Arizona republican., 1918-08-23
The President and Congressmen


 : The defeat of Senator Vardaman for renomna- ton in Mississippi is surprising and will not oc- cssion regret in any part the country. Aside from tho record he has built up legislation, he was not an admirable figure. He had the jusfiable op- position of President Wilson account not only of his war legislation record but also account of his general and unreasonable antipathy to the adminis tration to which he should been bound by party ties
 To what extent the letter the president sent to Mississippi contributed to Vardamans defeat cannot be determined Perhaps he would have been defeated anyhow for he already in disfavor with the lead CTS the democratic party in the state
 We have said that the presidents letter was jus tifiable We should qualify that statement by saying that it appears to have warranted in the Yard aman case though the justifiabty of it is somewhat the profusion of such letters and the lack of discrimination shown by the president
 There is widespread sentiment in the states and districts where these have been sent, that the president should not interfere in the selection of can ddates for members of congress. But any citizen of the United States privileged to object to the elec ton of a dsloya member and the president should not be denied that privilege. The National Security League is exercising the privilege broad scale
 But the league has laid down certain causes for defeat of the members whom it opposes Its oppo stion is directed alike against republicans and demo- crats and is based entirely their record in war legislation Its disfavor rigdly impartally be- slowed
 The presidents opposition has unfortunately not been impartial. It appears have been based other grounds than the record of loyalty. In one in he specifics the support of the McLemore res olution a of his opposition and in another he advocates the selection of a candidate who sup ported that resolution
 Out of group of Alabama congressman, he singled Mir Huddleston for defeat. Yet Huddlestons attitude toward legislation cannot be distinguished from that of four other members of the Alabama del esaton, including Chairman Dent of the committee military affairs.
 Political considerations to have overshad owed everything else. If a member had become sub scrvent to the administration, that is had enrolled himself in the rubber stamp contingent all past sins of disoyalty were plotted
 Concerning his letter against Mir. Slayden of Tex as the Dallas News DemocraD said
 The President can hardly suppose the people of Texas will believe that the which he gave for making his pronouncement against Mir. Slayden make the whole motive of his action It is ridiculous to that Mir Sayden has shown any lack of loyalty to the country since it entered the Nor could it be shown that MT. slayden has played the part of obstructonst. About the only charge that could be brought against him is that he reluctant than many of us thought wise to have the country enter the But if this sin of such damnng kind renders him ineligible to sit in congress there are others in Texas who have offended much nagrantly than he and against these the president has not spoken word. It was not principle of ac- ton the president following. else others would have fallen under the same condemnation. There were particular and personal reasons prompting him to destroy the political life of Mir Sayden. The fact that one of Mir Saydens rivals happens to be kns- man Of tba ete rril1 end to make public opinion lenient in judging the presidents act.
 It is to be regretted that MT Sayden surrendered tp the opposition of the president He may have been defeated if he had remained in the contest; the fact tat he retired indicates that he himself thought that dis chance of success had been destroyed. But by remaining in the contest. he would have given who feel that his faults whatever their grevousness may he more safely tolerated than the presumption of the president an opportunity to express their convic- tions. The News is quite the predlections and faults of MT Sayden. whatever they not more menacing to the public welfare than is the idea that the president may properly the power of his office and his personal prestige to prescribe member of congress who has incurred his dspleasure the displeasure of of his cabinet officers If only men who enjoy the presidents favor eligible to occupy seats in congress then congress is something of a superfuous institution.
 The president is on friendly terms with Mr. Ran dal of California, whose legislation record is a particularly bad it is that record that has been the chief basis of opposition against him in the primary now closing. Yet Mir. Randall hopes for sup port in the event of his renomnation from pres- of the president
 These the reasons why it has come be sus- pected that the letters which have the pres dent have been contrivd by him pretexts for in- reference in state and district affairs strengthen the position of the administrations that the test which the president applies is not loyalty the country but groveling subservience to the administration The president can apply this test with safety and with prospect of profit in the primaries of the solid south, but it is very dangerous proceeding in close state or district