The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-02-19
Republicans Planning to
Capture Both Senate and
House in Fall Elections.
TRY TO DISCREDIT
THE ADMINISTRATION
Underground Plans Appar;
ent in War Criticism Let
Loose in Congress.
(Springfield Republican,

the mask of lot of current war
criticisms there is organized politics
OF as desperate a sort as a minority |
party ever engaged in. The play for
power and recognition is pressed,
While the politicians exercise their
utmost lung power in crying patriot
Ism. The activity is, in fact, anything
but patriotic. Break the admin
stration; undermine public confidence.
discredit Wilson," are the slogans.
The goal is to get things going for
political campaign that will win the
Senate and the House next November
for the Republicans. That would be
a splendid start for winning the Presi-
dency in 1920 and gaining control of
the economic, financial and Industrial
| undertakings which must follow the
war.
1t matters not in the process war
preparations are thrown into confus-
ion for period of the few precious
winter months when the adminstra-
ton is and should he doing it's very
utmost toward getting a fighting force
| upon the firing lines in France. Never
mind If the consequent confusion dis
heartens the great organization that
IS manufacturing and making ready
or dashes the hopes of our allies who
are holding on in France and Italy
| with grim determination It boots
not, of course, if Germany acquires
fresh courage. There is the big pol
lt1cal prize, hanging before the once
grand old Republican party. Sabotage,
CallIauXism, any old kind of bunk
Will do If it furthers the aim. The
people are concerned over the war.
II IS the time of the year when the
human mind is easily depressed.
Therefore capitalize the hysteria.
''War Mind' Proposed
One of the latest conceits is to have
a war mind" between the President
and his cabinet. The propaganda is
Republican from center to circunfer
ence and is in successive stages from
the ambitious demand of Republican
politicians many months ago for a
Joint committee of Congress on the
conduct of the war. Oceans of ink
nave already been used to exploit the
burdens upon the Presidents should
ers. Congress is dumping further
duties upon him constantly He can
not think about all these things; he
cannot think constantly of the war.
Yes, there should be somebody in high
authority to think constantly about
great phrases of that conflict. Why.
a war mind" certainly.
That is one of the more dinIona+ic
aspects in which one hears the situa-
ton presented hereabouts. But if
mas bIunter aspects. For offices and
| a
congreate reverberate with DENIM
cations of Democratic officials. The
favorite indoor sport of mid-winter
politics is slamming some member of
the Cabinet or some head of commits
sion and slamming him hard. Wilson
picks incompetent men " Wilson gets
TOO many college professors" are
phrases in the parIeys of political
henchmen, where a few mid-winters
ago 1t was: "Drat those COWBOYS
Roosevelt is putting over on u.s. and
Roosevelt dominates too many the
orlsts Then Democrats and a few
Republicans were making the plants.
Now it is progressives and "old guard'
Republicans and few Democrats.
Analyse the propositions for a war
mind and they come out beautifully
for discrediting the Wilson admin
stration and for giving the Republican
party fine toe-hold in public recog-
milton Once there is a war mind" or
a war council, or whatever YOU please
to call it, men of all political parties
must be taken in. One of the highly
equitable arrangements is for war
mind that would include Secretary
of the Navy Daniels and Secretary of
War Baker. Why, certainly. And
7 then two or three eminent citizens,
IN whom the public has confidence.
First Root, Now Roosevelt.
Some weeks ago there was great
hullabaloo in certain quarters about
getting ex-Secretary of State and ex-
Senator Elihu Root into the cabinet
and thus adding some plans to the
Democratic establishment. But more
recently glimpses through the curtain
as underlings pass and repass or
necessary errands, show a famous
face; with strong jaw and prominent
teeth. Yes, eX-President Roosevelt
was coming down to Washington and
would gladly give the administration
any assistance he could.
And eX-President Roosevelt would
l surely be willing to become part Of
: the war mind" one of the two OF
three eminent citizens of large ability
= and experience in affairs to have theil
thoughts constantly on the war ant
to stand between the President an6
S members Of his cabinet Perhap!
G Gen. Leonard Wood would also bt
willing to serve. By way of empha.
sizing that there is absolutely no par.
: tisanship in the proposals it might b.
well to have ex-President Taft come
around every fortnight to sit with the
war mind" This is pure patriotism
The Republican party has stood sol
4 idly behind the administration in thi:
o war. 1t is a great patriotic party
especially its progressive leaders
e Who needs be told what the oval
O mind would do? Better by far thar
a joint committee of Congress on tbs
Il conduct of the war (Which was
committee of rank political activitie!