The Washington herald., 1918-05-31

There has been something said
about the desire of the people of
the nation that the coming war revo-
nue. bill be modelled on careful. busi-
nesslike lines. and that business
principles. rather than absurd and
indiscreed tax hobbies be made its
provisions.
1t appears now that It will really
be busincsslike Recommendation
the members are to have breath
ing spell at home while the bill Is
being shaped up by the committee.
This means that the people will
have the ma jority OF the members
among them while the bills provl-
sIons are being discussed. The ef-
feet of this will be to give the peo-
pie an opportunity to tell their rep
resentativcs what they want in the
way of war tax legislation. And
the members knowing what the
people want will not refuse.
The adjournment will be benefc-
ial. therefore. 1t will not be un-
like the proposal in some States
that legislatures outline all meas
ures before them for consideration
and then go home, before they are
finally passed. in order to give the
people Il chance to tell them wheth-
er the measures are satisfactory.
Certainly is there is any class OF
legislation which should be sub
mitted to the people for approval,
before final enactment, II should he
legislation which Compells them to
turn their pocketbooks wrongside
out.
The difficulty of making an issue
this year over which political bat
ties may be fought is shown in the
proceedings OF the Indiana State
Republican gathering. And the de-
feet is applicable to both parties.
The most inspiring note which
came from the assembly is seen in
the following quotation from the
resolutions and the newspaper
comments on the steps taken there:
I'm Congress Republicans have given
their votes, often the deciding votes.
for the Grantsof every power and all
the money demanded by the admins
tration. In this course of action they
will persist without wavering or
shadow Of turning.
This is the war of no political
party. This is the country's war. and
we charge and deplore that the party
In power is guilty of practicing petty
partisan politics to the serious detri-
ment' of the Country's cause.
I'VE insist that every possible eff
cient instrument, men and material
| which is available shall be used to
| aid in winning the war. and that in
efficiency shall he replaced by eff
cheney wherever found'
THE platform denOunces any criti-
cism of public officials when such
| criticisms are inspired by partisanship
| or disloyalty. but declares that cour-
laEcous and loyal criticism of corrup-
ton and inefficiency should be de-
Tended.
1T declares that the Republican
party stands for peace with victory
and never peace by compromise bar
gaining"
1t will take no great amount OF
study of the situation to see that
Democrats cannot claim election this
year merely because they are Demo-
Gratis and Republicans cannot hope
to he elected merely because they be-
lieve that it would he unwhoIcsome
| to have Congress filed entirely with
| members of the Presidents political
party.
Our surmise Of the situation Is
that men rather than issues will pre-
vail this year-and that patriotism
will be the domirSnt note from both
angles. There is no proof that there
are more Democrats in the army
| than Republicans. or vice versa. In
fact. politics makes no difference on
the fighting line-and it should make
precious little difference back Of the
! line.
Decoration Day assumes a new sig
nficance in America, and though the
heroes for whom it was originally
meant will soon be gone. we will
have new men passed on whose deeds
will live forever in our memory and
our history.
There has arisen some controversy
over the designation of this day
whether 1t should be called Decora-
tion Day or Memorial Day. There is
little difference between them. This
is too technical a difference to quib-
BILE over Either name can be used
with propriety. The spirit and not
the name of the day should be con-
,sidered. Probably definite legislation
to fix the name will be proposed
in Congress at an early date, how
v s-Nt