Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-09-09
Il Party OF Failure.

y
~ F the party now in control of Congress
u an unprejudiced onlooker keenly OBJ
serves that it's members seem like
men paralyzed, except regards their
vocal chords" Prior to the calling of this
special session Republican leaders were TAX
ing the President holly to task for not Civ
ing the legislative branch a chance at the
problems of the hour. In the last days of
the preceding Congress, indeed, they had
defeated number of important bills by fill
buster for the very purpose of making an
extraordinary session needful. They pro
! posed to show the country what business
like and expeditions job they could deliver,
in contrast with Democratic dawdling. Only
let Republican wisdom get it's legs fairly
crossed on Capitol Hill, and all would be
right with the world! Well, some fifteen
weeks have gone by since the prOmiseful
sages foregathered. The buds of May have
rpened through Saint Swithins showery
summer, and now begin to shed their harvest
seeds What sort of crop have Messrs. Lodge,
Gillette and Company to show for these
months of fertile opportunity? What prob
lens solved? What remedial or constructive
measures enacted?
But look at the record. Not one of the
great questions has been settled 1t was
only the other day that the General Rail-
road bill was even introduced Week after
week the Senate Foreign Relations commit
tee held the all-important Peace Treaty in
idle suspense, and upon finally getting down
to definite work could do no better than con-
trive mass of amendments designed to kill
the entire pact. Prices continued to mount
and economic uncertainty to deepen; but a
Republican majority refused to speed up the
disposal of the supreme issue on which all
the processes of readjustment both in Amer
lea and throughout the world, depend
Where these gentlemen have not been uncon-
scionably. partisan they have been unbudg-
ingly inert. There is the bill, for instance
granting tO
pean countries in order that their purchases
of necessaries in the United States may pro-
coed upon a secure financial basis. Senator
Edge, of New Jersey, has the matter in
charge 1--WE quote from the New York Eve
ming Post), and has repeatedly urged the
Senate to take 1t up. But there is always
objection. Some Senator finds that he hasn't
had time as yet to examine the bill; he thinks
| 1T looks pretty suspicious anyhow and must
oppose its present consideration. So the
measure sticks on the calendar. Yet there
is large body of skilled opinion that re-
CARDS some such legislation as absolutely
necessary, and that soon. 1t will be the
surest means of restoring to something like
normal the demoralized foreign EXCHANGES
and so making easier the path of the Amer
lean exporter. It will be in the interest both
OF trade and humanity. Ravaged Europe
cannot get what she needs from us save by
the aid of credits largely extended here"
Yet this and divers other bills of great
urgency lie like so many Lazaruses at the
door of Republican inertia and obstructive
ness.
How can this distressing record be ex-
planned? One party, take it by and large
has as much brains and energy as another
and certainly as much human nature Diverg-
ent as may be their theories on certain uues-
tlons OF economics and government the aver
age Republican and the average Democrat
are OF much the same general opinion on the
nations largest interests and duties. Both
are good Americans; neither would Witting-
ly bring woe or dishonor to his country The
fact, then, that the majority of the present
Congress happens to be Republican does not
OF itself account for the amazing negIigence
and actual opposition to the nations welfare
| 1t does not account for the dumfounding
tactics which the Lodges and Knoxes have
employed Rather, it is in the inOrdinate
| hatred and prejudice and mistaken ambition
| of these leaders than in the rank and file
that we find something of an explanation.
! Truth to tell the Republican party is with
out responsible leadership. It's titular heads
are SO obsessed with the idea of thwarting
President Wilson and promoting what they
conceive to be their political interests
for 1920 that they have lost all sense of
perspective and balance have grown so blind,
indeed, that they appear ready to sacrifice the
worlds peace and all the fruits of the great
war, merely to carry their point in what
they regard a political game. With such
helmsmen no wonder the Republican Con-
gresS thus far has failed miserabIy. Nor can
we expect better things of the months ahead
unless an aroused public sentiment makes it.
self felt at Washington SO forcefulIy that the
obstructionists of peace and readjustment
will come to their senses.