New-York tribune., 1918-09-13
Republican Chairman De.
nies Using "Compromise
Peace" Quotation
Denounces Methods
Used in Wisconsin
Letter to Secretary Urges
Cooperation in Work to
Defeat Germany
Especial Dispatch TO The Tribuuo)

WASHINGTON, Sept. 12.-Win II.
hays. chairman of the Republican Ma
tlonal Committee, yesterday, in answer
TO telegram from Joseph p. Tumulty,
secretary to the President, said it was
not true that he had said to the Re
publican state chairmen that the Dem
ocratlc leaders at Washington "would
even end the war with any kind Of a
compromise if that would insure con-
tinuauce Of tho Democratic party in
power"
He tells Mr. Tumulty what he did
say to the Republican state charmen
III Chicago, and he charactcrizcs the
conduct of the Wisconsin Democratic
machine managers "as an infamous
prostitution of all patriotic proprictes
and the grosscst violation of the plain
est civil duty"
CHAIRMAN Hays was reported by a
Western newspaper as having said:
The Democratic leaders at Washing
TON would not stop at anything that
they believed would insure the re-
election Of a Democratic Congress this
fall and Democratic President two
years hence. They would even end the
war with any kind of a compromise if
that would insure the continuance Of
the Democratic party in power"
Hays's Letter
Following is Chairman Hays's letter
to Secretary Tumulty:
Dear Mr.. Tumulty-
Il have your telegram. On Septem-
Der 2, in Chicago, | attended meeting
OF the Association Of Republican State
Chairmen, called by its president and
AT that meeting | made remarks refer
ring IN general way to the length to
which Democratic leaders are going in
their efforts to control the Senate and
House. and also as to the irrevocable
stand of the Republican party for a
vigorous prosecution of the war and
against an inconclusive peace.
What Hays Did Say
~ did not use the words quoted in
your telegram. What | said then.
which now reatfirm and which shall
continue to declare, was substantially
as follows:
"First as to the means rcsorted to
by certain Democratic leaders to get
votes, | said:
TN the special election in Wiscon-
sin the Democratic machine leaders
published advertisements, undenied
since by them, addressed to the sol
dicrs at Camp Grant. as follows:
To the Wisconsin Soldiers at Camp
Grant-Tuesday April 2, you are en-
titled to vote for United States SEN
ator from Wisconsin to succeed SEN
ator Paul O. Husting. President
Wilson, your commander in chief,
desires all loyal Americans to vote
for Joseph Z. Davies for United
States Senator. Daviess election
means JOY at Washington and gloom
at Berlin Davies's defeat means
gloom at Washington and joy at
Berlin.
"Grossest Violation''
Il regard this as an infamous prosti-
luton OF all patriotic proprieties and
the grossest violation of the plainest
civil duty, worthy Of the severest con-
cemnation of all Americans. In this
crisis. when all patriots are striving
to bring to the aid Of the country's
cause every resource in men and ma.
tcral, when thousands Of Republican
and Democratic boys are dying side
by side. when both political parties
are loyal, such conduct is immcasur-
ably represensible. From such action
1T is evident, and l regret to say it,
that these Democratic leaders Will 20
70 any length to carry the Senate and
House.
Such unpatriotic efforts to use the
war for partisan purposes must fail.
SUCH inevitable failure was indicated
BY the Wisconsin result; it was fur
ther shown in the Michigan primary.
and it VIII be conclusively proven in
the Maine election next week The
american people will not tolerate it,
Ihls is the war of no political party.
inns IS the peoples war, and we de-
mand that the war be kept out of
partisan politics and that partisanship
be kept out of the war And what
we ask from the party in power we
lrrevocably pledge for ourselves
Back of the War
Second, as to the imperative neces-
sity of a vigorous prosecution of the
war and conclusive peace only, and
the need Of Republican Congress to
that end, and III connection with
discussion Of the candidacy of Mr..
Ford in the Republican primary in
Michigan and his statement as to why
he became candidate, and while re
viewing the service Republicans in
Congress rendered the major war
measures which were opposed by the
Democratic leaders, Chairman Dent of
the Military Affairs Committee Floor
Leader hitchin, chairman of the Ways
and Means Committee, and others,
said:
"'We demand the most vigorous
prosecution of the war and a peace
with victory. A Republican Congress
means q war Congress, and We pledge
cur candidates to be men who are
supremely pro-American, who will give
the country's all for the winning of
the war now, and who will stand
irrevocably against any peace based on
compromise Of principles which
would violate American rights. in
tercsts and honor, and make of our
sacrifice sacrilege. TO be made again
by our grandchildren. | hope and
trust the Democratic party viii work
by the same token.
"Recognizing as we all do that there
will always be politics, am pleased
to advise you what | said to these Re
publican state chairmen, because | in /
sist that our politics be open and ac-
knowledged and on a plane and Of
character that needs no subterfuge, /
and that there be no political partisan
ship in anything that touches the war
Appeals to Democrats
Further, | now take the opportunity
to appeal to you directly and to the
Democratic organization, as | long ago
did in my reply to Colonel George
Harvey's letter, to join with us in this .
effort to keep partisansnlp out of the
war and the war out of partisan poll
tics. This is no time for little things I