Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 241, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 October 1917 — HAYS A LUCKY MAN. [ARTICLE]

HAYS A LUCKY MAN.

(Editorial in Kokomo Tribune, Oct. 20, 1917.) Will H. Hays, the hard working chairman of the State Council of Defense, is a lucky man. There were until recently a few democratic sheets in the state suffering from a now rare species of political mange which were marking and snarling at Mr. Hays because he is a republican. They could not endure to see a man of any other party than their own with his coat off, his sleeves rolled up and working like a horse for Uncle Sam, working overtime and without pay, just for patriotism and love of country. Mr. Hays just went on working. He did not seem to feel that he was in need of any defense against his silly assailants. Then along came Tom Taggart with a broadside against his traducers. That was pretty lucky to have a volunteer defense of the knockout type from the real boss of the democratic party. And as if that were not enough, comes now Newton D. Baker, secretary of war, another democratic volunteer, who rebukes the peanut politicians of his party with this splendid letter of approval and gratitude: “Washington, Oct. 16, 1917. “Will H. Hays, Chairman State Council of Defense, Indianapolis, Ind. “My Dear Mr. Hays: “The Council of National Defense and the State Councils with their local safety organizations of the several states and the organizations administering the draft law the normal lines of communication and co-opera-tion between the national administration and the people. In this time of emergnecy no one conversant with the conditions and the difficulties here can be other than wholeheartedly appreciative of the continuing counsel and ungrudging efforts that have come to the common cause through all of these emergencies, and no word of mine which can sustain or which can help to sustain or strengthen the national, state and local institutions of the councils of defense will remain unspoken. The work of the Indiana council has been particularly gratifying. More power to you. With best wishes, —1- . “Cordially yours, . “NEWTON D. BAKER, “Secretary of War.’’ And that is why the Tribune regards Will Hays as a lucky man. Democratic politicians of the small fry variety assail him, while democrats of the larger mold boost for him.