New-York tribune., 1918-01-17
For a Party War Truc.
Sufragist Leader Strongly F,r.-.
1t Under Certain Cond;to. -

IL onoer Nertaln Condition.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Over his own sixnatnr. -
Wadsworth recently said: " canno. ''nss'r
Of any sharply drawn political issue w.. ,uv"ee''s
disturb the United States In the 10y VII
and distract the minds Of men who isls
vote themselves to the winning ~ 81 IT,
The development Of the war situa,;o. var
tremendous, SO infinitely greater q.
dreamed last April that it would b. 49,. 6s
cannot afford to expend any eneryv ,,l".s a'V We
on political battles" And yet. in ~. Fer
the warning, Mr.. Wilcox, Chairman ~ o
Republican National Committee, in ;..,;.' ne
call to the committee to meet On rss'sa
IL used these words: "There has mt
time in many years when It has b...
important for the Republicans to 81. ~0fs
troll Of the House of Representative, e'l'
elect as many Senators as possible 90 "
year." Uis
1t 's Not often that Senator Wadswo,.h ~,
ma ourselves in agreement. but in tb;,
not only agree with him, but anticn...s.s
sound counsel by some weeks In l....- us
mine published in the papers in Nov.ns'
suggested: "Elections won't win tho Def
save the world. Suppose we temnor.r;,1o ai Or
them, with all their diverting turmoil -" n'
SHELF BY strange misconception ss
understood by some people that mean. . was
en- alone were to adopt the self-denvin, ~
nance. although in the same commnn;.sa! uo'
said: 1--WE might, both men and ..a'''a wss
pause moment and find ourselves. If u..' -sa'
am sure that we would conclude tha, .,.. s'
tlons are non-essentials in the present 49,,
crisis" ''hd
AS the signs are that we are to be pupp.d,..
nationwide turmoil of Congressional a..
tlons, may again ask, VIII this helm n, :.
WIN the war? There is not voter so 49,,
as not to know that if we conduct ~. ..pa ..p'a
campaign attendant upon closely conta..., s.ss
congressional elections it will mean lust 5.
much drawing off of energy from tho rr;r,.' ~
task which we and our allies have IN eAs .sA!
IN view OF the seriousness of the stuatas
it would seem possible for the leaders ~ -;
parties to agree to some compromise 90
The autumn elections, under the Con,..-
tion, must be held. We cannot. a, our .,,s.
have done, omit them. But the sting m;.s.
De taken out OF them by reaching some snes
settlement as that the party that holds +b.
seat at present shall not be threatened lv
the entrance Of other candidates into the ssli
rms policy might be pursued for the period
or the war unless special elections show sncs
an overwhelming change in the desires of ,ha
voters that the agreement Of closed sed
could no longer be kept.
Such a plan would tell of course. aoa,,s,
the party out of power at the present time.
and the sacrifice of possible ADVANTAGE n
patriotic devotion would have to be met in "a
reasonable manner. Other nations have had
10 lace the same situation, and probably
America has enough common sense in ts
political makeup to balance the self-denial
IN one party by generous dealing in the other.
II the Congressional elections are to show our
determination not to be diverted for nc.
ment from the serious consideration of win
nlng the war, If we are to stand as a United
people regardless of party for that end. the
Chief Executive should be ready to make bis
Cabinet reflect the policy of politica! uuity
with generous inclusiveness All parties in
lair proportion should be represented. Re-
publicans should sit at the council board. and
certainly. one Socialist. In such settlement,
II might be wise, since care of the race is of
special Importance in war time to raise the
Children's Bureau to the position of d.
partment and give the woman at its head
Cabinet position.
10 me these suggestions seem the most
oovlous OF common sense-or are they the
dreams OF very green voter? In any case
assert, with little fear of a challenge. that
winning the war and winning elections are
not compatible.
HARRIOT STANTON BLATCH
New York, Jan. Is, 1918.