The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-09-15
oYZEa y
THE VOTERS DUTY.


Under the captain mo Divided
CounsclS at Washington, The In
dependent discusses at length the
question confronting the voters III
the approaching Fall election. Ar
euing that it is the duty OF Amer
leans, regardless OF previous politl-
cal affiliation. to stand by the Prcsi-
dent and send to Congress men who
will support him and his war poll
cies. The Independent says:
THE Republican party viii not
find it easy to convince the people
that it would have done better had
it been in power or that II would
do better if it could be placed IN
power now. Yet more difficult
would be the task Of convincing a
sober Judgment that anything would
be gained by handing over to the
Republican party that partial power
which it is possible to transfer at
the elections this fall, and which
at the utmost consist in RepubIl-
can supremacy in Congress backed
by Republican administrations III
states electing governors and leg
islatures.
American experience OF divided
political responsibility has never
been happy. A Democratic Pres
ident contendng with a Republi-
can Congress, or a Ra 'ublican
President contending with a Dem
ocratic Congress, has never been
even in times of 0eace, an effective
disposition OF political forces, Waste
and inefficiency have usually re
suited from it, and it is not posi-
Bile to imagine that great war in
its critical stages could be more ct-
fectively waged if energies and re-
sponsibilties should be so distrlb-
uted.
"NVe Weld to no one in profound
respect for the wisdom and the
patriotism of men like Colonel
Roosevelt, Mr.. Taft and Mr.. Root.
But when they say that the voters
of America ought this fall to re-
turn a Republican Congress, and
argue that the time has come to
impose upon Mr.. Wilson's admin
istration the fearless inquisition and
the practical legislative check OF an
opposition political majority we
are unconvinced. irresponsible pow
er is indeed serious matter and
no human being is infallible. But
a Congressional minority is quite
competent to ask questions to bring
mistakes into the light OF publicity
and to register protests. 1t IS not
necessary for the preservation OF
our liberties to create the certainty
that Republican Congress would
itself make lamentable and possibly
well night fatal errors in its de-
sire to play decisive part in the
conduct OF the war at a time and
under circumstances when II could
not be, as the Democratic party IS
now, wholly responsible for success
or failure. In our judgment hard
headedness demands that this re-
sponsibiity should not be destroyed.
1t is. we think, the plain dictate OF
common sense that the people
should return a Democratic major
ity to Congress and assure to Pres
ident Wilson the support OF Dem
ocratic law-making power.
"As for questions of democratic
policy, they are important but not
now imperative. This is not the
time to open up the whole future
policy of the United States on the
ownership and operation OF rail
roads, telegraphs, telephones and
express service, on the tariff after
the war, on the labor legislation and
on immigration. The war must be
won first. This one thing we do,
is the motto of common sense until
the Hun is defeated.