El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-03-05

TN their effort to bring about peace the world presi
dent Wilson and congress have closed their state OF Wr
with battle which to have resulted IN VIC
tory for either side The country is the loser
David Lawrence has described the hostilties with
markable eandor considering his close relations win me
white house lnasmuch as M Lawrence mas Deen consu
cred unofficial spokesman for the president things must
have pretty serious pass TO cause him TO say
that the president regarded congress with violent sen
euts and that congress looked upon Mr. Wilson with equal
resentment NJ Wilson has hitherto given way to IN
dgnatou-or If he has, he has not favored publicity OF
tnat fact On the contrary he has seemingly cultivated
pcise invariably caimor at least the public should be-
lieve Roosevelt might become volcanic upon OCCASION
bu not Wilson. That is reason why Mr. Lawrenoes
narrative Of the bad blood between the president and con
gTess is extraordinary.
The president indcts congress on two counts; of
ohsruCng domestic legislation and the other OF embar
RAISING him in his negotiations abroad The principal de-
PENDANTS the latter action supposedly those elderly
but vigorous and Intellectual Republican senators who have
passed adverse Judgment the league Of nations plan
Obstruction Of domestic legislation obviously refers to such
matters failure 10 pass OF the appropriation bills
Congress charges the president with playing politics by
refusing 70 cali an extra session OF congress because OF me
inevitable presence therein Of many Republicans elected at
the last general election They that the president
wants congress TO TO its several hos and be quiet
sitting voice Of criticism while peace negotiations
are IN progress The word from the white house is that
congress vii not be reassembed before about June I.
Curousy enough, predictions that the peace treaty
vii have been signed in France about the first Of June.
And Washington has been the scene Of display Of
parsanshp that Is distressing The past tense IS used
because congress has adjourned and the war OF the
capital may be said to have resulted in suspension Of
hostilities-
The paTtsanshp Is being shown both sides Presi-
dent Wilson is himself extremely partisan and there Is
to believe that his policies would have evoked
less criticism congress- from the Republican side, had he
not a0cated to his party all the patriotism that
shown by Americans during the wal, and had he not
warned the country that sending Republicans to congress
would be putting stumbling blocks in his way. The Re
pubicans naturally have shown themselves be
ing dominated They have stood for being hinged by
the nose They have broken up that habit Of blind ODE
diehce which, during the war caused the house and
ate TO be dubbed the rubber stamp congress- The Demo
cratic element in congress has champ0ned him Wig
orousy possible the president doubtless thinks and
that is true. There Democrats just there Re
pubcsns who fearful that Mr. Wilson's negotiations
abroad leading The United States into barbed wire
ENHANCEMENT from which may soon wish to withdraw
but from which extcation VIII be painful and ebarrass
ing There are also Democratic senators and representa-
tTes who were among the first to protest against the
rubber stamp regime No wonder then that the pres
dent IS inclined to lump all Of congress IN the category Of
obstructive influences.
The president is not altogether blame There are in
dleaons that many Of the criticisms delays and hndrancss
which have developed in congress have been born Of parti
san spt rather an Of sincere conviction That IS not
craftsmanship nor IS it fair TO the country Needed leg
ton should not be allowed 70 90 by the board for the
sake Of putting the president IN hole
But congress has adjourned and the initiative
therefore, rests with president Wilson He can put truce
IN effect, even make peace, If he wishes BY calling con-
gress IN session at He should let It be known that
he wishes to deal with the legislative division Of the gov
eminent IN spirit of cooperation rather than one Of com