Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1918-10-31
CALL To
REPUBLICANS

The following address IS issued to
Republicans by VIII H. Hays, chair
man of the Republican National Com
mittee Read it, then act accordingly
is our advice to all Republicans:
''To Republicans: President Wilson
has questioned the motives and fidel-
ity of your representatives in Con-
gress. He has thereby impugned their
loyalty and denied their patriotism
His challenge is to you who elected
those representatives. You owe it to
them to the honor of your great party
and to your own self respect to meet
that challenge squarely, not only as
Republicans but as Americans. |, as
your chairman, call upon you to do it.
CALLS CHARGE UNJUST
"Mr. Wilson accords the Republi-
cans no credit whatever for having
supported the war measures propos-
ed by his administration, altho they
have done so with greater unanimity
than the members of his own party
Despite that, he accuses them of hav-
ing tried to usurp his proper func-
tions.
"That charge, as Mr.. Taft declares
in carefully measured words, is not
true. At no time and in no way have
they tried to take control of the war
out of his hands The President knows
that The country knows it. You
know it.
ga more ungracious, more unjust,
more wanton more mendaciOus accusa
ton was never made by the most reck
less stump orator, much less by a
President of the United States, for
partisan purposes 1t is an insult, not
only to every loyal Republican in Con
gress, but to every loyal Republican
in the land.
"Mr. Wilson grudgingly admits THAI
the Republicans have been 'pro-war'
Then, why does he demand their de
feat? Because they are still pro-war
No. It is because they are for peace
though not without victory; because
thew do not believe lasting peace can
be~obtained through negotiations; be-
cause they believe that U. S. stands
for unconditional surrender. The
Democratic Congress does not. There
is the issue.
"Mr. Wilson wants only rubber
stamps, his rubber stamps, in Con-
gress."
FEARS LOSS OF TRADE
Continuing, Mr.. Hays declares that
one of the Presidents purposes IS to
secure power to settle precisely as
he and his sole unelected, unappoint
ed, unconfrmed personal advisor may
determine"
Another purpose he attributes to
the President is commitment to free
trade with all the world, ''thus giving
to Germany out of hand the fruits
of a victory greater than she could
win by fighting hundred years"
GA Republican Congress-" says
Mr. Hays "win never assent to that "
''Do you want a Congress that
will?" Germany does. Germany
looks to Mr.. Wilson to get it for
her, as he pledged himself to do in
one of the few of his famous arti-
cles, which is inexplicable. Germany
understands that. See the New
York World, spokesman of the ad-
ministration. of last Saturday and
read the testimony of Henry c.
Emery, former head of the tariff
commission, just returned from seven
months in Germany.
" The Germn people, he says
seemed to realize that in President
Wilson lay their only salvation
They have turned to him in the be-
lief that he is the one great political
leader who can be trusted to make
a permanent peace which shall per.
nit equal economic development
URGES PARTY TO FIGHT
"Mr. Wilson forces the Republican
party to lie down or fight. | say
fight! Answer with your votesl
"Mr. Wilson is for unconditional
surrender; yes, for unconditional
surrender to himself of the Republi
can party, of the country, of tn,
allies-all to him. as the sole arbite-
and master of the destinies of tn
world
The war is a Democratic asset
shouted Vice President Marshall
And they have made every effort t
make it so, despite the earnest Re
publican insistence that we have n
contest as to anything that touche
the war except the contest as to VIII
can best serve, who most can give
''We are fighting in France t
make certain forever that men ma
have the right to govern themselve.
Here, where We have that RIGHT. W