The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1911-01-06
New Members Refuse to Re-
main Silent In Senate.
WAR SCARE" is REPUDIATED
Taft's Speech Causes Those Charged
With Responsibility to Rush For
Cover, and II Looks as If a DIE
charged War Department Messenger
Boy Must Shoulder the Blame.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.
Washington, Dec. 20. - Especial. J.
One tradition of the senate Is bat
memory now. For a long time 1t wal
decreed that new senators should re
main in their seats and say and d
nothing for at least one session.
When four new states were admit
ted at one time 1t was impossible TO,
the new senators to remain silent witt
so many demands upon them. That
shattered the tradition. Then othes
new senators felt that they had q
message to deliver and spoke their
minds. That the tradition has been
entirely swept away was shown In the
short session of the senate before the
holidays
Four new senators were sworn In,
and three took part In the proceedings
before the recess. Swanson of Vir-
ginia reported bill which was pass
ed. Young Of Iowa made a speech of
considerable note, and Thornton Of
Louisiana debated an item In the omni-
bus claims bill relating to his state
which had been attacked Altogether
the new senators made a creditable
showing.
Who Will "HoId the Bag7"
Nearly every man who was in any
way charged with responsibility for
the recent war scare" has been get
ting out from under" President Taft
discredited those who have been talk
ing war in a public speech, and then
there was a great rush to cover of
underofficials.
Secretary Meyer went before the ma
val committee and urged two battle
ships as the regular naval increase,
and as he came away he nonchalantly
remarked to a group of newspaper
men that he did not expect to see an
other war.
Then Secretary Dickinson withdrew
from the house his "scare" report, and |
the information was allowed to filter
out that the secretary had simply
transmitted a report which had been
prepared by the general staff. Then
General Wood, chief of staff, found oc-
casion to discredit the war scare In
public speech, and so the general staff
is out of it. The first we know It will
be found that a clerk or messenger
was the culprit.
Here's Possible Proof.
In the Congressional Record there is
an indication that the guilty person
has been traced. 1t was discovered
that an employee had been dispensed |
with in the war department
II want to inquire" said Congress-
man Mann during the consideration Of |
an appropriation bill, whether It was
on account of economy or otherwise
that they have dropped a messenger
boyp'
1.-THE war department" explained
Congressman Gillett, who had charge
of the bill, suggested that they could
dispense with his services, and he was
dropped"
There was more or less talk about
this saving in a bill full of increases,
and finally Mann concluded, 1.-The mes
senger boy, so far as can see. seems
to be total loss"
And now perhaps the blame for the
''war scare" will be placed on the lost
messenger boy. Why shouldn't he be
made to "hold the bag in an emer-
gency like this?
cuIlom's Ambition.
Senator Cullom before he passes
from public life wants to see under
way the erection of a monument or
memorial to Lincoln which will be
worthy of the war president 81 want
- l..
grandeur" said the Illinois senator.
Here I'm the capital there should be
the most imposing monument to our
greatest man.
81 knew Lincoln when I was ten
years old. When l wanted to study
law my father sent me to Lincoln, and
he put me in another office because he
was away from home so much. He
was very good to me. Why, when he
came to Washington to be inaugurated
he was on my note for $500. When
wanted money 1 would get him to In
dorse my note and go to the bank for
the cash"
The senator told this 10 show his
close relations with Lincoln. he is the
emily man in public life who was 30
intimate with lincoln.
Amazed Senate Employees.
Before the holiday recess the employ
ees Of the senate received a shock. A
man with his trousers tucked into his !
boots, on his head a big cowboy hat,
which was not removed. with a swag-
gering gait marched past all the door
Keepers and entered the senate CORR /
dor. a section that is reserved for sen J
ators and certain privileged persons. Z
The employees did not stop him." |
remarked Congressman Madden Of II
linois. because they thought he was 1
one Of the new western senator's" .
Those employees were very much ]
afterwand TO learn that the '
man was only a Washington truck I
driver who had boldly entered the sa- 1
cred precincts Of the senate. '