New-York tribune., 1920-10-18
Parsons's; Heart
Right; M'Ilvaine
DOubtsHisHead
Partner and Friend Says
Bolter Is Progressing
Backward; Asserts He
Is Mistaken in the Issue
Scores Democratic Rule
Asks What Department of
Administration the Party
Can Point To With Pride

Expressing the opinion that his cou-
sin, law partner and life long friend
Herbert Parsons, whose detection from
the Republican ranks was recently an
nounced, was "progre essing backward"
Thompkins McIlvaine. LAWYER and
leader in the preparations Of this coun-
try to enter the World War, yesterday
sent letter to Samuel B. Koenig,
chairman of the Republican County
Committee. assuring his support of
the Republican ticket. The letter con-
tanned a donation of 500 to the cam
paign fund. It said in part:
~ do not now sympathize with my
lifelong friend Herbert Parsons in his
recent action in leaving the Republ'-
can party to support the Democratic
ticket, any more than I sympathized
with. him in 1915 and 1916 when he
failed to support the preparedness
movement-which failure to prepare
resulted in his and some two million
other men going to France in 1919
and 1918 as ill-prepared combatants.
There is no question about Parsons's 8
heart being right, it is only his head
Cndt QOuDC. W ltn MS ueSliS 4oi III
ternatohal cooperation to prevent war
I am in sympathy, but he is progress
ing backward. Parsons mistakes the
Issue in this campaign. The question
is not what we think of Mr.. Wilson's
League of Nations; the issue is
whether we are to continue to have
futile national Administration incap-
able of formulating and carrying into
practical effect any policy.
or%x to% in,
the years 1914 to 1916 declined to pre-
pare for the war that was inevitable;
swallowed repeated insults; suffered
our citizens to be murdered or the high
seas; secured reelection in 1915 under
tie banner 'He kept US out of war.
which the President must have known
was inevitable, and as soon as reelec-
tion had been secured Immediately
plunged us-unprepared-jn war?
Cites Democratic Failures
"To what departments of the gov
ernment can the Democratic party
point with pride and promise?
els it to domestic trade? We have
since the war-had high wages, it is
true, but they have purchased little.
as it to foreign trade? In 1914
the foreigner was capturing our domes-
tic markets. The war stopped the flood
of imported goods. During the war
the foreigner paid for our exports BY
borrowing from US billions which prob
ably he can never repay. At the pres
ent time our exports are decreasing
and our imports increasing.
"Is it to finance? We have a stag
necessary and incurred by shiftlessness
and folly. For years we must pay
heavy taxes.
''Is it to our foreign relations? No
country was ever so universally dis
liked, though to succor others we shed
our blood and spent our treasure.
as it to the railways? The govern
ment all but destroyed them. 1t was
only by escaping from Democratic gov
ernment control that they are now get
ting a chance for useful life. A
little longer under Democratic control
and our transport system would have
broken down and the country been
plunged into disaster.
"Is it to the Shipping Board, with
billion dollars of never-used and al
ways worthless wooden ships lying
rotting in our harbors?
as it to the war, that was fought
and won in spite of Democratic un-
preparedness and the incompetence of
Democratic .officials? The important
war measures were passed only by the
aid of votes cast by Republicans un-
mindful of partisanship, and the
armed forces were organized and sup
piled through the self-sacrifce and
common sense of the people.
Museum of Muddlers
"Is it to the Democrats that were
kept in Office? There never was such
a museum of muddlers. If by chance
a Democrat of any ability were ap-
pointed to Office he either resigned or
was thrown out.
"The people have trusted the Demo-