Evening star., 1918-07-19
TAFT URGES NEED
OF Cop CONGRESS
Would Initiate Constructive
Work for War and Not Play
"FoIIow My Leader" =
PRESIDENT NOT FLAWLESS
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
SARATOGA. N. Y, July ia call
by William Howard Taft to the coun-
try to elect this fall a republican
Congress. which, he declared. would
stimulate the democratic President
by offering constructive criticism of
the administrations action and In
action. and. by legislation. enlarge
the nations military was
issued by the former President. ad-
dressing the unofficial republican state
convention here today.
Reiterating his advocacy of an
Army of 100000 men. Mr.. Taft told
the delegates that now is the time to
raise the great force needed to win
the war. With democratic Con-
gress. waiting the Presidents lead
rather than co-ordinating with the
executive. he said. this will not be
accomplished with the promptness
which is imperative.
While conceding the masterful abil-
ity of the President in stating the
country's aims in the war Mr. Taft
asserted that the administration has
not had the same success in forming
practical war policies. He criticised
also the tendency of the administra-
tion to allow party considerations
too much sway in its appointments to
important tasks" and declared that
politics has not been adjourned" as
indicated by what he termed Presi-
Dental interference in the party af-
fairs Of Wisconsin and Michigan.
Address Of Former President.
The former President said, in part:
Everything We do now and every
thing we say must help win the war.
The President has said, .Politics is
adjourned He is certainly right, in
SO far as politics is to be used fo-
personal ends or party triumph.
But popular government, even in
war, must be carried on by parties.
Party spirit must, Of course, be sup
pressed where 1t hampers or emtar-
rasses. On the Other hand, party or
ganization of public opinion may be
the best way to secure needed govern
ment action.
That is the present case. The pa-
tion needs the republican party to give
popular expression to an affirmative
aggressive war policy. Its success at
the polls In November will spur the
administration to adop. one. A re-
publican Congress will enact legisla-
ton to initiate AMI carry 1t on
The present admi7ist c1tion is to re-
main IN power two years and q half.
BY that time. even though the war
continues. our then military strength
must leave no doub: Of the result.
We are not now concerned with tho
national election o: 1890. That may
take care of itself. Its outcome will
depend upon circumstances which enc
cannot now foresee.
our present task. as patriots and
republicans. is to help the present ad-
ministration organize the potential
Iorce OF this country into4 knockout
blow to William of HohenzolIern and
his compliant German people,
What can we fairly saw Of the
preparations for the war by the ad-
mtnfstration? We must admit that
70 cnange peace-1oving democracy
Ike ours into a nation which shall
make an effective modern war on a
huge scale is no easy task. There
must be waste of money, EFFORT and
time in such a transition.
Much has been done by tho ad-
mtnistration. and well done. We
should not minimize In any degree
the credit due to 1t for our conscrip-
tion law. It was Indispensable to
N~S sAAc IL WdS QSfHO
cratic in its principle and effective
In its operation.
TT could not have passed but for
the efforts Of tho President and the
republican minority. Its execution.
under the able directing hand Of the
Judge advocate and provost marshal
general. has been admirable.
Some Faults Of Administration.
"other achievements in war prepa-
ration may properly be claimed for
the credit of the administration.
whose patriotism and earnest devo-
tion to Its great moral war aims no
one can question. We need not dwell
upon the unfortunate delays in the
m4nnfacture of rifles. machine guns,
artillery. ships and airplanes, or the
costly blunders of the coal, admins
tration. They should be used as les
sons.
'The credit of the administration
for the work which has been done,
however. should not be exaggerated
by ignoring the great powers freely
given 1t by Congress. the wonderful
national resources with which it has
had to work and the militant support
II has had from an intensely loyal
united and morally outraged people.
"It may be fairly said that the ad-
ministration has allowed party con-