Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-09-28
CONDUCT OF THE A
Democrats Want to Make it a Cam
paign Issue.


paign Issue.
This special Washington dispatch to the
Minneapolis Tribune shows what is the
source of much of thG frantic clamor about
the sutferings of our soldiers:
1t is now the avowed intention of the
Democratic managers to make the man
agement of the wal with Spain a leading
issue in the present congressional cam
paign all over the country.
On this proposition Republicans willing
~ accept the challenge, and say the first
thing the Democratic managers know
they VIII be on the defensive, explaining
and petifogging on their action in Con-
gress.
At Republican headquarters here yes
terday the following statement was given
out:
But for the f~actious opposition of Pop
ulistS and Democrats a competent COM
mittee of Congress would nave been in
session at Washington the greater part of
the summer, Investigating and correcting,
and no doubt preventing, in a large de-
gree, conditions which have existed.
In the closing hours of the last session
Of Congress the chairman of the COM
mittee on military affairs, Representative
Ball of Iowa, offered a resolution author
iZing the committee on military affairs to
sit during the recess of Congress and in
vestigate the equipment of the army. The
Republicans were ready TO pass the reso-
luton, and with an amendment providing
for expenses, to conduct the investigation
elsewhere. The Democrats hemmed and
haWed about it. until Jerry Simpson took
his cue and objected, thus killing the res
%0Iution.
THE most disgraceful feature was the
frank avowal Of Jerry Simpson Of the
reason which actuated his objection. He
openly stated that he desired to make
political capital out of the sufferings of
thn cp1IinpS NJ S,o Dr ,afrin+io op1
b~road-gauged remarks, as they appear in
the Congressional Record, were:
Mr.. Speaker, | want to say to the gem
tleman from Iowa that we have. within
the last month, passed bill after bill for 4
thorough reorganization of the army, in
SpectOr generals without number, and we
have all these officers to look after the
matters in connection with the army. L
do not see any good to come out of q
committee of civilians to investigate it,
and | want the party in power that ap-
pointed the men to assume the response
blllty, and therefore object to the con-
sideration of this BILL
Mr.. Hulrs resolution provided rs fol-
lows:
THAT the committee on military affairs
have power to sit during the adjournment
OF Congress, and max sue investigation
astO the organization and equipment of
all brdnches of the army as it may deem
advisable, and report to the next session
Of Congress-
Now, the committee on military affairs
included in its membership veterans of
the Civil war, ex-Confederates and Union
men. Their experience made them capa-
bic of judging how the army was being
administered Explaining the resolution
in the House, Mr.. Hull said that day:
THE complaints that nave come to the
committee have been of such a character
that l think it would be well for the com
mittee to have the right to sit during the
adjournment of Congress to investigate,
so that we can answer those charges
made against different departments Of the
army from our knowledge, and not be
compelled to depend entirely on inforna-
ton furnished US by the departments in
yOlypd