The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1902-02-20
Wheeler Of Kentucky Denounces
Prince Henry in Congress
SPEECH SThRTLES HOUSE
Government Cables Explanation to Berlin
to Prove 1t Is Not Responsible for his
Statements Democrats Alarned

eSteTudy representative w hCoA-
er, a Kentucky democrat, who is
now serving his third term in the
House, made sensational speech
which is likely to have an inn
mense influence in a political and
direction, although
Mr.. Wheeler himself is not per-
son of particularly great import
ance.
An older member Of the House,
or one possessed of better ac-
Quaintance with the methods Of
government, would never have
made such a speech, and a young
er member would probably have
been hooted down. Mr.. Wheeler
of Kentucky, however, possesses
Just the necessary qualifications
TO make a foolish exhibition of
himself, and it is believed by the
best posted men here tonight
that he has succeeded in this di-
reciion at least.
His democratic colleagues, on
the other hand, are beside them
selves because they realize that
in all probability he has allenated
from them the entire German
Democratic vote of the United
States. His attack on Prince
Henry was SO severe aud SO bru
tai in its terms as to constitute
something approaching diplo-
matte affront to Germany.
Mr.. Wheeler is a man of no i'm
portance even in his own party
in the House, but it would be i'm
possible to explain this thing to
foreigners. From his seat on the
floor he ridiculed Prince Henry
and attacked the administration
for its intended hospitality to the
brother of the Emperor of Ger
many. At the same time he
rasped Lord Pauncefote, the
british Ambassador, and declar-
ed the representative of King
Edward here in Washington
should be sent back home forth
with.
It is an unwritten law of Con-
gress, of course, that relations
between this country and foreign
countries shall always be con.
ducted by the State department.
The House of representatives has
nothing whatever to do with the
making of treaties, and the con-
stitution specifically confers upon
the Senate all oversight of inter-
national obligations.
The old heads of the House &C
cordingly were actually stupefied
and frightened into silence by the
audacity of the unknown agitator
from Paducah. The House list
ened to him with breathless at
tention while he fiayed Prince
Henry and Lord Pauncefote al
ternately and sometimes both in
the same sentence. They laughed
at the demagogism of the man
from Kentucky in his attack up
on the administration because it
proposed to receive Prince Hen
ry in a way BETTING the dignity
both of Germany and the United
States.
There was much more serious
phase to the speech, however,
because the attack on the Ger
man Prince was couched in such
violent and vulgar language as to
constitute something approach
ing an international affront.
Smaller things than that in years
gone by have involved nations in
war. The matter has been pre-
sented to the president and mem
bers of the cabinet, and the Ger
man ambassador has been re-
quested to send a special cable
explaining that this man
who made the speech in the
House today and who attacked
Prince Henry in such gross
fashion is an insignificant mem
Der of mere minority of the
Horse. A comparison has been
instituted for the benefit of the
aud his advisors between
Wheeler of Kentucky and some
of the socialistic members of the
German reischtag.
1t is hoped that by this prompt
action the German emperor, and,