Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-06-05
\ Shameful Record

Q ] Y months ago the SiXty-sixth Congress
- convened for its first session. Today 1t
will adjourn sine die, leaving Il record that
Is Il blot upon the country'S fair name. With
the Republicans in undisputed control OF
both branches, the Congress entered upon
its duties bound by solemn pledges to en-
act constructive legislation. wipe away the
industrial scars of war. meet the profitcer-
ing menace. graphic with the perplexitie3
presented by living conditions and. in so
far as was possible, put this nation back on
Il normal basis.
And what has it accomplished along these
high, constructive lines? Nothing, abso-
lutely nothing. Animated solely by n deep
and abiding hatred for the President. and
concerned only with political maneuvering
Tor the vantage place in the national cam
paign. it has sacrificed the nation for party
advancement. When it knew that this coun-
try'S rehabilitation depended on the making
OF peace, that its prestige and world leader
ship, won at the price of precious lives and
vast material treasure, was at stake. and
that restoration of other war-torn, bleeding
nations depended largely on restoration Of
America. it cast national duty aside and, in
stead Of developing statesmen to solve these
knotty questions on which the future hinges,
1t raised up petty politicians who could en-
vision nothing extending beyond next No
vember. whose ambition rose no higher than
to bclittle and embarrass the administration
and sweep it out of the Republican party's
political path.
History will record that the peace treaty
failed because of political venom. and the
one grain of comfort to be derived from the
disgraccful situation lies in the fact that the
nations associated with MS in war under
stand our peculiar political system and do
not hold the nation itself responsible for its
apparent descrtion Of all those things for
which il fought.
The whole attitude OF Congress has been
ono Of ncgation and opposition. it's course
so narrowly restricted to partisan channels
that every constructive issue has been left
to tai care Of itself. or become b%efogged
in party politics. What time was not spent
in seeking to repudiatc the administrator
on the treaty issue was largely wasted
through Investigations whose animus was
To convict il Of dishonesty incompetence or
willful extravaganza in the conduct Of tho
war. Millions Of dollars Of the public money
have been wantonly thrown away, and the
administration comes forth unbesmirchcd
For the play of political passions and
hatrcds. sheer do-nothingncss and failure TO
construct when construction was imperative,
this session Of Congress never has been
cQualcd.
IAN lcNlSlOn, asked ny the ITcSlucnt, aH-
mittedly urgent, has been refused, prontcer-
ing has not been curbed, cost Of living has
not been reduced, labor and industrial con-
ditions have not been eased. Aside from
passing supply measures, and repeating the
wartime laws in its closing hours, tho record
is one at which the American people may
we'll look and tremble. And this is the
record on which the Republican party must
go before the people, ask Endorsement and
seek Il return 10 power. That record must
stand as its earnest for the future. Its
broken pledges OF the past are the only
guarantee that new promises will be full
filed. Will the American people grant the
party of negatiOn a continuance OF con-
iidcncc? The signs are that they will not.