Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-04-16
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(From Friday's Daily)


One Of the greatest disadvantages
under which America and Americans
are laboring today in striving for vic
tory in the war lies In the fact that
there are too many, in congress and
out of It, who think only in terms Of
political partisanship and individual
prejudice and whose minds are not at
tuned to the enormous necessities of
the emergency which confronts Amer
icans-not democrats nor republicans
as such, but Americans.
This disadvantage exhibits itself to
grievous extent in the senate and
the house Of representatives at Wash.
ington, because these bodies consti-
tute the machinery through which leg
islation must pass before it can be-
come effective. Every partisan de-
bate which delays decisive votes on
war measures is a blow to Americas
hopes for early victory and an add.
ton to the burden which American
armies must carry.
This is not intended as criticism
of democrats alone nor of republicans
alone; neither Is anything which fol.
lows. 1t Is time for Americans to
realize that the future of the govern
ment and the country is Of far greater
moment than the future Of the demo
cratic party or the republican party.
1t Is time for men in the senate and
the house Of representatives to realize
legislation with an eye single to Its
value as a means of making war on
Prussianisss'T That Is Americas Job
now and must be Americas Job until
peace is made and the world is safe.
Yesterday, in the senate. valuab
time was worse than wasted In q de-
bate in which Senator Lewis Of ILL
nois undertook partisan defense Of
the administration bill providing for
coordination Of the war making pow
ers of the country under the direction
of the president. 1t Is no less than
fair to add that Senator Cummins Of
Iowa was party to the debate and
that both men we're culpable. Tho
Illinois senator's guilt Is the greater,
perhaps, merely because he wasted
more time than did Senator Cummins.
The country is cognizant Of the dis.
astrous delays and mistakes which
have resulted in a most costly lack
of war making efficiency on Americas
part during the past year. Public
opinion has been aroused by the be-
lated exposures of conditions and
there is we'll defined demand
throughout the United States, in the
name OF loyalty and patriotism, for CO.
ordination of the nations strength for
war. Capitalization Of power is neces!
sary before coordination of work can
be achieved. President Wilson, al
though he was angered at first by the
nature OF the exposures, is asking now
that the necessary powers be central
ized in his hands. The bill which he
caused to be introduced has been
amended considerably. with his con-
sent, and IL 1t contains some conces.
sions which individuals consider too
broad It still possesses many import
ant features which are essential to
Americas successful prosecution Of
the war. The measure. at least, Is
calculated to meet the demand for CO.
ordination which the people have
made; therefore It should be enacted
without unnecessary delay and the
president must be trusted to admin.
lister 1t with patriotism and judgment
AS president and commander in chief
OF the nations fighting forces he Is