Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 June 1919 — ABUSE OF THE PRESIDENT [ARTICLE]

ABUSE OF THE PRESIDENT

In recent speeches Chairman Homer S. Cummings of the Demo-] cratic national committee has called attention to the coarsq and abusive language in which many Republi-] cans are couching their criticisms of President Wilson. Not for decades has an American president been subjected to such vituperation as that which is now being leveled at the Country’s chief magistrate. Two specimens from among many will not only corroborate what Chairman Cummings has said, but will also serve to illustrate the way in which Republicans are attempting to substitute billingsgate for argument. From the Kansas City Star (a Republican journal) we quote this reference to President Wilson as coming from the mouth of Chairman Will H. Hays of the Republican national committee: “It has been said that his (Pres-' ident Wilson’s) name will go down] in history linked with that ofGeorge Washington. I will say that! it was a ‘wise bird’ who picked out the steamship on which President Wilson sailed.” Even a partisan like Mr. Hays ought to feel shame at the nasty implication in that fling. Does he think that the average American—whatever his political creed —will brook, much less enjoy, an attempt at joking about/the possible drowning of the President? Taking, its cue from Mr. Hays, seemingly, a sheet issued by the Republican national committee re-J produces from the Salt Lake Her-

aid, a Republican organ,, a crude but intensely maliciou* diatribe of which President Wilson is the ■object. One extract from this*effu■lon will further exemplify the animus and tenor of the president's critics. Undei’ the title, “King of the World,” the president is made to "ay: “Chin music hath power to stiy the savage beast and my records are - now being played by Lepine and Trotzky. The ape and the anarchist understand my philosophy better than people who attempt to gain knowledge from books and newspapers." If Republican orators and newspapers are unable to be fair can’t they make an effort at least to be decent?