Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-04-14
wHlIsWssH NOT 4 PARTY ASSET.

II is reported from Des Moines that
party considerations will have great
effect when the recommendation of the
judiciary committee 10 impeaCh the
governor comes before the house for
adoption or rejection. Friends of the
governor. it is said, are painting dis
aster to the party if the report is &C
cep;ed and threats Of party split are
being made.
OF course there are party possibil-
tiles. Without any manner Of doubt
the democrats will make the most Of
republican dereliction in office. Two
republican office holders have resigned
under investigation. The republican
chief executive of the state is cited by
vote Of a lawyer committee of
II members of the house for impeach-
ment. Certainly the minority party
will seek such advantage as it may
hope to find
But If party danger is 10 become a
first consideration in passing upon the
recommendation Of that committee,
where does the danger lie? In accept
ing the conclusions Of a committee of
Yearly one-third the members of the
house, u committee fitted by special
training to bring in a just and proper
recommendation under the laws, or in
attempting to carry party water on
both shoulders by rejecting it and
substituting a coat OF Uhitewash with
just enough boneblack in it to take off
the shine? VIII not the house and the
house membership find itself in very
similar position TO that of the governor
when he contenptuously swept aside
the verdict of a court and pardoned a
convicted rapist because he held the
temporary power, VIII not the mem
oers Of the Legislature who assume to
put personal feal.y above duty occupy
position approximate to that occu-
pied ky the governor when he granted
this notorious pardon? And will they
be able 10 make better explanation tC
the state and their own constituencies
than Harding has made to the Jude
| larry committee?
Considered merely from the stand
point of the party politician white
| WASH at this stage of the game is plain
confession and plain confession under
the circumstances and in the state OF
public mind is party disaster The
Cemocrats would much prefer a cam
paign against party whitewash Of a
| public outrage to campaign in which
the answer would be Yes, and the
party cleaned house thoroughly ant
at once" r.-... ..=..-.. .- ...
The democrats are in no position tt
make an issue of the Impeachment OF
Harding. Whitewash would help then
but impeachment would not; for Hard
ing is as much the creation Of the
democrats as Of republicans They
| helped nominate him and approximate.
| ly 100,00 Of them voted for him. d
| the four democrats on the committee
three voted against impeachment anc
Rogers of Carroll, democratic house
leader, seems to have been the brain!
and leadership Of the Harding factor
in the house and on the committee.
| Legislators will do well to lay asid,
politics as game and consider TIL
recommendation of the judiciary com
mittee from the higher standpoint O
the good name Of the state. officid
propriety and integrity and the de
mands of organized society. If part.
is to be considered at all the only wa.
it should be considered is from tn,
higher standpoint Of party cleanliness
and common party decency.