Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-01-08
Sass for Goose a. Well as Gandsr.

SaSS TOR Goose as well as Gander.
The editor is touched by Mr.. Pat
tangalPs desire to give the Journal
1000 on patriotism. But the spectacle
OF w. r. Pattangall accusing the edi-
tor OF this paper Of playing politics
will produce smiles in all parties.
The air at Washington has been
heavy, for weeks, with patriotism"
and mon partisanship"-for Republic
cans. Col. House is said to have
urged upon the President coalition"
Cabinet. He was willing to COM
promise on the coalition" part Of It, If
the President would make some
changes in his present official family.
Neither has been done or seems likely
to be, despite the Investigations, insti-
tuted by Democrats, and their revela-
tons.
Non partisanship is for Republicans
in Washington or Augusta.
We agree with Mr.. Pattangall that
no party lines should be known until
the war is ended, but we know. if he
does not, that if ever party played the
game every hour and in every con-
sderation, it is the party in power at
the present moment. The national
Democratic party. never in its history.
has had the organization, the equip
ment and the craftsmanship that it has
today. 1t talks loudly of the need Of
"loyal support" and political
armistice" during the war period, and
fills the mails and the press with
Democratic sophistry and self praise.
political armistice!" Ye gods!
Within ten days, from the effusion Of
overworked Democratic publicity we
have received a plausible demand that
in consideration Of the marvellous
showing of the Democratic administra-
ton it's following should not only be
other candidates should be considered.
George Creers bureau of political in
spiration" Cat public expense) has
never been equalled.
Mr. Pattangall admits of admins
tration mistakes, past, present and
prospective, but thinks they should not
be mentioned. Under wars demands
we should fully comply-if they did not
persist in the things that are proven
mistakes. We are willing to forget
and forgive mistakes, but we balk at
going out with praise of them to our
readers.
We agree with Mr.. Pattangall that no
half dozen editors Of New England are
better fitted to decide the great
problems which confront the admin
istration than are President Wilson
and his advisers, but we insist that
even this distinguished galaxy cannot
know everything. and that it should
ton from those who are in touch with
the people.
The people of this country are just
as deeply interested in this war as is
the Executive, his advisers or the Con-
gress. There are just as able men
among the people Is there are in the
White House or in Congress. The
people are furnishing the men and the
money: Congress decides the meas
udes and the Executive acts for ALL.
Confronted by those facts we be-
lieve that the people have a right to be
heard; to call attention to the errors,
to advise against mistaken policies
(especialy when those policies are
manifestiy partisan and for a faction
of the people and to counsel care Of
their sons and the billions in treasure
they SO gladly provide.
We cannot agree with our kindly
political friend that to approve of
everything a war administration does,
mistakes and all, is an evidence of
patriotism. We believe it is duty
toward the government to let it know
that the people are expecting better
things of it than the continuance Of
it's manifest errors If the government
is ohlivious to expression outside an
oligarchy that is not our fault; We
have reported from our locality and the
government must take the conse-
qUences when it comes before the peo-
pie for approval.
And finally, we would criticise our
critic for permitting doubt to creep
into his public utterances that we are
TO win this war; even with a Demo-
cratic force that makes big mistakes
in charge. We are going to WIN, but
we shall never do it by sticking our
heads in the sand. We are going to
know what we are doing and how We
are doing it.
It is the wrong hour to attempt the
putting of autocratic methods or
silences upon the American people.
Not only have Portland's arrests de-