The Butler weekly times and the Bates County record. (Butler, Mo.) 1918-1950, 1918-10-24
supp OF PRESIDENT WILSON
NOW URGED BY LESIIE'S WEEKLY
Norman Hapgood in Noted Republican Weekly
Says ."Never in History Is United
Front So Important"
Efficiency Considered Nothing Could Be More Stupid Than
Dividing Our National Strength in House and Senate

Les1ie's Weekly. known for many
years as the most partisan Republican
weekly published in America. has
come out editorially for the election
of Democratic Congress, that Presi.
dent Wilson may be certain of NO un.
divided support at this critical time in
the history of the world.
The editorial, which was written BY
Norman Hapgood. was like a bomb
shell in the. ranks of Republican poll.
ticians but was well received by the
voters Of the country generally. The
editorial follows in full:
Most people are incapable of
thought, except in rigid grooves. To
them the change through which the
nations of the earth are passing means
nothing greater than fight with Ger
many. It is bitter enlargement Of q
football game or duel. In domestic
politics they think as the party button
is pressed. One man or woman, cow
ever, out Of ten may be capable Of re-
Election, and the more or less indie
pendent voters may well decide next
months election. What is the central
question? It is the extent to which
you wish America to count in the di.
plomacy of the war and the rearrange.
ments after the war. II the partisan
opposition to the President is In.
creased in the House and Senate, our
power abroad will be vastly weakened.
II the Senate, the treaty-makinq
power, should be captured against tho
President he would be almost help.
less. Happily, he has been able to kill
off some of the most determined ene-
mics in his own party, like Vardaman
and Hardwicke. II he holds his own
against his adversaries in November
the United States will have more to
say about the future than any other
country.
~ have no interest in the Democrats
as such. Looking ahead 20 years,
say the Republicans have as much
probability of creative work as the
Democrats. But Woodrow Wilson hap
pens to be President. and l do say
that. regardless Of party altogether,
but merely considering efficiency,
nothing could be more stupid than to
divide our national strength by turn
ing over the House, or, still worse, the
Senate, to men under constant party
temptation to prevent the President
from doing his best for the country
and the world. Never since the Civil
War, perhaps never in history, was It
SO important to present united front
at Washington. Whether or not the
war is fought in vain, leaving the
world far more wretched than before,
depends largely on the degree of in
fluence exercised by the United States
on the other belligerents, both on our
enemies and on the Entente. Create
at Washington situation where the
House and Senate will be seeking is
sues against the President. feeling in
auty bound to take the opposite view
Of the settlement from any he may
take. and you hand the future Of the
world over to the other beliige:cnts
Put behind Mr.. Wilson Congress
eager to support his policies and YOU
make him the guide out of the wilder
ness. You give to the United States
he most powerful ruler in the world.
You make of the future an American
'uture; disinterested. constructive
uture. You do your best to assure
continued peace and brighter world,
Is payment for ruined futures and
wrecked homes"