The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-11-04
Mr.. Lsrocque to Mr.. Pen.

Mr.. Lsrocque to MT. Pom.
MI DEAR Nm PnLL: 1 have received
your letter In which you refer to your
candidacy for Congress on the Demo-
cratic ticket, and request my vote and
cooperation In obtaining the votes of
my friends In your behalf.
Whatever my feelings toward you may
be, and can assure you they are very
friendly. 1 do not feel justified in the
present election in supporting you or any
Democratic candidate for Congress.
Until President Wilson revived party
politics, which he had previously de-
clsred to be adjourned. by injecting into
tho present campaign a partisan issue
which most patriotic citizens wished TO
avoid. i had intended to split my ballot
40 far as Congressional nominees were
concerned. But while, as the President
declares. we are fighting to establish a
representative form Of government in
Germany, 1t seems to me that the peo-
pie of the United States are no less en-
titled to such representation.
! may be old fashioned in my ideas,
but adhere to the belief that the con-
stitutional division of the government
into three coordinate and Independent
branches should still be respected, and
that the debasement Of Congress to the
status Of mere appendage to the Chief
Executive. subservient to his will and
bound blindly to follow his every within
and caprioe. Is not only in direct vio-
letion of the spirit OF the Constitution.
| but real and threatened danger to our
form Of government and the liberties VI
the people.
The performance in the Senate of that
! well known political mountebank the
Hon. James Hamilton Lewis. when he
recently offered a resolution to approve
in advance any and all actions OF the
President. merely brought n smile to
the lips OF those who were familiar with
his idiosyncrasies, but Il proved to be
no matter for mirth, for Il was followed
by an appeal from the President himself
for just such blanket commission and
for the entire exclusion of one of the
great political parties of this country
| from any share In legislation looking
| TO the termination OF the war and the
reconstruction Of n shattered world after
( Its termination.
Loyalty to this country is not made
the test, but all that is required OF q
candidate Is that he be Democrat
I cannot feel that retaining Mr.
| Kitchin as chairman OF the Ways and
Means Committee. or Mr.. Dent as chair
| man OF the Committee on Military Az
fairs of the House, will materially aid
in the successful termination OF the
war or the welfare OF this or any other
country after its termination. II there
ever was time in the history OF this
country which required the calm and
wise judgment Of the country's ables,
statesmen. this is such time, and the
plea that there should be excluded from
the councils Of the nation all members
! of party which, to express 1t mildly
is not the less intelligent OF the two
principal parties, is an insult to the
good sense OF the voters
The history OF the last year and q
half shows conclusively that the Gov.
| ernments war programme could no,
have been carried out had 1t not beer
for the able and patriotic asslstanc.
OF the Republican members OF both
houses, and I think you will agree with
me that our part In the prosecution OF
the war in Europe could not have beer
30 successful had II not been for the
equally patriotic devotion TO duty Of
Republicans who are in the trenches.
I do not share In your fear that "ii
We give them four enemesl the excuse
OF a Republican House Of Representa-
tives, they will think they see a les,
united United States. and It might bt
the very thing to make them hang or
with the fighting over another winter"
II. In the labors OF your campaign
you have had the opportunity to read
Che newspapers, you must see that 4
will require something more than tn,
return Of Republican members to Con
eress to encourage our enemies to pro
long the war. and am free to comics.
can see no reason why they should
hail with delight the success OF n party
which Is devoted TO the principle of "ur
conditional surrender" Rather woult
they be heartened by the continuation
OF discussion of the abstract principles
and abstruse doctrines in which Mr.. vii
son has proved himself SO adept
Both our enemies and our allies un
derstand that the Republican part!
stands for unconditional surrender" anC
that II they have their proper place II
tho councils OF the nation their views OF
this subject will have to be respected.
Permit me to say, therefore. In nj
friendliness. that ] sincerely hope yol
will be defeated at the polls. and tina
all other Democratic candidates whit
have followed the lead of Mr.. Wilson II
rendering this partisan issue for tn
purpose of electng Democratic candi
dates and deprlving both houses OF Con
sress of their constitutional Junction.
will meet a like fate. Sincerely yours
JOSEPH LARocoUE.