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Show i , Lefc -There Be Mo DavMed v ' ' Comasels. m Washmgfcoift II - The hard-headed voter has a specific question-to answerand Mr. Root. But when they say that the voters of Amer-' j to himself as the fall elections come on. , Should he on this ica ought this fall to return a Republican Congress, and particular occasion support the Democratic party, or should ( argue that the time has come 'to impose upon Mr. Wilson's he lend his aid to the Republican opposition? Wcspeak . . . administration the fearless inquisition and the practical Iegis- ' now of the decision to be made by the hard-headed voter lattye check of an opposition political majority we are un- ' llll instead of calling him according to precedent tb "conscien- convinced. Irresponsible power is indeed a serious matter i j ' tious voter." For we assume that nearly all American citi- and no human being is infallible. But a Congressional mi- zens who are qualified to vote will be conscientious voters nority is quitccomprtent to ask questions, to bring mistakes ' - this time. America is loyal, patriotijCand determined to into the light of publicity and to register protests. It is not win the war. .A splendid moral enthusiasm has for the necessary for the preservation , of our liberties to create the , time being subordinated the lessWorthy considerations that " certainty that a Republican Congress would itself make ; III commonly play their part inpolitical campaigns. Unfor- lamentable and possibly well nigh fatal errors in its desire ! I tunately, however, wisdom. is not always to be counted on Mo play a decisive part in the conduct of the war at a time . in the behavior of-therdnscientious man. Quite honestly and under circumstances when it could not be, as the Demo- ' 1 1 'he may arrive at decisions which on practical grounds prove cratic party is now, wholly responsible for success or failure. ' i1 . to be unfortunate, Mi our judgment hard-headedness demands that this responsi- j ': The -Republican tuny, as sinew J pulltlul otecrveK ' jhwldaot-besl ;j I acknowledge, is in a difficult position. Loyal it must be, ' dictate of common sense that the people should return a and for practical purposes loyalty means backing up a Dem- Rf.mocrlc "".J0" fto Congress and assure to President . ocratic administration in its efforts to win the war. As a VVl,son the support of a Democratic law-making power. . . strategic procedure, not to speak of any higher reasons, the .. c r n r wt . il , Republican party can attack the Democartic administration luetuohs or Domestic folicy Cap Wait. , !j , on two grounds only. If the administration is open to criti- As for questions of domestic policy, they are important , cism as negligent or inefficient in the conduct of the war, ;the " but not now imperative. This is not the time to open up ! Republican ' party may and should expose the failure and - the whole future policy. of the United States on the owner- . demand an opportunity to demonstrate its own superior ship and operation of railroads, telegraphs, telephones and ji . ability. On matters of purely domestic concern, also, the express service, on the tariff after the war, on labor legisla- ji ; Republican party may rightly press its own policies and ask i'pn and orummigration. The war" must be won first. This the confidence of the" people, , e thing we do, is the motto of common sense until the H ' . . " Hun is defeated. . ' ! Democratic Administration Hat Achieved , :! ' Unprecedented Results. Welfare of America Should Be First r . 'j The facts, however, are that by the general judgment of Consideration at Polls. . ' r; the American people and of our allies ii, France and Great - What is the implication of this point of view as it con- j! V j j Britain, the Democratic administration, by no means fault- cerns the action of the individual voter?.. How should the .. . . l' less anrwilh nonrTew mistakes to own up to, has achieved. customarily "Republican voter approach this fall his individ- j: . " unprecedented results since our declaration ot war against ual problem of deciding which of two or more candidates for j the Imperial German Government. By comparison with Congress he should vote for? L:ach American voter, wheth- !: ; positive attainment the errors and the failures sink into er Republican or Democrat, Progressive, Socialist, or what jj comparative insignificance. The Republican party will not not, ought to make certain in the first place that the con-. h find it easy to convince the reople that it would have done grcssional candidate for whom he will cast his vote is a good I better had it been in power, or that it would do better if it American. He should make sure mat his candidate believes . . " could be placed in power now. t to the full in the vigorous and unflinching 'prosecution of . j - American Experience of Divided Political Respon-- America's purpose in the war unfit it Is finally and com- ; " ' i ii ki o if . pletely achieved. He should be convinced that his candidate sibihty Has INever Been Happy. fs one who wi surport lhe President and lis administration ' Vet more difficult would be the task of convincing a without r.'gard to party, in everything that- vill make for sober judgment that anything would be .gained by handing the vigorous and unflinching prosecution of the war. If the j over to the Republican party that partial power which it is voter finds anything to choose between the two' or more ! possible to transfer at the elections this fall, and which at candidates presented to him for congressional office in these the utmost would consist in Republican supremacy-in Con- . respects, he should shut hiscyes resolutely to party labels ! ) gress backed by Republican administrations in states elect-, and distinctions and vote for that candidate who-measures ji i ing governors and legislatures. American experience of up most completely to these standards. - j j divided political responsibility has never been happy. A r 1 n i : ' . . iL . 7 h ,.' VmKratic-PTidnrt-CTnrtendIng- BuMnnrwleTslrouU apply these tests and find that ij s. gress, or a Republican President contending with a Demo- ' thee 's ,'t,e to choose between two candidates when meas- cratic Congress, has never been, even in times of peace, an VTei bv lhem- wold be the part of hard-headedness and; ; effective disposition of political forces. Waste and in. common sf"s for him 10 suFPrt w,th his baIlot the Demo-i . efficiency have usually resulted from it, and it is not pos- craitc candidate. sible to imagine that a great war in its critical stages could . There has not been much partisanship shown in Con- be more effectively waged if energies and responsibilities gress since our declaration of war. There has been com- . should be so distributed. - mendable unity of purpose and of action among all but a ' . i m T" .1 it o ''ja i7-i ew wilful men" of both parties in both houses. But the 1 his Is INo 1 lme to Impose Upon rresident Wil- continuance of unity and harmony in our prosecution of the . . son s Administration Unlimited Inquisition. . war is so vital that the individual citizen would be wise to We yield to no one in profound respect for the wisdom do his part that this unity and harmony should be continued . " ' and the patriotism of men like Colonel Roosevelt, Mr. Taft- .' and made more complete. The Independent. How Is lhe Time to Sustain the President ol the United States DEMOCRATIC STATE COMMITTEE . I. W. R. WALLACE, Chairman ' R. B. THURMAN, Secretary i I rrtnk.i idwiyMMi I fnt 1 i More Than Ever j i I a Book The Appropriate - I Gift Our Xmas Car da . Ara Sure to I Pleaaa Even the Moat Faitidious. - ' : Suda 3choof Unioo JT BOOK STORE i 44 taat en aoiTrmpl |