The Cordova daily times., 1918-02-11

to boil. The political feud thus en-
gendered threatens to arrest for time
our progress in the war. This phase
of the controversy is most unfortunate
Otherwise it may result in much good
Everybody has been keyed up to a high
pitch for some nine months now, and
it may relieve the pressure somewhat
If they are all allowed to blow off q
little steam. Also the chances are
that in the long rup the country will
/ benefit, now that the lid has been pried
| open and the plain people afforded a
: glimpse of what is really going on in
side the mysterious box.
| The storm has been brewing for a
long time, but it probably would not
have burst SO suddenly and with such
strength had the administration taken
| more kindly to well-meaning inquiries
and honest criticism. The whole diff
fculty arises, in our opinion, over the
pronounced disposition of the Presi-
dent and his associates to keep con-
gress and the people in the dark con-
corning the war activities. Resent
ment has long been harbored, and this
feeling of grievance was famed into
a flame when the President and Sena-
tor Stone presumed to scold those who
sincerely questioned the administra-
tons stereotyped assurances that af-
fairs were in excellent shape.
The issue, of course, turns around
the efficiency of the war organization,
but In reality involves the right of in
CURRY into the conduct of public af-
fairs, as we'll as that of honest criti-
c1sm, which, after all, constitutes moth
ing more or less than the right of free
speech. The arrogance with which the
censorship has been exercised has ,
amounted almost to official insolence. |
The people have suffered it's absurdi-
ties and cruelties most patiently, be-
lieving it to be their patriotic duty to
submit. But in addition to this abuse,
and in direct contravention of Ameri-
can tradition and custom, the citizens
have been tricked into believing that
any expression of unfavorabIe opinion
Of the conduct of affairs at Washing
ton-even though the statement be
truthful and the criticism well in
ended-constituted 1ese majesty in an
aggravated degree. That this propa-
sanda has political significance, and
that it has been directly encouraged
by men high in the councils of the ad
is no longer to be doubt
ed. And 1t is not too much to say that
his is the source of most OF the evils
that now beset the Presidents war
program.
So far as we are able to see, Presi-
dent Wilson has no just ground for
against congress or the
country. They have cheerfully re-
sponded to every demand he made,
and up to the present have been will
ng to take his word that everything
was going along all right. 1t is only
natural, however, that they should de-
sire to know something more about
their affairs; that they should want to
know how their boys in the camps and
at the front are getting along
whether they are being properly sup
piled and cared for-and how the huge
sums of money that they have raised
for the government is being spent.
this is their right, and con-
gress is but voicing their sentiments
when it undertakes to gather the in
formation as best it can with the
means at it's command.
Whether the present upheaval will
result in a shake-up of the war organ
ization is purely matter of specula-
ton. But be that as it may, the adj
is bound to have it's ears
opened to the fact that henceforth, if |
it hopes to make any substantial prog-l
ress in waging the war. it will have
to abandon its inconsiderate policy of
keeping the people altogether in the
dark.
THE INCOME TAX.