The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-10-15
ADMINISTRATION IS UNITED.
CONCERTED ACTION AGAINST
CRITICISM AND DELAY ES-
TABLISHES FEELING
OF CONFIDENCE.
President Wilson Announces His
Views on Bill-DOes not Think
Bankers Ideas Correspond with
Those of the Public ut Largo
Does not Desire to Have Bill q
Party Measure Unless it Is Found
Impossible to Pass it Otherwise
Early Action Essential.

"Iy McaSurc OHIcSS IL IS fOunO
Impossible to Pass it Otherwise
Early Action Essential.
Washington, Oct. "a concerted
defense by administration forces
against criticisms Of the currency bill
by bankers at the Boston convention
of the American Bankers association
and against what was alleged to be
an organized effort to hinder rs
consideration and passage, served to
clear the air in Washington today and
to inspire new feeling of confidence
tonight in Democratic circles.
senate debate in which the bank
ers' criticisms came in for sharp an
swer from friends Of the bill found
it's echo later in the day when Presi-
dent Wilson made plain to callers his
own view Of the recent Developments
surrounding the bill. +
The president let it be known that
he did not think the views Of the
Boston Bankers convention, as they
bore on the currency bill now before
the senate, represented the general
public sentiment of the country. In
the presidents view the attacks made
on the bill by the Boston conference
represented the activities of men
whom he believed to be acting with
sincerity. but who as individuals re-
fused to yield their position of con-
troll of the country's financial system,
The expressions in the senate were
more emphatic. M
Il think the Boston meeting's OBJ
yious purpose was to work up oppo-
i'ition to this bill" said Senator Owen,
and "either to force the bankers view
or to delay or defeat this bill"
Senator Thomas talked of an "or-
Eanized conspiracy to misrepresent
the president and impede legislator,
SENATOR Overman declared the Bos-
ton conference did not reflect the
views of the general public; and SEN
ator Owen, answering a question by
his Democratic colleagues. said he
believed there was an organized pro-
Iaganda against the bill that found
lis reflection in the Boston confer-
ence and in the various State bank
crs' conventions which have adopted
resolutions criticising the currency
measure.
The results of the senate debate
and of the later discussion by the
president with White House visitors
were to develop the following facts:
That no effort will be made to
make the currency bill party meas
ure in the senate unless it becomes
impossible to get it through in any
other way.
That the president believes early ac-
ton on the bill is essential, while
many Democratic senators will op-
pose any effort to unduly force the
situation.
That the criticism of the bankers
conference at Boston has tended to
solidify the Democratic ranks in sup
port of the bill.
President Wilson told callers that
the time element was important in
the currency situation; that with the
big accumulatiOns of business in the
autumn and early winter, the busi-
ness men were anxious that the bank
inB and credit question should be def.
nitely settled at once.
While the president also took the
position that the senate currency
hearings had been unduiy prolonged,
members Of the senate in the debate
of the body indicated general salts
faction with the facts and information
disclosed through these hearings
4 was apparent when today's hear
int's ended thatt here had been no
change in committee sentiment of the
committee work. Democratic mem
bers insisted, however, that with
proper time for consideration it would
be possible to get n complete bill out
of the committee in November and
that it's passage through the senate
might be accomplished i'm December.
a.