Omaha daily bee., 1918-03-31

A leading democratic congressman
conversing on the subject said: We'll,
that is just to keep the organization
going" That remark prompts a re:
view OF few significant events OF
recent happening.
Looking over the session beginning
in December and scanning the Con-
gressional RecordS republicans are
shown to have been tseadfastly aiding
constructive legislation with partisan
ship left out. This course did not suit
the leading democrats. The word went
around quietly that the republicans
should be driven into an attitude OF
not supporting the government in its
time OF peril. They figured that repub-
licans were not too proud to fight po-
litically. So the chairman OF the for
eipn affairs committee OF the senate,
Senator William Joel Stone. was Sc
lected on the 2lst day of February to
fire the 75.mile democratic gun.
ENERGIES FROM CLOUD.
As feeler, it was said with some
circumstantiality, that he had not the
sanction OF either the senate or the
president. He made a most vitriolic
partisan speech. 1t was remarked at
the time that the White House in no
wise rebuked him, but since that time
he has emerged from the cloud he has
for months been under and is now
basking in the sunlight of executive
favor. So much kor the senate.
Over in the hohse, Scott Ferris OF
Oklahoma, on day slipped through a
request by way OF extention OF re-
marks, a rabid partisan editorial by
Ex-Governor Glynn of New York,
who, by the way, presided over the
last decomcratic convention at st.
Louis, the burden of whose speech
was, "Wilson kept us out OF war"
Right here and now assert that no
more narrow, perblind, or prejudiced
article ever crept into the Congress
sional Record than the Glynn edi-
torial from the governors own paper
the "Times Union" of Albany.
Scatter Propaganda.
Some democrats shook their heads
in disapproval. But a republican mem
Der said, swat and see what's going
to happen" Well, something did
happen. A few days after Congress
man Dorernus of Michigan, chairman
OF the national democratic congress
sional committee, resigned and Ferris
Of Oklahoma, was elected in his place;
meanwhile the Glynn article, under
the Ferris frank, is being circulated
all over the United States free.
Members and republicans geenrally
began to sit up and take notice. The
senate had uncovered, the house had
unmsaked, but the public had been
waiting for the executive. II came
with more radical partisanship than
spoke the sente, through Stone, or the
house through Scott Ferris.
Look at Wisconsin.
There was vacancy in Wisconsin.
sIt had been said that the president
had advised democrats to vote for
Senator Knute Nelson. in Minnesota,
where of course a democrat would
have no show anyhow. The public
was divided. Some thought the pres
ident was going to be non-partisan.
Others said that he only intended TO
let the dutch capture Holland" Wis
consin was also republican, in way.
But il was so badly mixed that a
democrat stood show of election.
Democrats said the president could
not support LaFollette republican.
SO the loyal republicans came to-
gether from all parts OF the state and
finally agreed upon Lenrott, an able
and strong loyaiist and a staunch sup
porter of the president.
Lenroot beat the LaFollette can
didate. He received more votes than
both democratic candidates, while
Berger, the socialist received an
amazing vote. Was Davies, who never
had legislative experience, or de-
veioped any capacity for statesman
ship, who had been in no position OF
responsibility to record himself on an
issue before or after the declaration
OF war, withdrawn? No. But before
the result was known as to who would
be the republican candidate, the pres
ident endorsed Davies in most as
tonishing letter as having stood the
acid test OF loyalty on the McYemore
resolution, on the embargo and the
armed neutrality measures. These
were mentioned, of course, to exclude
Lenroot, who had talked and voted
as many as rs per cent of the Amer
ican people believed. AS one congress
man expressed it, the president Anas
done what Edmund Burke said could
not be done, "indict whole people.
Just Partisanship.
Washington understands that when
the president refuses even to remain
neutral when such strong supporter
of his war policy is Lenroot is a
candidate, that it means that no mat
ter how weak the democratic eandi-
date may be, or how defective his
record, he will endorse him against
any republican, however, able or loyal
This strong partisan blast from the
presidents bugle, issued as il were
with the opening thunder OF Hinden.
burg's guns, when Americans should
be getting together, makes a rude
awakening for many who thought
there was little partisanship at Wash
ington. ;.
Were Is not for this, there would
be great fear and trembling in Ne.
braska. If democrats were excluded
on the same grounds as was Lenroot
viz the McLemore resolution, EN-
barge, ETC., then would be sent to tht
political scrap-heap Sentar Hitchcock
ex-Secretary Bryan. Richard Lee
Metcalfe, Congressman Lobeck, Shal.
lenberger and Stephens. Whether