The Washington herald., 1918-09-24

cans are evincing In insisting that
election of their congressional candi-
dates will mean the utmost OF war
support for the administration con-
vinces US more than anything else
that their support. In truth. win be
were they elected
| For how can they expect the voters
to believe they would not be friendly
TO the administration when the sug-
gestion they will not be friendly fills
them with the greatest amount OF
antagonism one has heard from them
| in some time?
The mere mention of antagonisni
! fills them with antagonisn--an antag-
onism so deep and so bitter. because
| of its depth, that 1t takes no micro
scope to see what would be their
| feeling II they gained control Of the
Senate and House during the Wilson
administration
Fancy Henry Cabot Lodge. as head
of the Foreign Relations committee,
| trapsing up to the White House to
secure permission to speak on an In
ternational subject and insistent that
he should have the Presidents vtetE-
point firmly in mind while so doing.
Fancy Boies Penrose calling fSi
presidential sanction before he under
took to dissect appropriation figures
and expenditures. for fear that some
person might insist indiscretions had
been committed by the present ad-
ministration. Can you see his de-
fense. now?
Fancy Charley Curtis Fastening to
Tunulty's ONCE TO fortify the latest
ro-administration speech In defense
Of policies to which Curtis was fun
damentally opposed but which in the
good year of 1913 he had told the
people Of the nation he would uphold
quite as FIRMLY as any Democrat could
Fancy Warren Harding phonins
vigorously to the private room of the
President TO inquire if he might not.
with propriety be given commission.
within an hour. 10 defend to the ut
most some phase Of the wars con
duct-do YOU fancy the Ohioan tug
gtng anXiously at the telephone cord
as central dillv dallies with the call
and he is unable at the instant, 20
communicate with the head OF the
nation?
Fancy John Weeks or "1lmmy"
Wadsworth shouting orders TO the
forces within the sacred chamber in
sisting at all odds that the Presi-
dents measures be passed at once. and
without modification. that every wish
Of the President shall be gratifed
without dispute and without question
Fancy Senator Knox spending his
evenings helping Secretary Lansing
with some Of the big mail-or poring
over some secret message that has
just come from an important diplo-
matte center-fancy Knox, we say.
lending a helping hand because he.
too. had once been the incumbent OF
this place.
Fancy VIII Hays running over
every few days from Indiana to see
that the Presidents wishes were met.
and that no Repub an dared suggest
that anything the President wanted
should be denied him for moment
fancy Nick Longworth and Simeon
Fess and others without number
doing things the way the Democrats
DO theT1.
Dou think il possible7
OF course you don't-aud neither
does anybody else. Why, the RepIb-
own statements that their support of
! ne administration in the war would
; be more instantaneous and fruitful
than the Democratic support 1t is
impossible-the very height of impos-
sbllity-and they know IT and their
leaders know it
So why. in the name Of patriotism.
try to make the American people
think otherwise? Is IL fair to the
Democratic party TO try to do this?
Is 1t fair to the Republican party?
Is is fair to the country at a seri-
on time like this?
Senator Thomas. all fun TO the rear
said something about Secretary
Lanes department being run by
heads Of other departments.
The trouble is not as serious as that.
I The truth is. there are energetic
Ccbinet officers whose duties some
times overlap and the more active
ones find themselves assuming duties
/ which perhaps other officers could
quite as well assume or perhaps
might better be trusted with. if the
work is to be performed with the ut
most efficiency.
The trouble. however. is not serious
enough to warrant a Congressional
! investigation. or a thorough probe By
the President. 1t is something that
can be Strengthened out by the Cabinet
officers themselves. And this COZ rs
OF action will be taken before any Of
the Senators can say Jack Sprat."
hat is. the officers will follow this
course IL they want to save the Presi-
dent the trouble of taking their cases
| into his hands.
THE OBSERVER.