South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-05-18
ND NEWS TIMES SUNDAY EDITORIAL PAGE

liness-if "manliness" It may be called,-to follow
the limit Some ofthese democrats too, hailed
not so very far from Indiana-anj Michigan It is
the everlasting credit of Kitchin and Clark that
they entered into bipartisan combinations with
the republicans to kill IL they could certain admin
stration measures in committee OF the whole
lighting and voting against them there and then
when they found they licked 10 90 out on
the floor where the public could see, and vote
ularly for them.
Evidently Clark and Kitchn-anG recollect we
have small for either OF them,-at least had
little conscience in their opposition the prest-
Dental war measures. even if il more or
less traitorous conscience They did agains
them behind the doors and then parade out on the
open floor as the champions Of causes which in
secret they opposed-changing because 1t now
apparent that their opposition was in vain That
much OF a republican camouhage for them
which in itself entities then, TO respect than
can be counted due those democrats who played
the republican game clear through
What the democratic party needs is TO relesate
not only Champ Clark and Claude Ktchin but lot
Of other democrats VINO served in the last congress
both houses-to exactly where the republicans in
patriotism. should reegate their 'copperheads."
They are not needed in the party for leaders or
candidates for president senator's congressman. gov
errors. or anything else. They have outlived their
usefulness to the party II may seem heartless to
suggest such a thing o old horse-and old horse
is the word-but if the democratic rarty is to live
live a wide-awake. militant. progressive
party. capable of sensing the needs of the present
time.
You can call it audacty. II you like. the manner
in which these two men went 10 the floor and sup
ported the McLemore resolution. opposed the
scripton act and several other such measures but
IL they audacious conscientious enough TO do
it behind the closed doors OF the committee why
out in the open? Such audacity deserves to be ad-
mired particularly in comparison with yellow
backs" who were sneakingly audacous with them
but lacked the face the public with it. This
is no brief for the Missourian or for the congress-
man from North Carolina just a classification Of
some Is or 90 other democrats who played the re
publican game of camoufage well that they
even worse.
For remember that the real work Of a congress
is that done in the committees. There behind closed
doors, congressman and senators display their true
colors. The place ascertain whether is king
or cur. saint sinner is at his freside, not when
out on parade meeting the public. In the old days
the ma ority report coming from a committee
ried the party gag with it, II necessary to vote
with the majority be regular, and if irregular.
YOU became virtual outlaw One Of the purposes
of smashing that gag" rule give such
as Hitchin and Clark opportunity to be honest
even though foosh-both sides OF the door.
never did believe in goats" of such character,
and hence while we would dislike seeing either
CLARK or Fltchin made minority floor leader it would
be a travesty to give it to any other of the 10 or
20 democrats who sneakingly followed them in the
dark but lacked the moral courage-f moral cour-
age" is the term,-to continue their attitude when
it became daylight