Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-09-18
Big AUDIENCES
HEAR M'kELvtE
ON WAR ISSUES
Grand Island and Shelton
! Deeply Impressed by PoIit-
ical Speech of Candidate
for Governor.

vie, republican candidate for govern.
or, and H. G. Taylor, candidate for
railway commissioner, addressed two
fousing meetings in this city and
Shelton. Their meeting in Grand
Island was largely attended and the
replies made by Mr.. McKelvie to
the personal attacks on himself
made by the democratic press Of the
state and his discussions Of war is.
sues made deep impression on his
audien-s.
During bic address he said,
The democrats seem determine
to make the war partisan issue and
are attempting to place a stamp OF
disloyalty upon all those who do not
vote the democratic ticket this wear.
This Is wholly false issue and will
! feel sure. create a very bad con
dition in our country unless the
people Immediately place their
stamp OF disapproval upon it.
In other states they have al
ready done so and I feel sure that
Will be their attitude in Nebraska
Two years ago the democrats went
forth to the voters with the slogan:
he kept US out of war;" and thew
used that slogan effectively in sbite
OF the fact that they must have
known that it was inevitable that
pur country would be drawn into the
war, and preparations should have
peen under way at that time for the
nit: " 'AA'
Now they attempt to say that the
democrat party is the only one that
san prosecute the war vigorously in
spite OF the fact that two wears AGO
they denominated the republican
party as the war party" | submit
that It the democrat party, which
was the peace party two years ago,
could prosecute the war as vigorous
y - has been done in the past
eighteen mouths, it is impossible to
comprehend the tremendous results
that would be brought about if the
war party, as denominated by the
Auemocrats, were placed in power.
Y Not Partisan War.
This is neither a democrat nor =
republican war. 1t is a war in
which the people of our nation have
ENLISTED their support for the causes
OF freedom and justice among the
people and the nations of the world
we all believe in its righteousness
ana the very great majority of the
people OF this nation are standing
valiantiy behind the administrator
ana the government in the prosecu.
non OF the war. In congress and in
every other important office, repub-
iicans as we'll as democrats have
shown their fidelity of purpose to
the cause for which we fight. and it
has been proven upon eyerv hand
that those who attempt to raise the
spurious issue of partisanship in this
hour OF the nations greatest trial
10 so tor purely selfish motives.
Among those who are fighting
our country's battles TODAY are as
many republicans as there are dem
ocrats. and it is very questionable
tribute that the democratic party
pays to them when it assumes that
IN this tight they are being actuated
Dy partisan motives. The much
aeraided "bon6res in Berlin" which
the democrats want to use on every
occasion, claiming that this will be
Inc result if the republicans are
elected this fall, is an imputation
against the loyalty and integrity of
purpose OF our veterans who fought
IN the past wars of this nation, Our
soldiers. who are fighting now, and
the great number of loyal people
throughout the entire land.
In matters pertaining to the war
I! consider the State Council of De-
tense the most important BODY in
our state today. Indeed, l consider
y OF such great Importance. that
1t am elected it shall be INV mr.
pose to give freely of my time in
the aid and direction of its activi-
ties. will urge that its Offices be
located in the state house, and if
necessary will gladly turn over to
1t the large Office of the chief
executive in order that it may be
conveuiently located so that | may
keep in constant and immediate
touch with it at all times.
Defense Council Important.
Regarding its membership. |
have already said in a public State
ment that so far as my authority
goes in the matter of constituting
the personnel of that body, | shall
select men of known ability, integ-
rity and loyalty This is no reflec-
. ton upon the council, as it is or
eganized at the present time, and
would state here that ] think the
present council in its activities dur
ing the past year has been actuated
by the most patriotic motives.
The only criticism which l have
to make is that certain individual
members of the council have, by
their associations and activities, per-
mitted the people to feel that it
was being used for partisan political
purposes. Already two of its men,
bers have resigned IN order that
they might be candidates for office,
and another is engaged in political
activities which subject, the council
% the severest criticism. If | am
elected / shall do everything in my
power to remove the stigma of
partisan politics from the Council
Of Defense and this means that
win have to remove from it mem
Der who is now subject to that def
aition. / refer to Mr.. Herbert E.
Gooch. u
Il know Mr.. Gooch personally
very we'll and esteem him as
! gentleman and friend, but as one
I 81 the bosses of the democrat party
the Council of Defense should not
be obliged to carry the burden of
his partisan activities. His removal
would be only in keeping with the