The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-08-17
H1TCHCoCK's PUssnLANnnTY

~NcE more enator Hitchcock OF Nebraska finds
~ himself playing despicable role, out OF har-
,nony with the best thought of his own party. His
newspaper, the Omaha Wor1d-Herald, publishes
IN its first page which represents Presi-
dent Harding Nero, fidd1ing before vampire
while the nation is burning up with strikes: Inus
tIftcbcock places himself in the same class with
the infamous Dean who charged Harding with par
tisanship in the handling of the strike problem.
Hitchcock has the distinction Of being the only
man who has STOPPED to such man1festly unjust
act as comparing Harding with Nero
That the Hitchcock idea is not the prevailing
thought in the Democratic party is indicated by
the editorial uterances Of the New York Times
a staunch Democratic paper. After quoting the
statements by Dean charging that the admin
istration is antagonistic to the farmer and wage
Garner the Times had this to say. which applies
as truly to the Hitchcock cartoon:
Contempt is precisely the right word for the
attitude that all should assume toward men plot
ting to make partisan capital out of the nation 3
distress Sometimes small politicians make ghouls
out Of them this fashion but happily this
occurs but rarely. and those guilty OF such IN
famous conduct usually eager for congratu a
ton that ther has been almost no evidence OF
party schenaing connection with the recent labor
troubles If party divisions. cease at the water s
edge they certainly ought to cease at the edge OF
national domestic crisis That is the time for all
honest men to put aside their political differences
and to, unite with what wisdom and self-sacrif1ce
they can command TO make front against evils
Threatening we1l-b being OF the country Americans
did this in splendid and impressive style durlng
the war with Germany and the emergency caused
by the coal strike and the railway strike really
ought to make an appeal to their patriotism fully
as strong.
THE truth is that everything purely political
has been pushed into the background during
the last week. Something bigger and more a D.
sorbing has filled all minds Party principles
and ambitions have their proper place IN our a
tional life but at time like the present they must
be sunk in the larger interest of the Republic
That they have been to so gratifying an extent
must tend to reassure any who have doubted the
fundamenta soundness of uor political institu-
tons"
All this from the Democratic Times is strong
condemnation of. the Hitchcock cartoon, for the
cartoon is far more scurrilous than the Dean
charge OF partisanshp. Nero set fire to Rome
10 see it bu m and he fddled while the fire swept
the city. The cartoon means, if 1t means anythng
that Harding started the strike trouble IN oroer
to enjoy the disaster that would follow. and hddied
while the nation suffered. The fact is that Hard
ing has done in his power to bring about settle
ment of the strikes Federal interference is not
justified until the states have exhausted tnelr
mower to preserve peace. Harding has given the
governors notice his willingness to supply fed
era power whenever the power Of the states proves
inadequate Hasty Interference would have been
condemned by Hitchcock usurpation. The cour-
aeeous but deliberate course the President has
destructive murderous Nero. Hitchcock cannot
his cartoon =