New-York tribune., 1920-06-29

who Is moving in the direction OF the
pententiary is Truman Newbcrry, Of
Michigan.
"The very power of the Republican
party to conduct a partisan investiga-
tion of the war, to criticize the Presi-
dent, to control the organization of the
Senate and to wreck the project of
world peace, rests upon a bare maj jor-
ity of one, secured through the tainted
Senatorial vote from Michigan.
Custodian of Country's Honor
"The Republican party became so
fixed in its incorrigible habit of con-
turned to the fruitful task of investi-
eating itself. For the first time since
they entered upon this program, they
discovered fraud and graft and gross
and ineXcusable expenditures. The
revelations disclose the fact, long un-
derstood by the initiated, that the
meeting at Chicago was not conven-
ton but an auction. The highest bid
der, however, did not get the prize
The publicity which overlook the pro-
ceedings frustrated the initial purpose
In more senses than one the recent
Chicago convention has left the Demo
cratic party as the sole custodian of
the honor of the country.
There are men SO small in spirit, so
ptifully cramped in soul, that they
suggest that the war cost too much
The Republican platform echoes this
complaint. 1t was indeed an expen-
sve war War is the most wasteful
thing in the world. But is money to
be measured against the blood of
American soldiers? Would it not be
better to spend a billion dollars for
shells that were never exploded than
to have one American boy on the firing
line minus an essential cartridge
Was it not better to prepare for a
long war and make it short, than to
prepare for a short war and make it
long? When criticism is made of the
expense of war, let US not forget that
we bought with it the freedom and the
safety of the civilization of the world.
Again, they say that we were not
prepared for war. In a strict military
sense, democracy is never prepared
for war; but America made ready in a
way that was far more effective than
by maintaining, at enormous cost, great
armaments, which neither party ever
advocated and which our people would
never approve.
WARS are not fought by armies
alone. They are fought by nations.
1t is a measuring of the economic
strength of nations. The front line
trench is, no stronger than the forces
which lie behind the trench. The line
of communication reaches back to
every village, farm, counting house
factory and home. America prepared
by making the economic life of the
country sound.
What would have been our situa-
tion If, prior to the outbreak of the
war, we had not prepared so that our
farmers were able to feed the armies
of the world? What would have been
willing to follow the leadership of the
President? What would have been the
situation if we had not established q
currency system which made it pos
sible for us to finance the war? What
would have been the situation if the
Republican party had been in control
and had maintained it's old attitude
toward legislation? There would have
been an inevitable breaking down OF
the economic structure of our country
We would have been caught in the
throes of a panic more devastating
than any we had ever known. Indus
and the tasks of war, difficult as they
were. might then have become alto
gether impossible.
keDuOllcan congress- keCOrQ
"The Republicans have now been ir
control of the Senate and the House
for more than a year. They won the
election Of 1918 upon the faith Of allur
ing promises. They said that they
would earnestly support the President
at least until the tasks of war were
finished 1t was their contention tha
they would enter upon the work of re
/ to11
and even with greater patriotism thar
would be possible under Democrat
leadership. They gave publicity, whel
they entered upon the recent session
to detailed and ambitious statement
+ as to their program. If we are to b.
. judged, as I hope We may be, by tn
record, let them also be judged by tn
record. What have the Republican
| accomplished since their politi al sue
cess in 1918? What beneficial result
t have flown to the American people
What promises have been redeemed
e What progress has been made in tn
settlement of foreign questions?
c "Twice the President went befor
: Congress, since termination Of hostili
= ties, calling attention to needed legis
e lation He urged the passage of law
y relating to prohteering; measures t
Y simplify and reduce taxation; appro
f pirate action relative to the returnln
= soldiers; the passage of a resolutio
!, concerning the constructive plan
g worked out in detail by former Secre
g tary Lane, and the measures advocate
+ by the Secretary of Agriculture. H
y suggested that the Congress take cour
o sci together and provide legislato
e with reference to industrial unres
d and the mutual relations of capital an
II labor. After more than a year c
l. sterile debate, our country has neithe
f; peace nor reconstruction. Barren c
"a achievement, shameless in waste c
u time and money, the record of tn
q present Congress is without parable
T. for its incompetencies, failures an
u regulations. Are the American peopl
so unjust or SO lacking in discrmin;
ton that they will reject the servic
II of a party which has kept its wor
d and place trust in party whic
,r merely renews the broken promises {
j.? a previous campaign?
If "Rcpublican leaders have been move
m by strange and ineXDlicable jealous
j. of the President. Their fevcrsh an
a mostly, expressed in gross abuse an
p through secret intrigue, has been pr
IS ductivc of one of the most unhapr
lie chapters in American history, recallir
re the similar experiences of Lincoln an
'e Washington. Political malice followe
a the President to the peace table.
a Senatorial round robin was wide
circulated. Every device which part
g. sanship could develop was emplove