Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 276, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 November 1918 — REPUBLICAN RECONSTRUCTION [ARTICLE]

REPUBLICAN RECONSTRUCTION

A. PARTY PLANS FQR PROGRESSIVE REORGANIZATION OF THE NATION. Washington, Nov. 14.—The Republican Publicity Association, through its president, Hon. Jonathan Bourne, Jr., today gave out the following statement from its Washington headquarters: “Hardly leas important than our preparations for war wiM be the work of putting the country an readiness to resume once more the activities of peace. In the recent elections the people decreed that the task shall be carried on under the drecrtaonof the Republican party. While it is possible from the point of numbers for the Democrats in the senate and house to enact a pending bill providing for ! the appointment of a Reconstruction 1 Committee by the President, it is not I probable that Democratic .votes can Ibe solidified behind such a measure. There are a few Democrats in each house who do not yield subservience to the President and who have confidence in their own ability and the ability of their legislative associates to dtudy and determine upon plans far after-war reconstruction. The Weeks resolution proriding for a joint congressional committee composed of an equal number of members of each of the two political parties will more likely be adopted. “But even if the partisans of the President should prevail and a Democratic Committee on Reconstruction should be appointed, there would be little danger of the enactment of any unwise legislation such a committee might recommend. .The Republicans will assume control of congress on March 4th, and it is riot likely that much reconstruction will be enacted before that time.

“In view of the vast importance of the reconstruction problemls that confront the nation, it is particularly fortunate that a majority of each house of the next congress will ibe Republican. Under the shrewd management of a Reconstruction Commission made up of pliant political henchmen of the administration, masquerading as industrial and economical experts, supported by a subservient Democratic congress, Mr. Wilson would have been able to put upon the statute books legislation that, in practical effect, would have provided by low for longcontinued administration of the government by Democrats. That has been the inevitable effect of much of the legislation enacted during the last two years. ' With the record before them of the unscrupulous political efforts of the President and his party leaders to maintain their control of congress, the Republicans have awaited with trepidation renewed excesses in autocratic legislation, in preparation for the Democratic attempt in 1929 bo continue In the White-House Mr. Wilson or a man of his selection.

“But the danger is now behind us. Not only wall the Republicans be in a position, after Mlarch 4th, to stop further attempts at Executive usurpation of legislative prerogatives, but they wall be able to put before the President for his approval bflte calculated to undo much of the carefully prepared political structure that the Democrats have built. Let Mr. Wilson veto such measures if he chooses to do so. Every .sound reconstruction bill he refuses to sign wiß prove another nail in his political coffin. “The people discovered that Mr. Wilson is not infallible. This in spite of the fact that every effort has been made to impress upon the public that criticism of the Executive wais little short of treason. They have been told that acts of the President must

be accepted without the slightest question, else encouragement will be given the enmy. Doubtless amazed at his own audacity the voter decided to express hnS convictions without regard to directions from Washington. He has found that many millions of the American people think alike in itheir estimate of the President. The result of the elections iwill give courage not only to the .individual to talk as he thinks, but will stimulate the press to give expressions to the thoughts that havfe surged in the minds of• editors for iriany mlonths. Freedom of speech and unbridled discussion of public questions in the months to come will mark the rapid dissolution of the bold the Democratte now have upon the country and will spell an even more complete defeat, for their .party in 1920.”