Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-11-04
Don't Desert Your
President Now Is
Sen. Lewis Appeal

Chicago, Nov. 4-United States
Senator James Hamilton Lewis,
candidate for reelection as the
man President Wilson wants and
asks for, went mo the Sixth and
Seventh wards on the south side
urging voters not TO rebuke the
president al this critical hour.
The senator said:
Il ask my fellow citizens to read
the appeal of the president and for
themselves see its meaning. | ask
them 20 drop taking the construc-
ton OF the partisan leaders and for
= moment remember how the false
construction was born.
This le ter of the president was
in the hands of the newspaper
press three days before it was re
leased. 1t was in the hands of the
managing committees of political
parties in every state of the union.
The head managers calling
themselves Republican leaders.
conceived there could be an issue
made out OF the letter and prompt
ly made the accusation that it re-
fected upon Republicans by asking
that only Democrats be elected.
In this way suddenly it was
borne in upon the Republicans that
there was a reflection upon them
by the note. In this way their pa
triotism to their party could be ap-
pealed TO over their patriotism TO
their country. In this way the lead
ers could delude the followers for
In Of
Il now ask the citizen to look at
the letter and notice that the pres
ident gives you his reason for max
ing the appeal, showing you that
the reflections upon you, made by
sO-cailed Republican leaders, were
wholly absent from his mind and
contrary TO his object.
The president tells you that in
the foreign countries they only un-
uerstand an election is transpiring
Because of this he will be weak
eued in his efforts at the peace ia
BE and the soldiers would be weak
ened at the battle fronts by the
presumption that the country had
returned q majority against the
policy of the president, which IS
the policy of the people and which
is the policy for which your coun-
try is fighting
Il appeal to you to see that it
asks you TO divert the matter Of
party pride only for the season Of
one election. l appeal to you 10
note that you will nave an election
shortly following this. when you
elect every officer of your govern
ment, from your president down,
and then is your privilege to set
forth any issues as TO your home
and elect your congressman and
president anew upon that
1t is for this short season Of
this single election that you are
asked TO put aside the party name
where there is no difference on any
home issue between the political
parties in this day.
i call to your attention that If
you do not now give the president
men Of his own party name, al
though they do not differ from the
Republicans in principle, you Will
invite every ally 10 believe that you
have followed the opposition to the
president and have returned a con
gress opposed TO him.
The allies will be confused and
discouraged in their cooperation
with the president, fearing what
they do will not meet the approval
Of the senate which has been elect
ed OF opposite name to the presi-
dent and in opposition to his party.
The enemy Will see that those
are elected who are opposed to the
president and who made their issue
of opposition 10 giving the presi-
dent the aids he asked and made
their issue upon the ground OF de
feating the president in this de
mand.
And because of what it means 10
cur country at this hour I appeal
to my fellow citizens to reflect in
caImness and behold the injustice
certain OF our citizens, called Re
publicans. but who are patriots.
were about 10 do. caused by being
misguided and deceived by those
whose object it was to use them for
the mere purpose OF office.
Il appeal TO you 10 look and see
the truth Of the letter. believing
the Scriptural admonition that 1t
is the truth that shall make US free
and I know that il is your patriot
ism that will rescue your country,