The Washington herald., 1918-09-04

" lhc hAnNsSh JNs~ -
soon as the effects of Congressman
Rodenberg's speech had gone around.
The result, while 1t may be comment
ed upon here and there, is really up
to the people and II will be the
voters of the fall who pass upon 1t
once and for all.
The advantage Is decidedly with the
Democrats-and for the same reason
that 1t was with the Republicans for
so many years in this nation. They
are in control of the war. the war Us
of the making of all. and has the Wig
orous support OF all. but the response
bility of conducting 1t, after all, is
upon the Democratic part and It's
members will naturally be expected TO
claim and to receive their reward for
It. Part of that reward must be re-
election to office. particularly to menu
berships In Congress.
There has been a -partisanship
about this war which has been most
commendable and wise, There could
be no partisanship IL we were to be
successful There is no disputing this
And the first to see the necessity OF
bringing all men and women into war
work Of one kind or another-service
In the trenches or at the benches
were the leaders of the Democratic
party. ut just as the Democrats
must gain something because OF their
conduct of the war they must not
claim the monopoly on patriotism
They can go so far and no farther In
this. They can win with discreet
management where they are entitled
to. but they cannot expect to gain II
they become indiscreet and overbear-
ing in their war claims. The people
have money and blood tied up in this
war as they have never had II tied UP
in any other war. They are going to
watch all places where public activ-
fly Is to their disadvantage. The peo-
pie want service to the end that the
war may be concluded with a German
defeat. Everything else diminishes at
an appalling rate in relation to that
consideration.
An adjournment of Congress from
late this month until after the fall
elections might work irrepara BILE
harm upon our cause. There are
those on the hill who think this
would be the case. There are
others who insist a fall vacation
would be helpful.
II the fall rest is decided upon
the Senate finance committee will
have to work during the interim and
then the big war revenue bill will
not be offered for final approval of
Congress until after the fall cleo
tions. This would unquestiona bly,
leave a small number of the MEM
bers, at least. to pass upon 1t after
the political ak had fallen upon
their heads. This phase of the prob
lem makes some folks believe that
1t is unwise to delay consideration
of the big measure and certainly
unfair to those varying classes of
individuals and businesses which
must contribute as a result OF the
provisions of the bill.
1t is not an answer to this claim
to argue that every other year num-
bers of members have to pass upon
important legislation between the
time they are defeated and the time
they actually retire from Office The
revenue legislation this fall gives
them an unusual opportunity to
vent their spite on individuals ana
concerns which may have opposed
their reelection.
To offset this. of course, there Is
the argument of those who say that
if Congress went ahead with the
legislation the members might not
be prepared to levy taxes with the
same freedom that they would after
election day had passed. This clas,
thinks the members would act more
freely and more fairly after their
names had been voted upon. than
when their action on the revenue
bill was apt to be an active con-
sideration in their retestion or re-
lection as Congressional members
So far as we are concerned there
are interesting phases of both conten-
tions. On the whole, we believe, the
majority of the members OF both
houses-a sufficient number to deter
mine the fate of the legisIation-wilI
act without respect to what the voters
do or do not think Of them. We be-
lieve the needs of the hour will i'm
press themselves upon the majority OF
the members so they will meet the sit
uation with the same spirit our men
abroad meet 1t when the order is given
to go ''over the top" There is nc
other spirit members can well exhibit
at time like this-even II they want
to come back and sit again where
they are now sitting.
z. c. Pierce, a Rhode Island man
who is seeking the govenorship of his
state. adds a curious contribution to
current political history. He says in
his statement of candidacy that if he
is nominated II must be with the
single condition that he constitutional
reforms I have advocated and the
method of securing them be made in
substance the party platform"
This Is the method laid down by w.
Jennings Bryan and other reform
agents of the country who have sought
to perform the work of party dictators
along with other duties which they
felt they should assume. It is proba-
bly, step to accomplish. but II appar.
emily pre-supposes that the members ot
the party are woefully inactive and
devoid of Initiative and ideals. A man
who endeavors to press home such de-
mands upon his party takes It foI
granted that he alone OF his party
senses the public needs and that he
alone is capable OF suggesting or even
directing how the public needs must
be met.
Most parties in most of the States
have laid aside this demagogic way
of doing things. There was a day
when one could do It and win. There
was a day. in fact. when II appeared
one was compelled to do this II he
expected to be popular with his fel-
low men. But that day has passed
The people by common counsel car
do more than a dictator. Moreover
the people like to have some hand
In their affairs and they do not be-
lleve they can do so II they allow
men to dictate both their ideas and
their methods of performance to
them.
The appearance of the war revenue
bill yesterday means that both in
dividUals and business concerns OF
the country will take some time to