The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-06-04
MAKING UP THE ISSUES
REPUBLICANS HAVE SELEcTED
A BATTLE CKy.
Attacks on Methods and Policies In
Philippines Made by Democrats
Twisted Into SANDER
Of the Army.

Washington, June 3.-(special. 1.-The
Republican campaign managers and party
leaders believe they have secured an ex-
cellent campaign cry from the Demo-
cratic utterances during the six weeks
debate in the Senate on the Philippine
civil government bill. Already they have
begun to shout the text: Democrats have
slandered the army in the field."
1t will be interesting to watch the
development of this Republican trick. for
it illustrates not only the methods the
Republicans use to gain their victories.
but also their everlasting vigilance and
their ability to make political capital gut
Of nothing.
The Democrats, led by Patterson Of
Colorado. Rawlius OF Utah. and Carmack
of Tennessee. hive frequently used In the
debate instances of cruelty practised on
in every instance they have been careful
to protect the army as a whole from the
charge of unnecessary cruelty. They have
maintained that the boys who are fight
ing for the flag on the other side Of the
world are not responsible for the in-
human brutality which has marked SO
many cases Of punishment of Filipino
prisoners and have frequently declared
that the officers, not the men. are the
ones to whom the guilt attaches. Their
purpose In ringing in the instances Of
cruelty was to show that the policy of
the administration in pacifying the
islands was neither just nor right. and
should not be continued indefinitely as
the Republican bill under discussion pro-
posed.
This kind of argument by the Demo-
Gratis cut the Republicans deep and be-
fore 1t had been in progress two days the
Republican leaders experienced a sensa-
ton similar in effect to heart disease.
They hurriedly got together and mapped
out plan to check the Democratic ad-
vances Instead of remaining silent as
they had plan ed at first, they put up
their best speal ers and sought to stem
the tide by adroitly twisting the Demo-
cratic manouvers into an attack on the
whole army.
This plan of the Republicans was
vigorously started by Lodge and carried
on by Sponer Finally President Roose-
Welt himself took occasion at Arlington
on Decoration Day to defend the army
from an attack which had never been
Republican side drew wonderful word
picture of our army fighting 5000 miles
away while the Democrats IN the Senate.
he declared, stood slandering and viliify-
ing every man in uniform across the
Pacific. His words were so affecting that
hundreds of his friends who had gathered
in the galleries to hear his speech cheered
him as he made up his case against COL
leagues across the aisle who on that
very day had stood at their desks and
proclaimed the honor and courage OF
the American soldier.
The Presidents speech and 5pooner's
speech will be printed and spread broad
cast in every close district this fall. 1t
is said that 10000 are now on the press
for distribution in districts where the
Philippine regiments were recruited. 1t
can readily be seen what the effect would
be IL the Democrats failed to meet the
Republican charge as set forth in the
speeches.
But the Democrats are not asleep. They
have elected their campaign committee
with view to meeting just this charac-
ter of campaign. For every Republican
speech sent into the close districts
Democratic speech exposing the faisity
of the Republican charge will be there 10
greet It. Wherever the battle cry "Slan-
dered Army" ~ raised. another will echo
from the Democratic stump brave
army, but brutal orders!'
With this trick of the Republicans. ana
the others they have UP their sleeve
such as the Presidents attack on the
beef trust and the agitation to lower
the tariff rates. both OF which are said
to be mere bunco games-the campaign
promises to be exceedingly lively. Both
parties are determined to win the ma
iority in the next Congress and both are
already claiming to have the best start.
II is sure to be nip and tuck until the
very end and the fight will liven up an
otharu,,se dull fan. Mit Saul.