The Washington herald., 1918-03-29
Retain Wilson and Cut Out
Fall Elections, Says Col. Harvey

New York. March 2s-At the Lotos
Club banquet 10 Earle Reading. on
Wednesday evening, Col. George Har-
vey declared that a national cleo
ton this fall was unnecessary and
that none should be held. He also
urged the retention of Mr.. Wilson as
President for the term OF the war.
Col. Harvey's speech. as reported In
the New York Times. was as fol-
lows:
ITO my mind as I behold the situa-
ton In Washington. the chief menace
at home is the injection Of political
partisanship. Already the minds
and energies OF a great number Of
those to whom we have entrusted the
conduct Of affairs are being diverted
to the coming fall campaign. Practi-
! caHy all measures are approached
, from the viewpoint of personal am
bition. Presently large sums OF
money will be raised and expended,
animosities will arise. passions will
be stirred and the whole country will
| be In a turmoil at a time when II
should be possessed of but one all
engrossing thought and purpose.
Election Matter of Arrangement.
"Gentlement, there ought not to be
a Federal election this fall. IL Is not
necessary that there should be one.
The matter is one wholly of arrange
ment and can be effected by the lead
ers of the two great parties. IL they
will but face the situation In a gen.
erously patriotic spirit. II might not
be feasible or proper to attempt 10
deprive the sovereign States Of their
chief prerogative in the election OF
Senators. although even this could
be done without possibly affecting
the result to many. but there is no
practical or legal reason why the
present membership of the House OF
Representatives could not or should
not be continued as it now stands.
The popular branch is now and ought
to be I'm harmony with the Executive.
No conceivable advantage could ac-
crue TO the country from changing its
political complexion.
Doing so would serve only TO sub
stitute confusion and discordance fol
the fixed and definite responsibility
which now exists. Certain members
should be beaten. but their number Is
few, their names are known and they
are recognized through their acts oi
infidelity to the country which they
dishonor Against these the two greai
parties should unite and consign then
to the oblivion and disgrace from
which they never should have
emerged.
Observe Form In One Issue.
True We must observe the form OF
an election but there should be but
one issue-loyalty TO country. to civil
liZation and to God. Thus We would
achieve the unity so greatly needed
worth more than a corps Of soldiers
or a dozen battleships. and without
which we might ultimately even fail.
THE plan is wholly practicable. II
is inconceivable that the President
would not welcome it. IL the poll.
ticians should draw back. il would
remain only for the people. by mer
such as you throughout the land. &c
rise in their patriotism and ardent
desire to help to win the war. to CON-
pei its adoption. That is one thing
gentlemen. which you and those like
you can do. Why don't you?
And there is yet another opportu-
nifty of scarcely less importance and
which bears more pertinently upon the
presence OF our guest. Precisely As
the President has urged upon our
allies the desirability Of unified mill
tsry control and operation. so is 'here
need. pressing need. of a drawing to-
cether in sympathy and in spirit OF
our allies and ourselves,
Allie. send Men Rest,
"OuEht not We Americans nov 10
do more than We are doing to oe-