Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-07-19
SENATOR ROOT,
NNEWYORK,
LAUDS G. or.
Says Wherever Loyalty is
Not Issue Republicans
Should be Elected.

not threaten, we should strive vtgor-
ously to elect republicans to the Sen
ate and the House of Representatives,
declared former United States Senator
Elihu Root, in an address he delivered
here tonight before the informal re-
publican state convention.
The proper conduct Of the war re-
quires loyal republicans in Congress-"
continued Mr.. Root. mo government
can afford to go on without the tests
and criticisms of policy and perform
ance which can hardly be furnished
during the continuance of this raj
except by putting republicans in Con-
gress. With the tremendous power
which the ~exigencies of war have vest
ed in the executive branch of the gov
eminent. it is very difficult for legis-
to express, or indeed to form, inde-
pendent judgment, and to subject
measures proposed for legislation to
the process Of correction and improve
sment by discussion and amendment
yet without this terrible mistakes are
certain to be made. A study of recent
legislation will show that the inde-
pendent support Of h republicans in
the Senate and in the House given to
the conduct of the not because a
party leader told them to give it, but
because their loyalty n Judgment
constrained them to give it, mas been
Of the highest value. No nation can
dispense with the kind of independ-
ent and fearless service which va
rendered by Augustus Gardner Of
Massachusetts,. when he led the fight
for preparedness, and by julius Kahn
of California, when he led the House
of Representatives in the passage of
the selective draft act. It is q moder-
ate statement that a large part Of the
democrats who exercise, power in
Washington are not very familiar with
the vast and complicated industry and
commerce and finance which underlie
the taxpaying power of the United
States. Nor are they very sympathetic
with the men who are engaged in that
industry n commerce and finance.
There are some men among them who
seem to feel that In element Of pun
ishment may properly be included in
taxation. That is dangerous in the
highest degree. Taxation should be
absolutely controlled by the purpose
to raise the necessary revenue and
preserve the sources Of revenue by
fair distribution Of the burden, and
unless there is independence and cour-
age to insist upon this principle. we
are liable to be hampered in the war
by a sharp decline in our power to
raise money.
"There Is another reason for send
ing republicans to Washington arising
from the effect upon American politi-
cal and social institutions which must
result from the measures necessary to
carry on the war.
1--WE have been building up by a
great mass of statutes an, executive
authority unprecedented in scope and
~absolutism. We have done it with
alacrity because it was necessary for
the conduct of the war. We shall con-
tinue it so long as the war lasts. But
when the war ends. all this system of
executive government will have to be
unscrambled n we shall have, to
get back to a government of limited
powers and individual freedom. We
shall not go back where we were.
That never can be done. And it ought
not to be done. because we are learn
ing lessons and we must uti-
lie them in the re-arrangement which
follows the war. But that re-arrange-
ment must be based upon the Same
fundamental principles which have
made America great and free. Never
in American history have brains and
character been needed more in the
Congress of the United States thar
they will be at the time, probably
when Germany breaks and peace
comes.
Beyond that day Of victory, a new
world will rise from the ashes OF sacri-
fee. The new relations in a com.
munity of nations subject to the rule
Of law and morals. and the extension
and development of the principle OF
sef-governed freedom. will demand
the highest capacity for political or