Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 62, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 November 1918 — G. O. P. MEN WOULD TIE THE LEADER’S HANDS [ARTICLE]

G. O. P. MEN WOULD TIE THE LEADER’S HANDS

Republican Leaders Figuring on Taking Constitutional Powers of Commander-in-Chief From President. SAY THEY GAN MANAGE THE WAR BETTER THAN WILSON Importance of a Single Responsible Head in Our National Work as Important as Direct Command of Armies in the Field. There Is no attempt on the part of Republican leaders to disguise their desire to get control of Congress, and through It Interfere with the eonstltutlonal powers of the [President as commander-in-chief of the 'army and navy of the United States. They [state frankly that they can manage the war better than President Wilson has managed It. Their denunciations of Daniels, McAdoo and Baker, In their respective functions, ihad some weight with a certain class of people while the Germans were making their successful drive last spring; but since Foch was put in supreme command and the victories are coming our way, it is seen that the management has been of the wisest character. It will be remembered that the appointment of Foch was at the urgent appeal of President Wilson, and that Secretary Baker went to France for the especial purpose of getting a single head to the allied forces, Instead of an independent command for each nation. The Importance of a siagle responsible head is just as evident in our national work In the war as It is In the direct command of the armies In the field. If the management were taken over by Congress there would never be any action except by compromises and bargains among Congressmen. A legislative body has no qualifications for executive work. PENROSE REVEALS THE G. O. P. SCHEME. And yet this absurd thing Is actually contemplated by Republican leaders, as appears from an interview given by Senator Penrose of Pennsylvania to the Philadelphia Ledger on the day after President Wilson addressed Congress on the revenue situation. 11l discussing a conference he and Chairman Hays of the Republican national committee were to have with Pennsylvania Republican chieftains the boss of the Keystone State said: "The Judgment of Republican leaders generally Is that the party should wage a vigorous campaign for the election of a majority of the House in the next Congress. It is felt that Congress should assume its full share of the responsibility in the direction of the work of the war. Of course, there will be no disposition to hamper or embarrass the President in any way. but with the Republicans in the majority of the House a searching investigation of every bureau that needs investigation would be assured." Just what Senator Penrose means may be gathered” by reading the following comment In the New York World on an editorial in the New York Tribune:

"We had never realized what the great advantages to the country would be in a Congress with 100 Republican majority, as Senator Penrose desires, until the Tribune explained the great work that *uch a Congress could do: " ‘Congress could, by a single vote, practically take from the President any power whatsoever as to the preparation and organization for the war. It could abolish Secretary Baker. It could create a War Board, with practically absolute authority. " ‘lt could take the whole conduct of the war Into its own hands. " 'Or delegate it to the supreme court or any other body it chose to designate or authorize. “ ‘Conceivably, sometime Congress may he impelled to exercise the constitutional authority which it possesses. It cannot now. “ ‘For this a full two-thirds majority in both houses would be necessary in order to pass any such measures over the President’s veto and, if it were necessary, to impeach any judge or any other official who attempted to question this clear constitutional right. “ Under present conditions this twothirds majority is lacking, and so long as the Democratic party retains Its present holdings In the two houses this situation will remain.’ ? "This Congress Cannot strip The President of all his war powers, abolish the Cabinet, impeach the supreme court fur declaring such an act invalid or impeach the President for refusing to permit the destruction of the United States Government, because the Democrats are in control. ‘Under; present conditions’ the necessary anti-Wilson majority is lacking, and ‘so long as the Democratic party retains its present holding in the two houses this situation will remain.’ But it may be different next year. "Is the Tribune speaking for the leaders of the Republican party when It insists that the way to win the war is to wreck the Constitution and the Government of the United States? Is this to be the Republican program in the campaign of 1918?” WtCKERSHAM ALSO TALKS FRANKLY. Further explanation of the purpose of Republican machine leaders in the event of the overthrow of the present control of Congress is found ,In the surprisingly frank speech of George W. Wlckersham, former United States Attorney-General, recently at a Republican, banquet at Lancaster,' Pa.‘ Speaking to young Republicans of Pennsylvania, Mr. Wlckersham, according to the Lancaster Intelligencer, threw aside restraint and launched Into a bitter attack on the administration. He charged the President with building up a great political machine land with making the war "as far as possible a Democratic matter." "He urged the Republicans,” said the Intelligencer, “to elect members of their party to Congress, but be sure to select the very best men, that these who to kiadly acquiesced in everything proposed by the administration without proper criticism Should be retired. He claimed that any attempt to change our social customs because of the war would be unfortunate and that bealtby public criticism arid even relentless criticism was mere necessary in time ’of war than in time of peace and that ‘the Republican party would be false to her high mission if she fails to devote all of her energies to the preservation of our constitutional liberties against supervision under the guise of war necessities.’ ”