The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1899-01-26
ARMY BILL
Discussed By Congressmen fUl-
iyer and yOhhsun--TW0
Great peeches

washington, Jan. 25.-Not since the
stirring days Of the declaration Of war
last spring has the house witnessed such
an exhibition OF excitement and sucn
scenes Of unbound enthusiasm as occur
red today. when two republicans, MI
johnson, the Indiana member. and Mr..
Doiliver OF Iowa, locked horns on the
question OF expansion The army plll'
which was under debate. was swallowed
up in the broader question Of our future
national policy and the debate was ltfted
from the dead level of mediocrlty into
absolute brlliancy Mr. johnson secur-
ed time from the democratic side to at
tack the position of the administrator.
1t was not the first time he has broken
away from his party ON public questions.
on past occasions he has won a reputa-
ton as q master Of invective. and the
knowledge that he was to speak had at
tracted an enormous crowd TO the gal
leries. Today he added 20 his reputation.
With satire. irony and wit, the keen
thrusts of his logic were driven home.
His words flowed in perfect torrent.
He denounced the proposition TO annex
fnf GnlilDDlntb AS NANNtlHiNt Va HNNAf NAN
,iition dear to the American heart in the
past and the inauguration Of policy
that would end in the downfall Of the
republic He said the ratification Of the
treaty by the senate would sound the
death knen Of all the efforts Of those
who were trying to prevent the country
from rushing on to suicide. ana declared
II he were a senator ne would rot In his
seat before II should be ratified. He de-
nounced the president as the slavish fol-
lower of public opinion, but warned him
that the tide would recede and the voice
of the people would in time robuke him.
Members stood in the aisles ten deep
while ne was speaking, but he tried to
stop the applause which continually
broke out from the democratic side For
almost two hours his words poured forth
When he had finished Mr. Dolliver came
TO the defense OF the administration.
One of the ablest debaters, and perhaps
tho most eloquent member Of the house,
his reply set the republicans wild with
enthusiasm. He described how the presi-
dent had been fairly driven into war by
those who now sought to embarass him
before peace was definitely obtained. and
thioky oA llt pItslutHt pdAltnllN meet
ing all the perplexing jroblems that be-
set him as the great events of the year
moved on aroused his side and the gal
leries to cheers. These rang out again
and again when he paid an eloquent trib-
ute TO Admiral Dewey and broke In re-
nowned volume when he ec'ared that
the course of some members at both ends
OF the capitol was almost treason"
But thhe highest piteh of excitement
was reached when Mr.. Johnson and Mr.
Dolliver got to close quarters toward the
end OF the latters speech. Mr.. Johnson
pressed the defender Of the admlnistra-
tton to disclose the presidents ultimate
purpose regarding the Philippines. but
Mr.. Dolliver for some time adriot'y
evaded n direct response. At last he
contented himself with declaring that
this was not the point at issue, that the
first thing was 10 end The war by rati-
flying the treaty. The future of the Phil
ippines was question for the future
II was In every respect remarkable de-
bate.