The Monroe journal., 1919-05-20
CONGRESS- AND ITS TASK
Coming Session May BE- Violently
Partisan Because of Presidential
Election Next Near-supply Bills
Will Probably Pas>-Wilson
Splendid Figure ia Diplomaey

viii Probably PaSS-WiIson a
Splendid Figure in Diplomacy.
The Springfield Republican in an
editorial forecasting the spirit OF the
coming congress says that there are
several dangers the Republicans must
avoid. The article is as follows:
The president actually surprises
the republican leaders by fixing upon
so early a date for the cOnyening
of congress in special session.
There will be over six weeks between
May - and the end of the fiscal year
on June so. and in six weeks IL
should be possible TO revise and pass
all OF the supply bills. especially the
one carrying funds for the railroad
administration. which failed at the
winter session because of the senate
filibuster
II there should be another failure
To pass these necessary measures be-
fore July l. republican dissensions
over the organization of the two
houses and lack Of compelling lead
ership on the republican side would
probably be responsible. The new
congress will be under republican
control and the confidence of the
country in the republican party ia
sure to be affected by the republican
performance. The time is past when
the republicans could prosper merely
on democratic mistakes and demo-
cratic shortcomings. Their work
must De constructive 90 be effective
The coming session may be expect
ed to be violently partisan in many
of its phases. owing to the presiden-
iial election next year. The political
training OF the Aemrican people, hap
PLY. will enable them to understand
the animus of partisan thrust and
eounterthrust: they can be trusted TO
take the measure of politicians pre-
pairing for the great popular struggle
for the control OF the government
This very intelligence of our people
should be a warning to party zealots
in congress not 20 overdo. on the ma
iority side. the job of undertaking
the democratic administration and
especially 10; TO blaoken with too
light 2 heart he record OF the Amer
lean eNpedi,ionlry force in France.
Congress meY 20 TO the limit in ex-
posing the sauricoming of the Amer
lean high command along with the
inefticiency ci the war department,
but let il be remembered that, In
spite Of the horde of critics and the
strident members of the grand order
of the military crouch, the American
forces sent abroad were the decisive
factor in winning the war.
The American people deep down in
their hearts will for all time be proud
of that fact. and not even the people
of today, near as they are to the
event can safely be affronted by a
partisan effort TO make the countrys
military record seem miracle Of
stupendous mismanaGement and con-
temptible leadership.
There Is somewhat remoter dan
ger, also, to be considered by the re-
publican leaders in undertaking the
war. The more they attack the ad-
illustrations management of 1t the
more will they make it seem to have
been war won, after all. by the dem
ONiohiS poi's fhiOuSh lNo
tion of the government. II is easy
to attack a failure, but never yet in
politics has it been possible to reverse
the old saying that in the end moth
ing succeeds like success"
The republican leaders will do well
to avoid the same perils in dealing
with the presidents achievements in
peace-making. The temptation in the
senate to seek to discredit for parti-
san purposes everything he has ac-
complished at Paris cannot be too
firmly and rigidly put aside An at
tempt TO make Mr. Wilson seem a
mean figure in diplomacy and his role
at Paris that of either visionary or
hypocrite will fail He has played
great part with the boldness, sa-
gacity and supleness required to i'm
press his name forever upon the his
tory of our time. His work at Paris,
whatever its shortcomings, has been
monumental and the American people
should see to it that neither the peace
treaty nor the league of nations be-
comes the friendless victim of malig-
nant senatorial wreckers.