The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1918-10-29
Says Return of Republi-
cans Would be Harm
full.
WOULD CREATE IDEA
OF DISTRUST ABROAD
The Leaders of the Minority in the
Present Congress Have Unques-
tionably Been Pro-War But
They Have Been Anti
Administrative

President Wilson Friday appealed
to the country fol. vote of conf
dence "both at home and abroad
by returning the Democratic .con'
gress.
In statement addressed to "My
fellow countrymen" he said that the
republican leaders "have unquestion
ably been pro-war but anti-adminis
tration", and said election of Re-
publican majority to either house OF
Congress would certainly be inter.
preted on the other side of the wat
er as a reputation of my leader,
ship"
The Presidents lette1efollows:
ssMy Fellow Countrymen:
"The Congressional elections are
at hand. They occur in the most crit
ical period our country has ever fac
ed and is likely to face in our time.
If you have approved of my leader
ship and wish me to continue to be
your unembarrassed spokesman in
affairs at home and abroad, earnest
" beg that you will express your
selves unmistakably to that effect by
returning a Democratic majority to
both the Senate and House Of Rep
resentatives.;' .'.'. ,... - 20. =, T.
sI am your servant and will accept
your judgment without cavil but my
power to administer the great trust
assigned me by the constitution
would be seriously impaired should
your judgment be adverse and ]
must frankly tell you so because sc
many critical issues depend upon your
verdict. No scruple of taste in grim
times like these should be allowed to
stand in the way of speaking the
plain truth.
"The leaders of the minority in the
present Congress have unquestion-
ably been pro-war but they have been
anti-administrative. At most every
turn since we entered the war they
have sought to take the choice Of pol.
icy and the conduct of the war out
of my hands and put it under the
control of instrumentalities of their
own choosing. This is no time eth.
er for divided council or for divided
leadership. Unity of command is as
necessary now is civil action as it is
upon the field of battle. If the con
rol of the House and Senate should
be taken away from the party now
N power, an opposing majority would
assume control of legislation and OBJ;
ige all action to be taken amid con-
test and obstruction.
"The return of a Republican ma
ority to either House of Congress
= would, moreover, certainly be inter
breted on the other side of the water
IS reputation of my leadership
epokesmen of the Republican party
Re urging you to elect Republican
congress in order to back up anc
upport the President but even i.
hey should in this way impose upor
. ONE credulous voters on this side
# the water they would impose OF
10 one on the the other side. 1t j!
veil understood there as well as here
hat the Republican leaders desire
lot so much to support the Presiden
IS to control him. The peoples o.
he allied countries with whom W.
re associated with against German!
re quite familiar with the signifi
- ance of elections. They would fine
very difficult to believe that the vo
rs of the United States had chose1
support their President by electine
the Congress majority controlled
v those who are not in fact in sym
athy with the attitude and action o:
he administration.
:. Continued on Page 6.)