New-York tribune., 1918-09-15
The War and Partisanship

The controversy between Mr.. Tumulty
and Chairman Hays of the Republican
National Committee will have one good
effect. 1t will compel clearer thinking on
the relations between the war and par
tisanship.
AS we said the other day, the Maine
election proved that the war cannot be
made party issue. Both the major par
ties stand almost unitedly for the en-
ployment of "force TO the utmost" No
line Of lukewarmness can be drawn be-
tween them.
1t is the duty of each party to weed
out those few Senator'S and Representa-
tives of its faith who have been habby in
their support Of war measures. 1t is the
duty Of both parties to combine, If neces-
sary to defeat Socialist or other candi-
dates who favor a compromise peace in
Germany's interest. But between Re-
publican and Democratic candidates who
are 100 per cent American (and in near
ly every state and Congress district both
are) it is absurd to try to capitalize the
war as partisan issue.
1t is easy to be misled by analogies
from the days of the Civil War. In those
days support of the war was a question
dividing parties. The Democratic party
made it such by declaring in its national
platform that the war was failure and
intimating that peace Of compromise
with the South ought to be sought. Sup
port of the war thus became identified
with the support of the party in power.
1t became so through the deliberate ac-
ton of the opposition.
To-day the only possible differences be-
tween the two parties concern nothing
more than the degree of vigor with which
the war is to be carried on. 1t is per-
fectly legitimate for any Republican to
act on the theory that his party is en-
titled to larger opportunity of helpful
ness and responsibility in the conduct of
the war. To suggest the contrary is to
affront common sense and the long estab-
lished usages of American politics. Par
tisan politics ought to be "adjourned"
completely in so far as any debate about
the merits Of the war are concerned. But
adjournment Of the voters freedom to
choose between rival candidates who are
both sound on the war issue.
If Republicans think that the prosecu-
ton Of the war can be speeded up and
stifened by the election Of Republican
Congress, it is their privilege to hold
such an opinion and to act on it. AS The
Times pertinently says, in an article
which we reprint on this page, "the tone
of his Mr. Tumulty'sl letter almost sug-
gests that he believes it is near treason
TO invite any one TO vote the Republican
ticket"
For such delusions ice-cap treatment is
needed. 1t is that narrow and purbhnd
view Of politics which should be "ad-
journed' for the war Maine "ad-
journed" it. And it will be adjourned"
in every other state where the voters
think that they have more to hope from
Republican Congressman than from Dem
ocratic congressman in the way of effec-
tive support Of the war
The war is more important to the
voters than the fortunes Of any party.
And the lack of any pro-war or anti-war
Issue between the Republican and Demo
cratic organizations leaves every patriotic
citizen perfectly free to use his own judg-
ment in voting for Senators and Repre-
sentatives in the next Congress.
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