The Washington herald., 1918-07-13

The editor CT the Brooklyn Daily
Eagle, anxious to hear what Demo
Gratis thought C the statement Of
Chairman Hays. CT the Republican
National Committee, that politics be
mot adjourned" this fall. asked SEN
ator Hitchcock. chairman of the For
eign Relations Committee, to reply
to Mr.. Hays.
reply, which goes full to the heart
OF the discussion, has been given con-
siderable attention on both sides of
the fence. since it appeared. In
part, Senator Hitchcock says:
1T is true we in the United States
cannot go so far as they do in the
countries associated with US and post
pone all general elections while the
war RACES. Our Constitution provides
that elections must be held every
two years though the heavens fall.
I'VE must hold them or go through
the form of holding them. But why
is 1t necessary for the leaders of
the party out of power to seize upon
these elections to make politics dur
ing the war; as Mr.. Hays proposes
Why can the leaders of the Repub-
lican party not forego any possible
opportunity for political gain till the
war is over. or at least past Its
crisis? This has been done and Is
being done in our co-beiligerent coun-
tries. Freed from the necessity to
make any political campaign Lloyd
George. in England. Clemenceau, in
France and Orlando, in Italy, are
left free to conduct the war. Must
President Wilson be distracted from
this great task by an attempt to
deprive his administration and his
policies Of a supporting majority in
the Senate and House Of Representa-
tives?
Mr.. Hays seeks to Justify his
energetic and overzealous attempt
to secure a Republican majority in
the House and Senate by the declar-
alton that the war does not stop
the historic line Of cleavage be-
tween the two parties. but only ac-
centuates it."
That may be true, but IL true
1t is no more true of the two, part
les in the United States than ii is
OF the opposing parties in other
countries. 1t may justify men of
both parties in. maintaining their
party organization to be used when
the war is over. 1t does not, how
ever. justify any party organiza-
tion in, attempting to deprive the
Administration of its harmonious
support. in Congress. To install a
Republican majority in the, House
and Senate, or in either of them,
would imperil the existing harmony
or government in carrying on the
war. 1t would breed discord and
controversy and might lead to dead
lock and governmental impotence.
IF the approaching general cleo
tion were one in which it were pos
sible to change the whole govern
ment, the executive, as we'll as the
legislative branch, there might be
some Justification for a vigorous
party conflict because then the Re-
publican party. IL successful and
intrusted with power, could pro-
coed with the war, free from dis
cord. but the Executive cannot he
changed. The Democratic Execu-
tive must remain the head of the
government for the next two: wears
He must be the authority to out
line policies and propose plans. In
such an international crisis as
this. no one less than the President
can do so. A legislative body can
not fight a war although It can co.
operate with and support the Execu-
tive in the conduct of the war.
But Mr.. Hays goes further than
to assert the right Of Republican
leaders to infiame the country with
the passions of party politics durine
this war. He practically. attempts
to deny the President the right of
defense. He questions the 'propriety
OF the President in endeaxorins te
maintain the existing party majori-
ties in both Houses. He cites wiscon
sin and Michigan as fields in which
the President sought to Use his per-
sonal influence for this purpose.
TN other words, Mr.. Hays prac-
tically takes the position that Re
publicans leaders are justified in
seeking to deprive the President OF
the support of q friendly and SYM
pathetic majority in the Senate and
House of Representatives while the
President, on his part is not. justi-
fed in an effort to oircunlvent this.
Il am sorry that it Is. necessary
for the President to sthinktof elec-
tions at all. -stas.- ,s
Il am sorry that IL Is necessary
that he should be disturbed over
the possibility Of an adverse party
majority in the Senate and House
Of Representatives.
IN am sorry that he should be