The sun., 1918-09-14
Safeguarding Democracy In the
United States-The Tumulty-
HAYS Incident.

Safeguarding Democracy In the
United States-The Tumuity-
Hays Incident.
The Republican managers In the
several States and Congress districts
are doing what they can to promote
the election Of Republicans to State
Offices and to the United States Sen
nte and House of Representatives
This Is natural. The Democratic
managers are engaged in the same
enterprise for the benefit OF the Dem
ocratic candidates for Federal or
State Offices. This Is normal and
legitimate function on the one side
as on the other; and so far as 1t Is
exercised in a proper way and with
equal loyalty to that national cause
which in Importance transcends all
the aims and interests Of organiza-
ton politics 1t cannot be censured
fairly from any point Of view except
that Of a dlsingenuous and even SIN
lister partisanshin
Nevertheless, the recent correspon-
dence between the Presidents pri-
vate secretary, Mr.. JOSEPH P. TUM-
1LrY, and the chairman Of the
Republican National Committee, Mr..
WILL II. HAYS Of Indiana, denotes
a confusion in some quarters as to
political ethics and fundamental prin-
ciples. This strange confusion re,
quires candid treatment.
The report which stirred Mr.. TUM-
uLIY to inQuisitorial activity rep
resented Mr.. HAYS as having eI'
pressed the opinion, at a meeting OF
Republican State chairmen in Chi
rcago on September 2, that "the Demo
cratic leaders at Washington would
not stop at anything they believed
would insure the reelection OF q
Democratic Congress this fall. They
would even end the war with any
kind of a compromise that would in
sure the continuance OF the Democra
tic party in power"
The President Is the self-avowet
and universally recognized leader al
Washington Of the Democratic party
IN the United States. If the languag,
attributed by report to Mr.. HAYi
Ind in fact been used by that gen
tleman 1t would have warranted ar
outburst of righteous Indignation OF
the part Of Mr.. WILSON. Nobod!
can blame the President for instruct
ing his private secretary to ascertain
without delay, and from Mr.. HAY
himself. whether the chairman Of thu
p Republican National Committee hat
IN fact publicly charged him with
partisanship 60 inscriptions and
sense of official responsibility 81
.shamelessly debased that he woult
compromise the war In order to elfc
q Democratic Congress. The ACCUSE
ton seems too ridiculous; but in 20
utIcal controversy ridiculous thing
are sometimes said.
IN Mr.. HAYs's frank reply to Mr.
TUMULTY he WIS able to disclaim tn
extraordinary language attributed T.
him. He had not charged the Pres
dent with a readiness to subordinat
the nations interests and modify tn
nations declared purpose In the grea
war merely, in order to procure
Democratic majority In the Sixty
sixth Congress! The Democrat
'leaders" whom Mr.. HAYS had az
cused Of INSCRIPTIONS and impair
otto partisanship were such local ma
chine leaders as those in Wisconsin
for example. who addressed to tn
soldiers Of that State ut Camp Gran
this unseemly appeal:
You are entitled to vote for Unite
States Senator from Wisconsin TO sue
coed Senator PAUL o. HusTINo. Pres
dent WILSON, your Commander in Chile
desires all loyal Americans TO vote fc
JOSEPH z. DAWES for Senator. DA
WEISS election means Joy at Washinsto
means gloom at Washington and 80
at Berlin"
While it must have been extremel
gratifying to the President to asce
tain on the very best Of authorit
that Chairman HAYS was gulltless {
the insensate imputation about whic
Mr.. TUMuLrY had inquired, his hol
est wrath must have been transferre
at once in increased volume to thot
local bosses In his own party. The
are daring, in face Of his declare
adjournment Of politics. to emplo
his iilustrious name land not merel
as President but actually as Con
mander In Chief to influence II
soldier vote in favor Of Democrat
candidates for the Congress. Ho'
swiftly and imperiously the Preslder