The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1918-12-06

REPUBLICAN REcoNsTRUCTIoN

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REPUBLICAN RECONSTRUCTION
Washington, Nov. 1.-The Republic
can Publicity Association, through its
President, Hon. Jonathan Bourne, Jr.,
today gave out the following state
ment from its Washington Head
| quarters:
Hardly less important than our
preparations for war will be the work
of putin g the country in readiness to
resume once more the activities of
peace. In the recent elections the peo-
pie decreed that the task shall be car
ried on under the direction of the Re-
| publican party While it is possible
from the point of numbers for the
Democrats in the Senate and House
to enact the pending bill providing
for the appointment of a Reconstruc-
tion Committee by the Presndent, it is
not probable that Democratic votes
can be solidified behind such meas
ure. There are few Democrats in
each House who do not yield subserv-
fence to the President and who have
confidence in their own ability and
the ability of the legislative associates
to study and determine upon plans
for after-war reconstruction. The
Weeks Resolution providing for a
Joint Congressional Committee COM
posed of an equal number of members
of each of the two political parties
will more likely be adopted.
"But even if the partisans Of the
President should prevail and Dem
ocratic Committee on Reconstruction
should be appointed, there would be-
little danger Of the enactment of any
unwise legislation such committee
might recommend. The Republicans
will assume control of Congress on
March 4th and it is not likely that
much reconstruction will be enacted
before that time.
''In view Of the vast Importance Of
the reconstruction problems that con-
front the nation, it is particularly for
tunate that majority Of each House
of the next Congress will be Republi-
can. Under the shrewd management
of Reconstruction Committee made
fup of plant political henchmen of the
Administration, masquerading as in
dustrial and economical experts, sup
ported by subservient Democratic
Congress, fMr, Wilson would have
been able to put upon the statute
books legislation that, in practical eff
feet, would have provided by law for
long-continued administration of the
government by Democrats. That has
been the inevitable effect Of much Of
the legislation enacted during the last
two years. With the record before
them of the unscrupulous political eff
forts of the President and his party
leaders to maintain their control of
Congress, the Republicans have await
ed with trepidation renewed excesses
in autocratic legislation, in prepara-
tion for the Democratic attempt in
1920 to continue in the White House
Mr.. Wilson or man of his selection.
But the danger is now behind US.
Not only will the Republicans be in a
, position, after March 4th, to stop
further attempts at Executive usuf-
patton of legislative prerogatives, but
they will be able to put before the
President for his approval bills calcu-
lated to undo much Of the carefully
} prepared political structure that the
Democrats have built. Let Mr.. Will
: son veto such measures if he chooses
to do so. Every sound reconstruction
bin he refuses to sign will prove an
other nail in his political coffin.
"The people discovered that Mr..
Wilson is not infallible. This in spite
of the fact that every effort has been
made to impress upon the public that
criticism of the Executive was little
short of treason. They have been told
that acts of the President must be ac-
cepted without the slightest question
else encouragement will be given the
enemy. Doubtless amazed at his owr
audacity the voter decided to express
his convictions without regard to di.
rections from Washington. He has
found that many millions of the
4 American people think alike in their
estimate of the President. The re-
suit of the elections will give courage
not only to the individual to talk as
he thinks, but will stimulate the press
to give expression to the thoughts
that have surged in the minds o1
editors for many months. Freedom Of
speech and unbridled discussion o1
public questions in the months to com,
will mark the rapid dissolution o.
the hold the Democrats now have upor
the country and will spell an ever
more complete defeat for their part,
in 1920"