The Cordova daily times. [volume] (Cordova, Alaska) 1914-1947, 1918-10-26

President Wilson, by taCit consent
of the allied governments engaged in
warfare with the German kaiser ana
the German empire, has become the
spokcsmen OF those governments, as
we'll as of that OF the United States.
The unique position which he now
occupies is the more remarkable in
view OF the fact that the Umled States
has no treaty of alliance with any of
the belligerents. And in view OF this
unique position the country and the
world have been in a measure pre-
pared for unique and unprecedented
steps on his part Thus 1t was some
what of a shock to Great Britain,
France and Italy when on January
last he gave utterance to the four
teen principles upon which, he de-
clared. a just and final peace must
be based But so much of wisdom, of
justice and high purpose was incor-
porated in these principles that all
of the entente allies unhesitatingly ac-
cepted them, and now the reluctant
and somewhat tardy consent OF the
central powers has been given to
them
Likewise when unity OF command
on the battle front was suggested the
idea found a ready response in all
allied countries because President
Wilson was among the first to espouse
it, 1t was a serious question in Great
Britain for a time but finally. after
crisis in which Lloyd George made
compliance with his attitude favorinG
the plan test of support of his gov
eminent. even the staid Brtons con
scented to turn the entire command OF
their armies over to the great French
gencralissimo, Marshal FoCh
Yesterday the people of the United
States were startled as never before
on the eve OF an election by another
unique suggestion from the President
bearing on the war situation. 1t Is
nothing more nor less than request
that the people shall consider the
forthcoming election a test of thet"
approval or condemnation of his war
policies. Unified command has been
accomplished on the battle field; now
he suggests that unity of command
be brought about in the councils of
the nation. He requests that the peo-
pie of the United States return to
congress a Democratic majority. q
have no thought" he says "of sug
costing that any party is paramount
in patriotism, but the difficulties and
delicacies of the present task are
such that the nation should give its
undivided support to a government
under unified leadership"
It is an unprecedented action. to be
sure. but one that the times and the
circumstances seem to justify. 1t
amounts to request that the
people give him a free hand in
the working out of the policies which
already have been outlined by him.
and which have been universally APP
proved DN the people. FOT himself
and his party he undertakes the great
responsibility that success or failure
entails.
One of the most commendable
traits of President Wilson's character
and of his work as chief executive is
that always he has frankly and en-
tirely taken the people into his conf
dence whenever any important crisis
developed, with the result that he has
almost invariably been In position
to voice the sentiments and asDira-
tons of the people of the country in
making his momentous decisions. In
the present instance it will no dOuh'
be true that the country will be in a
measure startled and even shocked:
but when sober inquiry is made into
the reasons for the Presidents re
markable request it will be foand that
there is not only logic behind it, but
the welfare of the Country-aye, of
the world
Republicans at the national capital
col