New-York tribune., 1918-05-14
Only 100 Per Cent Patriots
Wanted in Congress,
Leaders Are Told
Root Backs Up Appeal
Says Victory for Disloyal Can
didate Would Discredit.
Both Organizations
i.Snocinl Disnntch to The Tribunn

of the Republican and Democratic Ma
tional Congressional committees and
leaders of both the majority and
minority in the House to-day were ap-
pealed to by delegation representing
the League for National Unity to aid
in nominating 100 per cent Americans
for Congress this fall.
An appeal signed by 500 distin-
gulshed citizens, including leading rep
resentatives of the national organiza-
tions and religious faiths, Governors Of
states and men prominent in all walks
Of life, was left with the political lead
ers. 1t called upon them to see that
"every American district will be repre-
sented by an American patriot" The
appeal urged coalition of the two maj jor
parties in localities where anti-war
candidates might be successful.
The committee assured the party
leaders of the hearty cooperation of
the league in the coming election on
all candidates who are loyal to the gov
ernment, and promised to oppose Wig
orously any candidate whose loyalty
was in the least questioned.
The Text of the Appeal
The text of the appeal follows:
"The nation must be able to count
upon both parties nominating men at
the forthcoming Congressional pri-
maries who are whole hearted and un-
equivocal supporters of the war aims
of our government, and it's purpose to
prosecute the war to successful ter
mination. No man ought to be nomi-
mated by either purity of whom it is
not certain that if elected he will sup
port the government in its high re-
solve to destroy Prussian militarism
on RI CfoI> 81,
"In order that the next Congr IS may
be undoubtedly American and anti
Prussian it will not suffice for the ma
tion - vote for better man. or the
less Gisloyal of the two candidates on
Election Day. 1t will be the business
of the two dominant political parties,
generally, whatever their natural divi-
sions may be as to domestic policies,
to insure that whoever be elected
every American district will be repre-
sented by an American patriot.
"It will be disloyalty in either party
to nominate, or at the primaries to
abet the nomination of. any man whose
support of the governments war pro-
gramme is reluctant or qualified.
Opposed to Peace Candidates
"If in any Congressional or Sena-
torial election there prove to be dan.
ger of the election Of disloyal candi-
dates, it will become the duty of Amer
to defeat such candidates and to set
loyalty to the nation above personal
loyalty to the party. The defeat of
men supporting the Union in the Con-
gressional election of 1862 did much
to lengthen that war, and like re-
suit in the elections of 1868 and 1864
would have enabled the disloyalists to
put the Union in peril.
Let no party nominate or elect to
Congress any candidate on so-called
peace platform. The American nation
under the leadership of the President
of the United States, commander in
chief of the army and navy, is for
peace; but a righteous and enduring
peace cannot be secured until America
and the Allied powers shall have
achieved victory over the armies and
governments of the Central Powers, or
their peoples, having repudated those
who have been guilty Of the crime of
willing, initiating and carrying on the
war, shall. in the interest of a just
peace, have recovered their right to
control their own destiny"
Root Urges Coalition
Chairman Frank P. Woods, of the
Republican National Committee, TODAY
received from former Senator Elihu
Root letter in which he urgently re-
quested that both the Republican and
Democratic Congressional chairmen
agree on method of successfully COM
batting any disloyal candidates that
may appear.
Mr.. Root in this letter said:
~ do not believe that there is a sim
gle Congressional district which has not
stanch loyal majority, but I under
stand that there are probably from
twenty to thirty districts in which
there are enough prof. German and
pacitist and extreme Socialist votes to
make it possible for a disloyal candi-
date to be returned by a plurality if
the loyal vote is divided pretty evenly
between the Republican and Demo-
cratic parties. Such men would do in
finite harm to our country in Congress,
their election would bring aid and COM
fort to the enemy, would dishearten all
loyal citizens, and would be discredita-
BILE to both political parties.
Differences Trifling Now.
"Of course, parties must continue,
their organization must be maintained,
and neither one ought to make the
tanning an advantage for the future:
but, after all, the differences between
parties are OF triAing consequence as
compared with the overwhelming issue
of life or death for our free Republic,
which depends upon winning this war
If in any district there is the least
chance that a disloyal man may be
sent to congress, then there is only one
issue in that district: that is the issue
of loyalty.
"The practical and patriotic course
seems plainly to be for your two COM
mittees to agree upon what districts
would be in the least doubtful in a
three-cornered fight, and in such dis
tricts where the Republicans seem to
have the best prospect for votes urge
the Democrats to get behind a loyal
republican candidate, and in districts
where the Democrats seem to have the
best prospect for votes urge the Re-
publicans to get behind a loyal Demo
cratic candidate.
Parties To Be Judged by Sincerity
GAS you know, my dear Congress
man, have been Republican all my
life, and for more than fifty years /
have been voting to send Republicans
to Congress, but ! have an idea that
after this war parties are to be Judged
by the sincerity and great-heartedness 3
with which they give themselves to
their country now and use all their
power of association and organization
to enable America to win the victory
II am proud of the splendid and un-
selfish loyalty which our party has
shown in it's support of the Democratic
Admin stration, through which alone
the war could be waged Here is an
other opportunity, another test. Let
us challenge the Democratic party to