Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-11-04
With Other Editors
Stand by the President.

1t has been plain from the time President
Wilson reelected that our American part in the
world would be determined in its large out
lines by his talent for leadership, that the most
intelligent the streets knows it is Woodrow
Wilson or nobody, during four year period.
If had the British parliamentary system by
which a government could be voted in at
pleasure it would be different But we do not have
that fexbility that quick response to changing
public opinion. We have four year term, and dur
ing those years the administration will either
dominate situation with the help of congress- or
fighting with an adverse sentiment in congress bring
only Intellectual compromises unsatisfactory
home, and paralyzing TO American influence abroad
We might just as well face the plain facts of
the situation, whether we be Republicans or Demo
Gratis what not, and individual
sponsibility by the estimate put the things
be gained. If believe it is unmportant this
time whether have influence abroad then the
mid-term campaign becomes like many of
other political scrambles merely a home play for
office, If the other hand believe the president
has an unusual opportunity American
world leadership, to mold the public opinion of Eu
rope to American standards, to dominate the peace
of Europe to great ends then the mid-term election
becomes far different matter.
Let nobody deceive himself concerning what is
really involved 1t is not because of anything the
last congress has done has left undone that the
crusade is Most everything done by the last
congress has been done by Republican votes and with
Republican acquescence 1t is not congress that the
quarrel is over. It is the president And it is not
the president personally, although that enters in
lint he he haS Dcpd 70 he 3d-
justment of the world.
Mr.. Roosevelt has at least this to his credit that
he has never concealed the object of attack
has he concealed the purpose of his attack, He
not sought any subterfuge of wanting an economical
congress nor anything OF that sort Mr.. Roosevelt
has assailed the president from the first and his
personal resentment aside he has assailed him be
cause Mr.. Roosevelt believes in a preparedness
future United States, while president
Ieves a world leagued together to maintain peace
and to secure disarmament and the end of
why is this fight started on the president here at
home in the middle of his term, when everywhere
in the world outside United States his leader
ship is hailed as the harbnger of better things?
Why when the central empires are disntegrate1
demoralized by the call for self-determination
of every people, call that comes home to Bavaria
with almost as much insistence as it does to Bo-
hernia Poland. when everywhere America stands
today a liberty enlightening the world is there
this incessant cIamor discredt the presi-
dent?
The president has his limitations, and they
very marked. But he has great talent and it is a
talent particularly suited to the time With the pos
sible exception of Lincoln America has never had
man who could say so to help the cause of free
government in the world, and little to hurt it
President Wilson. And is the time when every
people IS alert the call to freedom Nobody
knows what the president may not be able to do for
world freedom and world union if the American peo-
pie will stand behind him.-Des Moines Register