The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-11-01
Murphy Says That Is Aim of
Republican Leaders.
Wilson Did Not Ask To Defeat
Every Republican.
SAYS IT WAS 4 FAIR APPEAL
English Government System Is
Used as an Urge.
Murphy Says Many Republicans
Will Support President.

>---+-- ,
E. E. Murphy, state Democratic
chairman. took Republican leaders to.
task today for their efforts either to
and force OF President Wilson's ap-.
peal or to misrepresent it Intentionally
in order to confuse the voters on the
question involved. Murphy said:
1.-The significance and force OF Presi-
dent Wilson's appeal for the election
appear to have been lost sight of by.
the Republican leaders, or else recog
MIXING its Significance and force they
have deliberately attempted to misrep-
resent and confuse the voters on this
question.
1.-The president is not asking, as the
Republicans would have the voters be-
lieve, that no Republicans be elected
to congress; he is merely asking that
Democratic majority be elected to both
houses in order that the greatest
harmony may prevail between the ex-
ecutive and legislative branch of the
government.
What President Said.
1.-THE president said: If you have
approved of my leadership and wish
me to continue to be your f.unem-
barrassed spokesman in affairs at
home and abroad, earnestly beg that
you will express yourselves unmiS-
IakdDly 10 tndt erect ny RETURNING d
Democratic majority to both the SEN
ate and house of representatives. :.
The leaders of the minority In the
present congress have unquestionably
been prowar but they have been anti
administration. =. This is no
time, either for divided council or for
divided leadership. Unity of command
is as necessary now in civil life as it
is upon the field of battle. If the con-
troll of the house and senate should be
taken away from the party in power
an opposing majority could assume
control of legislation and oblige all
action to be taken amidst contest and
obstruction. A return of a Republican
majority to either house of congress
would moreover be taken on the other
side of the water as reputation OF
my leadership
"A consideration Of the English
form of government is helpful to the
voter who really, desires light upon
the question Of whether a Republican
OF Democratic congress at this time
would best serve the interests of the.
country. In the English system the
premier (now Lloyd George is always
"a member of parliament,
No Division in England.
"In England there can be no possis
bi1ity of divided leadership or4Iaek sof
unity between=the majority in.parljaf
mier. The government thereTean exist
only on the basis of complete sympas
thy and union between the majority
in parliament and the premier. If the
majority by its votes manifests hosf
ti1ity to the premier's leadership, an
which election a new parliament in
sympathy with the premier's leader.
ship is elected, or the old parliament
is returned and a. new premier in SYM
pathy with the majority is then
chosen. A parliament SBhich is anti.
administration Is thus Uncomfortable
in England.
THAT the counsels of. able mem
bers of the opposing minority is often
helpful, both in parliament and in the
congress, is not open to question. That
there may be at times a division in
the administration thru hostility be-
tween a congressional majority of one
of an opposite political faith is one
of the weaknesses Of our system of
government that has been effectively
guarded against in England.
president Wilson has simply called
attention to the possibility. of such a
divided authority and the duty OF the
electors in this critical hour to guard
against it by electing q Democratic
majority. AS he SO well says: This Is
no time either for divided council or
divided leadership. Unity Of com-
mand is as necessary now in civil ac-
ton as it is upon the field of battle
Faith in Republicans.
''Mr. Wilson's letter, addressed to
the people Of the United States. fair
them the situation existing. 1t right
fully and properly asks for certain
action by the voters of these United
States. He knows what is needed.
He knows what he will need. He is
the one man in the world who has a
grasp OF the entire situation. He
knows what is needed on the other
side of the ocean, and knows what is
needed here. The people of this coun-
try have more faith in his judgment
and in his request than that of any
other individual. He felt it was his
duty to present to the people of the
country his views OF the situation and
realized that it was his duty to- indi-
cate to the voters of the United States
what their action should be on next
Tuesday. There was nothing insult
ing: slurring. or offensive to anybody
in his communication. It was a fair
and frank statement OF the situation.
1t has hurt the opposition and they
feel they have lost by it, hence the
great uproar they are trying to create.
By Tuesday of next week on ELECTIONS
day the people will have had time to
deliberate on the situation. and in MY
Judgment they will follow his recon-
mendation. - q
Republicans voting as requested by
the president, which a great many Of
them will do, will have a tendency to 4
snow the world that'the great Ameri-s
can people. regardless OF party. con-
cur in the views OF the president as to-
the successful prosecution of the war;
and will respond to his appeal as they
did to President Mckinley in 1ssswhef
Roosevelt and all Republican leaders
appealed for a Republican congress to
sustain the war president" -
NO PEACE FOR THEM