The daily Alaskan., 1918-07-30
Republicans Needed For Constructive
 Legislation Now and After the War

Saratoga, N. Y, July 29.-A call by William Howard Taft to the country to elect this fall a Re publican congress, which he de- clared would stimulate the Demo cratic president by offering con struetive criticism of the admins trations acton and inaction, and, ny legislation, enlarge the nations military preparations, was issued by the former president, addressing the unofficial Republican state con vention here today.
 Reiterating his advocacy Of an army of 5,OO0,OOO men, Mir. Taft told the de egates that now is the time to raise the great force need ed to win the war With Demo- cratic congress, waiting the presi- dents lead rather than co-ordinat- ing with the executive, he said, this will not be accomplished with the promptness which is imHera- tive.
 While conceding the masterly ability of the president in stating the country's war aims, MT. Taft asserted the administration has not had the same success in forming practical war policies. He criti- cized also the tendency of the ad- ministration ito allow party con alterations too much sway in it's appointments to important tasks, and declared that politics has not been adjourned" as indicated by what he termed presidential inter ference in the party affairs of Wisconsin and Michigan.
 Everything We do now and ev- erything we say must help win the war" he said. "The presi- dent has said politics is adjourn ed He is certainly right, insofar as politics is to be usde for per sonal ends or party triumph. But popular government even in war must be carried on by parties. Party organization Of public opin- ion may be the best way to secure needed government action. That is the present case. The nation needs the Republican party to give popular expression to an affirma- tive aggressive war policy. Its sue cess at the polls in November will spNr the administration to adopt one. A Republican congress will enact legislation to initiate and carry it on.
 I've must admit that to change peace-loving democracy into a nation which shall mark an effect i've modern war on huge scale is no easy task. There must be waste of money, effort and time. Much has been done by the admin istration and well done. We should not minimize in any degree the credit due to it for our conscrip- ton law.
 Other achievements in war preparation may properly be claim ed for the credit Of the admins tration..
 "We need not dwell upon the unfortunate delays in the manufac- ture Of rifles, machine guns, artil- lery, ships and airDlanes or the costly blunders of the coal admin istration. They should be used as lessons. The credit of the admin istration for the work which has been done, however, should not be exaggerated by ignoring the great powers freely given it by congress.
 'In framing practical policies for carrying out our high purposes, there is always a halt and hesi- tation in adopting the necessary course finally entered upon.
 "The army appropriation bill of last winter was held Up for. more than two months, in order that the secretary of war might visit the war fronts and gain clearer idea of the situation there and bring back 8 definite policy. When be returned, instead of bring