The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-02-19
IT WAS THE LINCOLN WAY.

white bouse along with democratic leaders to-
confer with him concerning legislation needed
or proposed is characterized by sectlon OF
the press as ''the most radical step ne mas
wet taken Heretofore, as is pointed OUT, tile
nations executive has seldom taken republican
Headers in congress into his commence lhe
treason he does SO now is evident. A faction
of his party opposes the further extension %
executive powers at the expense OF the leglsla-
tive branch he now demands and unless he can
secure republican support, the measure seems
doomed to failure.
i Rut whatever the reasons which have lea
the president to consent to consult with lnnu-
entail republicans hereafter from time 10 tllne,
there is nothing radical about 1t except that
lit is a departure from his policy OF LOOKING
only to his party for support. In botn houses
of congress the political parties are OF nearly
equal strength. One is as loyal to the nation
as the other and there never was any reason
why the president should not consult Win all
the congress leaders concerning the conduct OF
the war, Instead of being radical step 1T IS
such natural and reasonable step, sueh d
iproper and expedent step that the whole coun-
try has wondered why he did not take 1t before.
This is not a party war, not congress ma
i iority war. not an administration war and not
. oneman war. Were it all of these things 1t
Ewould be poorly carried on 1t is peoples
war. and tens of millions of citizens are sacrl-
fcing Just as much, even more, than the ciiiei
Executive or any member OF his CABINET 10 wage
lit to success In a similar emergency the great
Lincoln sent for his personal and political enc
inv and outspoken vituperatlve critic stanton
and astounded him by offering to make nm
secretary of war. As Stanton stammered the
president said in substance: This IS very
critical period in the life OF the nation, as you
are we'll aware. [ know you are as mucn ihlef-
tested in sustaining the government as myseli
or anv other man This is no time to consider
mere Yartv issues The life of the nation is IN
dancer and T need the best counsellors | can
find - This was the way in which the wlsest
ruler in history met a crisis similar to the one
facing President Wilson; and IN view OF the
course he took it hardly seems as though the
presidents determination to confer with con-
eress leaders of both the parties could prop
erlv be called a radical step.
By sponsoring the bill introduced by Senator
Chamberlain providing for draft registration
of all men who have arrived at twenty one
wears Of age since the last registration and also
-iss of all male persons, citizens OF the onted
States or residing in the United States, who at
tain the age of twenty-one years before the next
! date of registration the government makes
sten forward toward universal military serv-
ice. The Army and Navy Journal urges the
s further step of enrolling for training all young
S men between the ages Of nineteen and twenty
) one. These boys should be made ready for
e service but not made eligible for service with
e out further legislation. By such an enactment
e the nation would be safely and economically
/, prepared for future military needs while the
men trained would not be drafted to actual serV-
It ice unless need made it compulsory.
H. ---------------
o The French ambassador at Washington
IS speaking for his government, declares that the
If French republic will safeguard the interests OF
II the Jewish people and their ancestral claims on
a Palestine while at the same time protecting the
s. rights Of other nations and creeds in the shrneS
W of their faiths in the holy land This is the first
official assurance that France will join with
" Englang to make Palestine national home FOL
lie such Jewish people as desire to go there ano
" make the city of David seat and center OF
d Jewish culture The cooperation of America
N also is unquestioned; and who can doubt that
n the united voice of these three great democra'
it cies will be potent to accomplish any righteous
s. purpose in which they are agreed in the epoch
s. at the end of the war?
10 Mr.. Bryan is reported to be now at work pre-
y pairing his next summers chautauqua program
~ A lecture on Preparedness, illustrated by
a. motion pictures of that 'milion men springing
o,,,c own. Uou1J he lra hit