The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-07-19

Cole and G. A. Doyen.
trip. but instead of bringing back q
definite plan of action he asked for
more time to consider.
THE western drive was then on. 1t
presented, a snothing else could, the
immediate danger of breaking through
the allied line. The allies called upon
the administration for aid and press
ed the necessary shipping upon US. We
were pushed into action, and thus we
have now landed million men in
France ..
The former president here describ-
ed the defeat in congress, by the ad-
ministration forces, of legislation to
extend the draft age limits, which he
declared would have provided prompt.
ly and without hardship upon depend
ent families. the army Of at least
100000 men" urged by the minority
leaders. He continued ,f
What is needed then to help this
administration most is a coordinate
branch of the government with power
and responsibility in fighting this war,
which will perform two functions. The
first is that of constructive criticism
of administrative action or inaction
A criticism is constructive which will
point out a defect for the purpose OF
having it remedied, which will en-
phasize a need for the purpose or
having it supplied. 1t is criticism
from source of Independent power
which will minimize the numbing Sc
curity OF official reserve and conceal
'ment and stimulate executive sencl
tiveness to the duty of quick decision
and action in time Of war, The Sec
ond function is by law to enlarge our
military preparations at, once SO that
they shall clearly be adequate to cur
declared national purpose. -f
"Will Democratic congress fur
nish this constructive criticism ana
needed legislation? Clearly not. Tiers
have been a few democrats in con-
gress, especially in the senate. whose
intense interest in the effective con-
duct of the war has been manifest and
who have shown independence. Blu:
in the case of the majority of the
democrats. this has not been true. We
may, therefore, infer that. new dem
ocratio congress would wait upon the
president, would hesitate, with him,
and would. furnish him no Independent
aggressive impulse in his great task.
The New Election.
Now. what of the next election
The administration has sought to &C.
cure what is called a non-partisan re-.
turn of loyal members of congress.
THAT non.partisanship seems to apply
only in states where the republican
majorities would be Overwhelming.
and where the dithdrawwal of demo
cratic opposition is a concession OF
no substance 1t does not work where
there is a chance for democratic
candidate in either the senate or the
house. In wisconsin,, in which the re-
publican candidate for senate was en-
gagged in a life and death struggle
with pro-German opposition, the pres
ident wrote letter attacking him
and seeking the election of warm per-
sonal supporter and democrat, whom
he had urged to run. In Michigan,
republican state, where there is d.
vision between the republicans, the
president has invited Mr.. Ford,
former republican, who rarely voted,
and an extreme pacifist before the
war, to become the democratic candf-
date, with a view to securing another,
thisk and thin supporter III the sen.
ate. Politics was not adjourned In
these acts. Such a policy Of so.called
non.partisanship, il carried to success.
will result in a Democratic congress
completely subject to the discipline OF
the administration, furnishing no slim
illus to definite policy and no inn
pulse to prompt action.
IF we had to have democratic
congress in 1917, it was better for the
country that the president should be.
a democrat Otherwise the declara.
ton Of war, proper preparation for it,
and the passage Of the CONSUMPTION
act would have been very doubtful.
But now the situation is different.
Now we need a republican, congress to
call for and insist upon adequate pre-
paration and to formulate legislation
to this end. Such congress will IN