Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-09-29
Has Politics "Reumcd"?

hhS IOlltlCS 'IScSuHCu
Kansas City JournAl.
A great deal has been said recently
about an alleged adjournm ant OF
| politics on the part OF the national
administration. Every time a repub-
| lican has anything to say which is in
the nature OF "A criticism OF any
flagrantly partisan act or utterance
OF a democratic official, the demo-
Gratis protest vehCnently that the
republicans are pla ling politics, that
politics Is adjourned" and that a
vote against democrat is vote
against America and against winning
the war. To such lengths has this
I policy been carried that Secretary
Iumulty ventured beyond his politi-
cal depth in calling Chairman Hays
OF the repub lean national commit
! tee to book for saying something
which he did not say but which
would have been measurably true 10
he had said II. Mr.. Hays replied in
terms which effectually silenced the
Officious secretary in his role as a
Keeper Of the political conscience Of
republicans
Now comes Representative Scott
Ferris Of oklahoma, chairman OF the
democratic congressional committee,
in an official statement declaring
that the republicans as such have
been obstruCtionistS and that most
OF the great war measures have been
enacted by democratic congress In
the face of republican opposition. Mr..
Ferris says:
In the face Of recorded votes and
actions, 1t Is idle for the republican
leaders TO assert that the republican
minority in congress has been con-
structivc. The contrary Is the case
II likewise Is ridiculous for the re-
publican spokesmen to maintain
that they have shown more foresight
than the party in power. The record
cannot be disputed.
The federal reserve, farm loan.
agricultural extension, tariff commits
sion and other laws enacted by a
democratic congress put the country
on stable basis before the war be-
gan. And democratic support of war
measures has vitalized the whole war
program.
Just as the federal reserve law,
the tariff commission act and others
were enacted over repu blican oppo-
sition, the shipping board bill, three
war revenue measures and, indeed,
the war resolution itself, were nut
through over stubborn opposition by
the minority.
The shipping board. whose value
IL now appreciated by the whole
country and by all the allies of
America, was held up for two years
lacking only II days-by republic
an opposition"
Mr. Ferris cannot deceive the vo-
tcrs OF the country by any such fall
Iacious and specious misstatements
or the plain facts of the case. lie
does not err through ignorance, for
he is In a position to know the facts
and he does know them. He knows
that the federal reserve, farm loan,
tariff commission and shipping board
avs were all supported by an over
whelming majority Of the minority,
lie knows that, though individual re-
publicans may have been opposed to
some OF these acts, the whole hearted
support Of the minority has been
given to the administration in every
war measure that has been enacted
by congress since the great conflict
started. He knows that when the
democratic party was procraStinat ting
and postponing the most obvious pre-
cauuonary measures, the republicans
were squirting the administration to-
ward policy which would reflect
credit upon the nations sense of ma
tional self respect. The declaration
OF war was opposed by some OF the
most prominent democrats in the
country and by no prominent repub- |
licans.
II the democratic leaders desire To
throw down partisan gauntlet at |
this time. they will find it caught up
by srong hands They will find it |
the part OF wisdom to give credit !
where credit is due and not to adop, |
the absurd statement OF Mr.. Ferris !
as campaign document. Fremont |
tory events have already occurred |
which prove that the people of the
country are not to he caught with
the bait OF partisan Justification. The
republicans have restrained them