Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-05-21
POLITICAL SHADOW BOXING.

POLITICAL SHADOW BOXING.
From his pleasant and highly ex-
pcnsive location in foreign country
the president OF the United States
who has been wont to bring his orders
directly by hand and word of mouth
to congress-addresse a message
which advises the congress and the
country of which the important points
are;
lie would repeal war prohibition thus
giving the beer and winebibbers and
sellrs a free hand And he would re
turn the railroads to their owners.
The proposal to repeal the war pro-
Aioition must be seen as another par
tisan political play. There is no other
excuse or reason for il. 1t would
create an interim of wide open liquor
between the present time and that
when the constG utional amendment
comes into operation. which, IL ii &C
complished anything beyond giving the
manufacturers and retailers OF .ntoxi-
cants slice OF the big money" would
serve only TO emhsrass the enforce
ment Of constitutional prohibition
when the law begins 10 operate.
His recommendation seems mainly
intended for use in the next election
campaign in appealing to the liquor
interests and consumers. The enact
ment Of wartime prohibition has
brought about a great detection OF
class OF voters upon whom the demo-
crat party had been able heretofore to
place complete and unified depend
ence. The recommendation also will
have its effect upon weaker kneed po-
litcians in the republican party and
upon some congressman as regards re-
strictiye legislation against liquor and
IN the enforcement OF the laws against
the traffic. That is probably what in
spired it. The effort was TO put il up
to the republicans
The first inrimation that the admin
istration looked toward & return OF the
railways and other seized public utiI-
tiles TO their owners il is worth while
noting came with the assembling Of
puI poses os which was the return OF
those roads and wires to their right
ful owners. This congress was ready
and determined TO give them back.
What the presidents purpose and
plans may have been as regards the
railroads had been entirely guessYorA.
II was the general belle. and under
standing rot long ago that the admin
istration purpose was the reverse OF
the present presidential proposition.
The sudden sniff can Dc attributed to
desire TO pose before the country as
tisan effect and to the belated knowl-
edge that seems to have forced itself
to the foot ot the presidential throne
that public ownership couldn't get
away with II.
II is q peculiar document il more
ways than one, unique IN its pro-
nouncement from the capital Of a for
| eign country by a self expatria1ed
! president, peculiar in that its recon- :
mendations for tariffs, expansion OF
shipping, woman suffrage and assist
ance to the war veterans are republic
can proclaimed purpose and part of the
issues upon which a republican con
gross was elected last fall against d
presidential command TO vote the dem
| ocrats in.
II this message had been sent to a
democrat congress or If its recommen.
dations had been included in the de.
mands the president made upon th'
last days of the past congress it wousd
have met a different reception from the
voters and the public generally. Sen
to a republican congress and one which
would not have been called in session
had Il been possible 10 avoid calling j
the latest dex,rous partisan shift vii
avail little.