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Show WORK OF PRUNING. .Representative Slaydea of Texas, after serving twenty-two years in the lower house of congress, lias been forced to withdraw rom the primary race in the Fourteenth district on account of his war record. Publication of a telegram tele-gram from President Wilson was the immediate cause for withdrawal. Under Un-der ordinary circumstances wo do not suppose the executive would have interfered inter-fered iu the selection of candidates at the primaries, but just now the country is at war and, as commander-in-chief, he needs the united support of all patriotic pa-triotic citizens, either iu or out of office, of-fice, and it is perfectly natural that he should insist upon the selection of Democratic Dem-ocratic candidates who will not oppose all the war measures presented. With this idea ia viow, he sent the following telegram iu answer to au inquiry concerning con-cerning the attitude of Slayden: "The administration, as between candidates equally loyal, never takes part, but in the light of Mr. Slayden '3 record no one can claim he has given support to the administration." Thus ends the congressional career of Mr. Slayden. The Democrats of Colorado have rebuked a couple of representatives rep-resentatives on aceount of their- attitude atti-tude toward the administration since war was declared, and we are given to understand baskets are being held to catch the heads of delinquents who belong be-long to the Democratic party in other states. We have no fault to find with the program except that it is not likely to be carried out to the extent desirable. There are other southern Democratic members of congress besides Slayden who are ripe for the shelf, but it would doubtless be impossible to get rid of all of them at one fell swoop. Still we believe it the duty of the administration administra-tion to make the effort, for there is nothing to be lost even if the attempt proves unsuccessful. The Republicans are iu better shape because they are not responsible for the manner in which the war is being conducted. But they are house cleaning clean-ing just, the same. Congressman Nelson Nel-son of the Third Wisconsin district, whose son was indicted for an alleged attempt to evade the selective draft law;1 will not make the race for re-election this fall, and will take up. his residence resi-dence on his farm iu Canada. Nelson claimed it was illegal to draft the boy, because he was working on this farm and out of the country at the time tho selective draft law was passed, tut the youth was inducted into the army and that ended the matter. Nelson's retirement retire-ment will lighten the Republican load during the campaign without doubt. Representative J. P. Wood of Iowa, who voted against the resolution declaring war, was beaten at the primaries. But he refused to resign as chairman of the congressional committee and there was some talk of ousting him, which action may yet be taken unless he carries out his announced intention to visit the war zone in Europe and leave the campaign in the hands of Julius Kahu of California, Califor-nia, who has been one of the strongest supporters of the war and the president in either branch of congress. ' Chairman Chair-man Hays of the Republican national committee has declared that the loyalty issue should not be raised during the campaign, and it will not be if both great parties put forward the right kind of candidates. The process of elimination elimina-tion has thus far worked successfully in Texas, Colorado, Wisconsin and Iowa, and should be continued until the last primary is held. Then we 6hall be able to judge the people of all the congressional con-gressional districts of the United States by the men they put forward as candidates for congress at a time when the honor and Very existence of the country is at stake. ' |