Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-03-12
The Country viii Not Forget

n their desperate purpose to CmbarrasS the
j administration at any and AL costs. the
Republicans in the Senate have brought the
country face TO face with situation that
might very easily develop into serious iinan-
cial and industrial crisis. TO say the blame
for such crisis would lie with the President
for refusing to call an extra session at once
TO remedy the damage done is absurd. On
That basis any murderer could expect ac-
Quittal if it could be shown that L third party
might have saved the life OF his victim, but
failed. The country is not going to forget
that the Republican party in the Senate,
totally Indifferent to the country'S welfare,
deliberately drove tho knife into legislation
that was urgently needed to insure employ
ment for returning soldiers on public works
and to steady the finances OF tho railroads
For the country to expect relief even from
an extra session is Il dubious project. The
Republicans in that extra session would be
in control of both the House and Senate
They have no constructive program to offer
Their program in tho Congress just past and
their program in the coming Congress-, as
far rs any one can judge, is Il program of
obstruction Il program TO cmbarrass the adj
ministration, to undermine the prestige of the
President abroad, ii that is possible, and to
cripple tho administration conduct OF do
nestle affairs. Bocs Pcnrosc being at tho
head of Republican affairs in Congress, the
country easily can Judge what to expect when
tho new session does convene. The kind OF
politics which the Republicans played in the
last session is the only kind of politics that
Pcnrose knows. His slogan is reactionism
and If he cannot bring back the good old
days Of corporate control of the government,
he can at least furnish Il drag on progressive
ideas.
That he was not in control OF the fiibustcr
that dsgraccd the closing hours OF the Sixty
fifth Congress is becoming increasing diff
cult to believe 1T must not he forgotten
that it was Penrose who started matters by
demanding that the urgent deficiency bill
be read and then read through again, de-
spite the fact that its provisions as
we'll known any measure that ever goes
through Congress. La Toilette. Franco and
Sherman, with their megaomaniacal lust for
the spotlight, proved TO be easy tools. 1t
was sight to arouse the disabilities OF the
gods themselves 10 see La Toilette, the self
advertised apostle of Republican progressive
ness, stopping in his silly performance to re-
ceive in full view Of the assembled Senate
his orders from Boss Penrose. Sherman, who,
day i'll and day out, had occupied the floor
with utterly inane observations on national
and International affairs, and who had ac-
quired for himself the questionable rcnown
OF Senate jester the second of the
trio. AS TO France he is left to the judg-
ment Of Maryland, whence he halls, with the
prediction that his ridiculous career in the
Senate will be short-ived
AS might be expected, the administration
is going about the business of finding what
remedies there are at hand to tide over the
situation until the President is in position
TO call an extra session of Congress. 1t
would be deplorabe to have this session while
the President is away from Washington; and
it would be equally dcporable to have him
leave his post at Paris before his work there
is concluded.