Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-16
An Unfortunate Partisan Appeal

CHAMP CLARK. however aoie anu io!"'
- have been his services as speaker Oh 'no
House of Representatives, has most uh-
happv faculty of saying the wrong thlhs III
the wrong time. Witness his fort wayne
.nDooI for the return OF Democratic House
nj the fall elections. In normal times such
an onpeal would he taken merely as 4 matter
of course Now it is made i'll face or
tho fact that administration and nationai
leaders regardless OF political talth, are
urging the complete submergence OF par'-
sanship for the more thorough unihcatlon
of war purposes. In various states 1t hao
bcon virtually agreed to eliminate all con-
,ressonal contests this fall Democrats and
Republicans centerng their efforts upon those
men Of proven loyalty and unQucstioned
ability There should be the only aim. to
give the President undivided support by de-
foating at the polls those who by their acts
have shown themselves Cbstructionists,
those not i'll sympathy with national aspira-
tons and those who are suspected OF being
susceptible to pro-German influences.
This program was in fair way TO being
carried out. Now. apparently, its frution
has been made Impossible by Speaker Clarks
foolish and blatant challenge to tho Repuh-
Leans to make partisanshp rather than the
winning OF the war tho issue, and enter into
an unseemy and unwiso scramble for con-
troll OF the next House. The Republicans are
not slow in picking up the gage OF battle
the Speaker has so unfortunately thrown
down. Already Republican Chairman Hays
has accepted the def. and is out with
counterchallenCe and prediction OF party
premacy not only in tho House. but in the
Senate as we'll. IN the House he predicts
ma jority OF from tl,irty-five to forty. In the
Senate the Democrats have a majority
OF but eight If the opposition can hold
-l,1- Il l,s,s o--5 ell E,-a 10
in possession OF the Democrats. it can change
the political complexion OF that body. OF
the present Democratic Senators twenty-five
come IN for reelection. and some OF them
arc in doubtful States, while OF the Repub-
Leans. only fourteen all but one in Northern
States, VIII have to defend their seats.
1t will be nothing short OF disaster for the
country 10 be plunged into the turmoil OF Il
political campaign just now, when the crisis
OF the war has been reached and the nations
every thought and energy should be cen
tered on marshalns its military and naval
resources for its successful and speedy term
ination. 1t will be very real disaster il
the elections should result in putting in
Washington Congress perhaps not openly
hostile to the President. but not in accord
with his plans for the war. Should either
happen, the country will have Speaker Clark
TO thank, for it probably is too late now to
undo this very urwise and unpatr!otic thing
that he has done. Given their cue by the
Speaker. the Republicans have sprung TO
tho fray, and Democrats. TO preserve and
continue unity Of command" for the Presi-
dent. must meet them at least halfway un-
less Clarks appeal can be set down and dis
counted as the product of 4 temporary
alteration Of mind and an eleventh-bou-
agreement be entered into by tho leaders of
tho two parties.