Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-06-12
Partisansllip Rampant

THE Republican majority in the House has
i made good its warning that it would
prosecute searching investigation into the
conduct of the by a Democratic Presi-
dent and Democratic Secretary Of War, seek
an opportunity by this means of dynamting
the whole military administration and that
it expected so to discredit the party in power
before the finish comes that an indignant
electorate will repudiate the whole business
when il elects a new President in 1920. A
special committee to carry this patriotic
work has been formed, composed of two Re-
publicans for every one Democrat.
1t to be expected that this course
would be taken by the House majority.
Every indication had been given that the Re-
threats into execution, but the frankness with
which they make the investigation partisan
matter comes as a measure OF surprise. 1t
had been assumed that they would amouhage
to the extent Of calling their inquiry ma
tional affair. 1t was supposed that they
would base it upon patriotic grounds. But
they do nothing of the sort Chairman
Campbell. OF the House Committee on Rules,
in defending the proposition on the floor,
stated fatty and finally that this was not a
nonpartisan business a plan for the ma
tonal welfare, but that il was "a political
matter"
BY this candid admission. the House ma
jority convicts itself on its own testimony OF
partisanship of the rankest order and the
country will not fail to grasp the significance
of this deal 1t will understand in advance
that the whole purpose Of the investigation
is to make campaign capital for the Re-
publican party and to that end the House
leaders are prepared TO discredit and to
dishonor not only the civil administration of
the War Department, but the military admin
istration we'll.
There can be separation of these ele-
ments. The civilian Secretary of War did
not direct the operations of the army. He
liked certain general policies. but he did no
more. II the American army was badly Of
ticered: if it hundered in the field or was
bungled in the making, the responsibility is
not solely upon Newton D. Baker. 1t is upon
General Peyton c. March, Republican, who
was chief Of staff. 1t is upon General John
j. Pershing. another Republican, who COM
manded in France. II is upon the thousands
of devoted men who gave their time and Of
fered their lives that victory might be
achieved.
If the Republican leaders of the House feel
that they are safe in proving to the country
that this army was a failure; that it failed
10 function as it should; that the men who
went overseas failed to fight as Americans
ought to have fought; that il Republican
had been Secretary Of War, Germany would
have been crushed months before that mill
tary power surrendered, and that the admin
istration and operations of the military estab-
lishment broke down all along the line--f
these leaders want the responsibility for prov:
ing all this, then they should assume it, The
time will come when they will wish they
had never started on such a course The
American people never will stand for such
proceeding They will not have their boys
who wore the uniform stigmatized in any
such fashion.