The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-07-19
NEED ARMY OF 100000,
DECLARES EXPIRES. TAFT
Now Is the Time to Raise That Force
and He Thinks Democratic Congress
Won't Act with the Promptness
Which Is Imperative.

Saratoga, n Y, July ia call by
William Howard Taft to the country to
elect this fall Republican Congress,
which he declared would stimulate the
Democratic president by offering con-
structive criticism of the administra-
tion's action and inaction, and, by legis-
lation, enlarge the nations military
preparations, was issued by the former
president, addressing the unofficial Re-
publican state convention here to-day.
Reiterating his advocacy OF an army
of 100000 men, Mr. Taft told the dele
gates that now is the time to raise the
great forces needed to win the war. With
a Democratic Congress, waiting the
presidents lead rather than co-ordinat-
ing the executive, he said, this will not
be accomplished with the promptness
which is imperative.
While conceding the masterful ability
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
administration TO allow party consid-
erations too much sway in its appoint
ments to important tasks" and declared
that politics has not been adjourned,
as indicated by what he termed presiden-
tial interference in the party affairs of
Wisconsin and Michigan.
The former President said in parts
Everything we do now and everything
we say must help win the war, The
president has said Politics is adjourned.
He is certainly right, in SO far as poll
tics is to be used for personal ends or
party triumph. But popular government
even in war, must be carried on by par
ties Party spirit must, of course, be
suppressed where it hampers or embar.
raises. On the other hand, party organ
ization of public opinion 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 afiirma-
tive aggressive war policy. It's success
at the polls in November will spur the
administration TO adopt one. A Repub-
lican Congress will enact legislation to
initiate and carry it on.
"The present administration is to re-
main in power two years and half.
BY that time, even though the war con-
tinues, our then military strength must
leave no doubt of the result We are
not now concerned with the national
election of 1920. That may take care Of
itself Its outcome will depend upon cir
cumstances which one can not now fore
see Our present task, as patriots, and
Republicans, is to help the present adj
ministration organize the potential force
of this country into Knockout blow to
William of Hohenzollern and his com
plant German people.
"What can we fairly say of the prep
arations for the war by the administra-
tionY We must admit that to change a
peace loving democracy like ours into a
nation which shall make an effective
modern war on huge scale is no easy
task. There must be waste of money,
effort and time in such a transition.
Much has been done by the administra-
tion and we'll done. We should not mini
mize in any degree the credit due to it
for our CONSUMPTION law. 1t was indis-
pensabe to carrying on this war. II was
democratic in its principle and effective
in its operation. II could not have
passed but for the efforts Of the presi-
dent and the Republican minority. It's
execution, under the able, directing hand
of the Judge advocate and the provost
marshal general, has been admirable"