Perth Amboy evening news., 1918-09-11
MAINE o THE WAY

We believe that more Importance is usually attached to the Maine
ton has become a matter of national interest, probably because it
comes SO early in the season, at a time when mems mnds-and WON
en- /. too. nowadays-turn to political affairs.
This year the Maine election was a clean sweep for the RepuIN--
lican party. 1t was more than that. 1t was a clean sweep for the
American party-fOr patriotism and the winrthe-war, back-upthe-
President spirit
cred that they were standing behind the President best by sending
Republicans to congress. For real, good, aggressive pro.war enthusi-
asm one has got to look to the Republican leaders rather than the
: Tn practically every real crisis that has arisen in congress in con-
necion with war legislation, it has been Republican leaders who have
st cd back of the President and put across the measures that he has
desired, while leaders in the Presidents own party have either re-
NAMED silent or have actually opposed the war legislation.
Champ Clark, the Speaker of the House, went about the country
opposing the draft law, declaring that he could see no difference be-
tween a conscript and a convict. S Hubert Dent Jn the Democratic
bill and Representative Kahn, of California; German by birth, by
the way-the ranking Republican member of the committee, took
ant piece of wai legislation SO greatly desired by the President. Then
there is Claude Kitchin, who halls from the metropolis of Scotland
:; ne another 81 law for these limited States Kiitcbin boosted openly
that as the North wanted the war, the North would pay for it and he
has 50 framed all tax legislation that it would fall heaviest north of
United States got into the war; they opposed the United States going
IN and they have done practically everything possible to embarrass
the country in the successful prosecution of the war since getting III.
No wonder, then, that on a strictly win-thewar issue, the people of
Maine voted SO overwhelmingly to keep the Republicans in congress
And Maine is not alone in this attitude. 1t is noticeable, in con-
sidering the primary results all the way across the continent, from
didates-men who are for pushing the war to the lmit-are the Re
publican candidates, while many of the Democratic candidates are
Ford, for instance.
OF course, it does not mean that all Democrats are in this class.
\ n our WI representative, congressman Ocuuy, III STANDS second
to none in backing the President in all war activities. No man in
congress has been more aggressive than he IN pushing war measures:
The third district of New Jersey may well feel proud of the record
their representative in congress has made.
But, unfortunately, Mr.. Scully is only one. He cannot control
his party No doubt he, himself, has been extremely mortified at
times at the attitude of the leaders, that he, as a good Democrat, is
supposed to follow. But Mr.. Scunys personal attitude does not alter
the fact that with his party in the majority in congress, the control
q saAira Y N the hands of a group of southern Democrats who are
most narrow and partisan in their views.
For instance, while it is all right for the War Industries Board
to fix a price on wheat, copper, steel and coal, the price of cotton, one
of the greatest staples necessary to the life Of the people, must be let
alone. Chairman kitchin is very willing to tax everything in sight
until someone suggests a tax of a few cents a bale on cotton and i'm
mediately he throws up his hands in horror.
It is just such a situation as this that has influenced the people
of Maine to do their part toward making congress Republican. They
know that as far as the prosecution of the war is concerned, the Pres
|ident has no better supporters than the Republicans, for they have
proven to be his best friends in the past; they also know that a Re
publican majority in congress will mean taking the reins of govern
ment out of the hands of the South with its comparatively small pop
ulaton and place the leadership in the hands of men with wide ex-
|perience, broad vsion-men capable of viewing the country as a
whole rather than from any one section.
The Maine election has shown the way. 1t would not be surpris
ling if the nation followed.