Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-06-02

urged dffercnt remedy IN 1910 ln Not-
ing against the tabling of the Gore reso-
luton forbidding American citizens sea
travel on ships armed against submarine
slaughter. McCumber, Cummns, Gronna,
Norris, La Toilette, all listed now as in
surgcnts, similarly went on record.
McCumber may be recalled as the
author of a singular resolution, proposed
on the day Congress voted for war with
Germany. II stipulated that the United
States was not to take up arms against
the imperial government until still an
other American ship had been sunk by
the Hun pirates.
La Toilette and Norris were among the
six senators-threc Republicans and
three Democra ts--who voted against the
war resolution in the upper house.
Lenroot was an active supporter of the
McLemore proposed ban against arming
American merchantmen.
Senator Mccormick, when in the House,
was ardently in favor of disposing of the
IIohcnzollern menace, but once the war
was started his cr cdthedrn utterances
concerning its conduct and prospects
read amusingly in the light of subsequent
happenings. Prophecy is a discredited
art nowadays, but Mr.. Mccormick in
sisted that his iunketng amid European
scenes warranted the most solemn regard.
81 am convinced" he declared, at about
the same time that public statement
from Lloyd George involved the Illinois
congressman in a feat Of misquotaton,
that military decision before 1919 is
impossible"
A certain catchy brilliancy in the "Old
Guard opponents is undcnable. The
magnetism of Borah, the vigor Of Cum
minis, prominently displayed in his Iowa
"trust-busting" performances; the per-
sistence of Norris. as revealed in his an
tagonism to Cannon autocracy; the
culture and cleverness of Mccormick, the
frankness of Hiram johnson, the sin
cerity of Capper-all these arc qualities
welcome and stimulating to American
craftsmanship.
In several cases, however, forid ego
tsm is 2 companion and weakening
attribute. The result is costly bel
ligcrency which imparts the impression
that tho brand Of craftsmanship disclosed
is unseasoncd.
The word is used adviscdly and is not
to he invalidated by reference to length
of legislative careers. Some of the most
spectacular figures in American politics
have been spiritually unscasoncd from
their debut in Congress until their fare
well. The gorgeously rhetorical Roscoe
Conkling, able and spirited, but frus-
trated Of his most cherished hopes, was
of this type. So, in a sense, was the
fiery and eloquent Douglas.
Blaine, Burr, Sumner. Seward, Web
stcr, Clay, Calhoun. all at some time we're
classitiabe on certain points as party in
surrectionists. They were at times in
tcnsely popular, even adored. Yet vr-
tually none Of them, with the possible
exception of Blaine and Seward, is cx-
cmpt from the charge of having inspired
measures the extreme unwisdom of which
is now transparcntly obvious. And in
every case the public, with its instructive
troth with security, denied them fulfill
ment Of their presidential ambitions.
In the broad sense Seasoning" in poll
tics may be indefinablc, but it is highly
potent.
~ II ppSSlblt therefore 10 regard the
present complexion of leadership in the
Republican ranks without the gloom
which might under other circumstances
accompany a scene wherein a movement
against reactionaricS was checked. Wild
tangcnts have been avoided. What
remains to he done is n task of large
proportions, but one so directly in accord
with the finest Republican traditions
that the pressure to undertake it should
be vital.
The party responsible for such achieve
mcnts as the overthrow of slavery the de-
vclopmcnt of American industries. the
liberation Of Cuba and fair plav in the
Orient, has unique record of large
VlSloncd constructive accomplishment.
The opportunities today for new pcrfor
manceS of equal caliber are opulcnt The
life of the party depends upon the au-
thority and leadership in sane liberalism
which brings it to the present problems
of epochal import
Eccentric nostrums have been rejected
in the verdict against the embryonic up-
rising of the "irresponsibles." The wav
is paved for the adoption of authentic
remedies, making for the best quality of
Ilberalilng national progress.