The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1920-11-12

Quoted in a manner that brought vic
tory two years earlier than the worl
expected and Investigations after tn
war conducted by an opposing party
have shown that no official act be
smirches the record of the, most ire
mendous achievement in history. lie
it be said here that in winning thei
great victory, the pen of Woodrow
Wilson played part that is not nov
understood or appreciated. 1t was |
pen directed by a master mind-in
spired by lofty ideals, that fired tht
zeal and aroused the patriotism of 6
nation to point where acting in un
isou, they surpassed what seemed Il
be beyond the limits of human posi-
bilities.
To act with dispatch, it required de.
cision and courage. Parliamentary
! delay and platitudionous discussions
werei ntolerable. A one-man govern
ment under the eXigencies of the hour
became necessary. By virtue of hi;
office Woodrow Wilson became that
man. He led the way along unblazed
trails and across un-charted seas sue
cessfully, but in SCATTERING precedents
and cutting away legislative tape that
circumscribed freedom of action OF
shackled progress he incurred the OPP
position of many members Of the
House and Senate. No sooner had
the war ended than he became the
target for criticism and political in
trigue that developed, what will some
day be looked upon as an unhappy
chapter Of American politics. Politi-
cal malice followed him to the Peace
Table and after helping to frame a
treaty and covenant that was ap-
proved by the leaders of the great ma
tions of the world and which has since
been approved by the people of these
nations, he returned to find their po-
iitical malice intensified. Partisan
propaganda was started to weaken
and destroy his influence. 1t was
started at time propitious for its
growth. Unsettled economic and in
dustrial conditions FASTENED its spread.
1t found expression at the polls on
last Tuesday.
Crushing and decisive was the YER
dict rendered against the party that III
the popular conception tolerated one
man government. Senator Harding
has been chosen as the next President
of the United Statesmen because of
any particular fitness he has shown
for leadership but because he was the
candidate of party that offered IA
change. Whether he can develop any
for leadership remains to be
seen. He is confronted with a task
that is humanity and politically impos.
sible-that Of satisfying one wing of
his party that is for the League of
Nations with certain reservations and
one that is unalerably opposed to it.
Senator Harding does not appeal to
us as being the type of q man who is
fitted to lead successfully through
period of reconstruction like that
which Is upon US, but he has been
elected as OUR President, and recog-
nizing the serious task that is ahead,
it is the duty of every American who
wants to see Bolshevism, Socialism
and all other "isms" that are mimi
cal to our national welfare stamped
out, to render help rather than him
der. Withhold carping and unjust
criticism. Express confidence in chos-
en- representatives and our courts.
Uphold our laws, our constitution ana
our institutions. Speak out for Amer
lea and the things for which she
stands. Much depends upon the pru-
dence, intelligence, discretion and 10y
atty of American citizens. Let's lay
aside party partisanship and all pull
together to help our country through
a period that is serious. To do other
wise may be inviting disaster.-Cape
Sun.