uninterrupted flow of men
 France will continue until the victC is won. It is fair to say that leaders of the Democratic pa knew how to conduct the war.
 ingenuity of phrase, no plea of D
 tisanship will seduce the AmeriC people into taking any action in ! vember which would indicate a des for a change of leadership or inv
 the disturbances which would co
 of divided council
 Constructive Policies of the Der
 cratic Party.
 The present Administration
 been effective not only in war but
 peace.
 The nation has travelled far un
 the leadership of President Wills
 The Federal Reserve Law, vigorou
 opposed at tke time by Senator R
 and the administration for,
 has completely reconstructed the nances Of this country and pla
 our affairs upon such stable b
 that we have been able to meet great demands of the war with monetatry disturbance or the st