Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-10-20

and file of the spellbinders. The pos
s1bllity is something which the re-
publicans are apprehenoing and which
much disturbs their equanimity.
1t is not forgotten that the Presf-
dent has demonstrated in more thap
one notable instance his power to d
stroy politician who had set h
course in opposition to the party@s
national program, although in less
conspicuous cases he was not so sue
cessful. 1t is hardly thought, how
ever. that the President will pick out
individual candidates as objects of his
opposition to be held up to the voters
for slaughter at the polls.
Lacking outstanding issues calcu-
lated to be discernible by all who run
and read and tending to arouse strong
feeling and party earnestness. the re-
publicans are falling back upon an
appeal to sectionalism. They are
making another drive against the
solid SOUTH" that good old friendly
issue which has stood them in stead
more than once. This appeal is voiced
is a document sent out by the re-
publican national congressional COM
mlttee early this month. before po-
lit1cal recess set in. Here is an ex-
tract from it:
1.-The north, the middle west and the
west are taxed in man power and
money to defeat Germany nearly ten
fold to the south's one. Despite this,
framing of all war legislation is
vested in congressman from the south
While the north, middle west and
the west pay most of the bills and
supply most of the soldiers for Per-
shing's victorious armies the provin-
thn
south, political entity that has
seized control of national affairs pure
~ because of it's solidarity and the
length of service of it's senators and
representatives in Congress, control
the drafting of all war legislation en-
acted by Congress.
Every important committee chair
manshlp in Congress is held by a
southern democrat. Of sixty-one COM
mltteeS forty-one have southern demo-
cratic chairmen. The remaining twen-
ty chairmanShipS are held by northern
democrats, but none of these commit
tees is important and none of them
nave anything to do with the war
program. OF 220 House democrats 100
are from the solid south
1T is idle for the people of the
north. middle west and west to send
democratic congressman to Washing
ton hoping that these congressman
Will have a voice in shaping the des-
TIMES of the republic. Democratic
members from these sections of the
country are ignored by the southern
democratic congressman unless they
subscribe blindly othe policies and
commands of the southern members,
or are controlled absolutely by the
democratic caucus. which is controlled
by the southern members.
THE southern democratic machine
is running Congress and the country
and conducting the war, despite the
fact that it represents the smallest
wealth and man-power. During Nthe
fiscal year 1917 the people of the
United States paid into the federal
Treasury s3.671,91s,236 in internal
taxes. Of this sum the solid south
contributed $4S7,359,435, or about 10
per cent of the total.
1.-The entire country paid $2,S21, 340,-
sol income and excess profits taxes. Of
this sum the solid south contributed
s25S,S 54.006, or about per cent. Under
such conditions of government will
the people of the north. middle west
congressman in November to perpetu-
ate the rule of the solid south?'"
Another page from the republican
campaign material dwells upon the
alleged discrimination in favor of the
south and against the north and west
war activities. 1t is charged that six
teen southern states have received
from the federal government in the
way of initial expenditures 100000
900. while fourteen northern and
western states have been given only
100000
X
The Democratic Manual for 1918,
which is the official publication of the
national committee, the handbook of
the campaign, has this to say about
standing by the President:
Unity of action in Washington is
as essential to the success of the war
as unity of command is essential to
military success on the battlefelds of
Europe. This Is not a theory; it Is
fact In past wars the people of
America invariably have stood by the
party in power during the heat of the
conflict. They supported Lincoln in
the trying days of the civil war, in
response to his historic appeal not to
swap horses while crossing river;
they supported Mckinley during the
Spanish-American war, and they will
support Wilson during this greatest
of all wars.
The appeals of Lincoln's day and
McKinley's day are as appropriate
now as they were then. 1t may be
distasteful to certain republican lead
erS, who for one reason or another
believed it incumbent upon them to
criticise the President today, to have
quoted the speeches they made twenty
years ago. when their party was in
power, but they must. in fairness, con-
cede that the arguments then used
may now be applied with equal force.
From the beginning of our history
American statesmen have held con-
sistently to the view that the Presi-
dent in time of war should have
Congress of his own political faith to
aid him as commander-in-chief of the
Army and Navy.
while commander Of tho CONT
mental Army Gen. Washington wrote
that public harmony was essential to
success and that distrust and jealousy
afford a most melancholy reflection
and forebodes no good
providence, which has always been
kind to the United States, has again,
in this time Of need. given us a great
American to lead US in the paths of
honor. We do not want to chide him.
We want to help him. We do not pro-
pose to surround him with critics,
but rather with loyal supporters. He
needs, God knows, our help. The
country is resolved he shall have 1t"
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