The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-28
c. B. LANDIS SHAKES A
RED RAG IN THE HOUSE
AND Anglers DEMOCRATS
Allusion to Shotgun" Practices
in the South Resented by
Mr.. Williams.
TRIBUTE TO ROOSEVELT
Who, the Indianian Says, Will Be
Nominated on His Own
Good Record.
TRIBUTE TO ROOSEVELT

Special 70 the indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON. Jan. 27.-Suffrage condi-
lions in the South, the sins Of the Demo-
cratic party. the possible outcome in the
national elections Of this year and other
interesting topics were injected into a
speech delivered in the House to-day by
Representative Charles B. Lands. The APP
pearance of Mr.. Lands on the floor pre-
pared to read an indictment against the
Democratic party was followed by the live
lest debate seen in the House this session.
At times the exchanges between the In
diana man and his critics the Demo-
cratic side were charged with humor, but
on two or three occasions some bitterness
was manifested, especially when Mr.. Lands
referred to the shotgun practices fol-
lowed in Mississippi and other Southern
States. Mr.. Lands occupied the attention
of the House for an hour and half. He
was followed closely by the Democrats,
and when he declared that the party or
ganizatiOns in the South were unfair TO
their Republican brethren in making ap-
pointments on election boards several of
the minority members jumped to their feet
to deny the allegations of the man from
Indiana. The cross-fire debate between Mr.
Lands and Minority Leader Williams was
particularly interesting.
Mr.. Lands took an advanced stand rela-
tive TO the nomination of President Roose-
welt. Declaring that he could not be classed
as an original Roosevelt man, he stated
that he had been won over by Mr.. Roose-
welt as thousands of others had in this
country by the courage OF the man who
had left a comfortable berth in the Navy
Department in time of war TO take up arms
for his country.
TRIBUTE TO ROOSEVELT.
ct do not lay claim to having been the
original Roosevelt man. said Mr.. Lands.
Years ago l antagonized him and his ideas,
and it came TO be habit with me TO say
harsh things about him. In my own news
paper 1 questioned his motives. In my own
newspaper / said he was a sham reformer
and pretender. But have changed my
mind with reference to Theodore Roosevelt,
as have millions of others of his country
men. / first appreciated what an erroneous
estimate had placed him when L saw
him, with war threatening, infuse into one
of the great departments of this govern
ment, stagnant with the monotOnous rou-
tine and dry-rot of a third of a century. the
real blood of activity and timely prepare
ton. realized how / had mfsjudged him
when | saw the announcement in the
daily press that he had decided to abandon n
place OF power and safety which insured
conspicuous performance in the very theater
of war TO raise a regiment to lead to the
front. 1t seemed to me that that was the
supremest test, for it involved goodbye if
not farewell to the little children and their
mother. L knew how fearfully L had mis-
judged him when with my colleagues on the
floor of this House L read bulletins which
told how he, under a blisterinE sky. the tar
get for hundred sharpshOOters, had given
a modern exhibition of that courage, that
daring, that heroic valor which has com
verdict that the American volunteer is the
greatest soldier on earth
But" continued Mr. Lands, eft has been
said that he mixed up in the Northern Sc
curities affair He did. He put the ma
chinery of the law in operation at a time
when capital seemed TO have lost its head
| anu conservatism had gone crazy. He
| invoked the law passed by Congress. and
| one of the richest men in New York told
me recently that this timely check saved
| this country from disastrous panic. Some
| one had to speak, and Theodore Roosevelt
| spoke and he rescued the capitalists of the
| country from the results of their ra-
| paciouS folly.
! at is said that he interfered in the an
| thracite coal strike. He did. Was it not
| time for some one TO interfere? Passion
and greed were facing each other. and
| let us reason together. coward in the
| White House would not have spoken. A
brave man was in the White House. and
|
| of his office, but won the thanks and con-
fidence of his countrymen.
''And his conduct in the Panama affair
will place him so far beyond the reach of
the plotters in the Democratic party as TO
absolutely insure his vindication in No
4 Vember.
INFORMATION DESIRED.
| At the opening of the session Mr.. Over
street, from the committee on postoffices
and post roads. called up privileged reso-
| luton reported by the committee calling on
the postmaster general for a statement
/ giving the serial number of all postal cars
for which the Postoffice Department is pay
| ing rental in addition to the amount paid
| for carrying the mails, the name of the
railroad company owning the cars and the
| time of service of each car from the date
OF the original construction and first use,
| together with Information as TO the condi-
\ ton Of cars on June 80, 1903. The resolu-
1 ton was adopted.
| Mr.. Hemenway, from the committee on
| appropriations reported the resolution re-
| Questing the secretary of war for a state
| ment showing the amount of money dis
| bursed by his department in promotion OF
| ton, whether under direction OF Prof. 5. Il.
| Langley or otherwise, with a recommended
| ton by the committee that 1T be laid upon
| the table. The committee, in its report,
| said the informe ton sought was fully given
| in the report of the Board of Ordnance and
| Fortifcations. Mr. Hemenway had read the
| law concerning the authorization for eX-
| periments under the Board of Ordnance
| and Fortifications.
| Mr. Robinson, of Indiana, said: eve
should strike directly at that queer scheme
! of aerial navigation whereby a scientific
| promoter, encouraged by executive Of
ficers, If not by Congress, raised the high
| expectation of the public and his demands
for money, only to have the venture tall
fiat" He added: I'VE should stay the hand
of wasteful adventure and strike down
such costly bubbles as Langley's airships
and air castles and rescue the innocent
public from such dreams"
He declared II was not en- engine Of war
and that "a regiment of them would not
conquer the Fiji islanders, except perhaps
by soaring them TO death" Continuing
he said: I'VE should frame our appropria-
ton bills that unsuspectihg government
officials, susceptible to hypnotic influence
Of scientific dreams, may not be led away
Mr.. Hemenway said il was cOntendeC
not many years ago that il would never be-
possible TO talk by telephone with New
York but. he said, this resolution had moth.
ing TO do with appropriation of money FOL
| flying machines, but called for infOrma tiOr
which. he said. had already been supplied
on his motion the resolution was laid OF
the table.