Salt Lake Tribune | 1918-10-27 | Page 39 | Ill-Timed Controversy

jj ILL-TIMED CONTROVERSY. Jj Under . ordinary cireXimstances the Z president's appeal for the election of a supporting congress this fall might well be questioned as to its propriety and I its breadth of patriotism. While such pleas were made at the close of the . Spanish-American war by friends of j President MeKinley, we do not recall J that personally he made any statement t to the people as to his need of undi- vided support in the national congress. JJ However, the somewhat sensational attacks of Colonel Eoosevelt, who is re- garded by many, both here and abroad, B as a spokesman of the party to which be returned after an escapade of politi-7 politi-7 cal elopement, may be urged by the l president's followers as ample justifica-S justifica-S tion of his appeal to voters. Colonel Koosevelt has not only found 1? fault with all that has been done in khe present war, but declared two days ago t that any senate barkening. to him would repudiate every one of the peace eondi-S eondi-S tlons laid down by the president last I January and now under consideration. If the Republican party should accept J the colonel's policy of opposition and repudiation in the midst of peace negc- tions, which we doubt, it may be con-X. con-X. ceded that the president was justified J in placing the issue squarely before the American people. Inasmuch as the fourteen conditions of peace have been before tho world for ten months and have met with the ap- proval of all other countries concerned in this conflict, it is strangely reckless and inopportune to advocate their rejection re-jection now. It is to be feared that the belligerent colonel will create a bad impression among the allies, not only concerning the unselfishness of his op- position, bat as to tho stability and unity of the peoplo themselves. There are those who may be so uncharitable un-charitable as to intimate that General Foch is to be congratulated that he was spared the anxiety of dealing with an American "general" who might dispute dis-pute his orders, question his plans and foster a spirit of insubordination among hi6 followers. Taken alone, there was much In the president's appeal to questiou; but, taken with the colonel's address of the day before, there seems to be some justification jus-tification for asking for the election of congressmen who will not be swayed by an intolerant spirit of uncompromising uncompromis-ing opposition. But The Tribune is sur0 that hia policy of obstruction means nothing to the great majority of Republicans. Re-publicans. 1 It does not seem possible that Colonel Roosevelt speaks for any considerable number of Republicans, and we sincerely sincere-ly believe that the Republlcai candidates candi-dates for congress in this state will stand by the president until the war is ended aod peaco declared. Tt is extremely unfortunate that a controversy of this kind should be etartd while battles are raging on every front, when victory is in the air and the whole world is listening to hear if the president 'b ultimatum to the kaiser kai-ser finds an echo in the hearts of tho American people.