The Washington herald., 1914-03-31
REPEALERS'L LEAD
TO Shrink TODAY
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

with the information that Ohio IL up in
arms against the repeal.
The Washington correspondent Of a
leading Republican paper In Ohio re-
turned yesterday from brief trip to the
Buckeye State. He reported no spon-
taneous sentiment one way or the other.
One Republican who voted against the
rule, but intends TO vote for repeal
said yesterday that the President could
expect little aid from the Republicans
on the final lineup; that terrific pressure
against repeal has been brought to bear
either by or through constituents, and
that there was a marked tendency on
the part of Republicans to draw away
from the President in the face of the
trucking to England taunt which op-
ponents OF repeal have used.
Yesterdays debate was handled by the
administration leaders with an eye on
the Republican vote. Two of the strong
est cards were played. Representative
Gardner, Of Massachusetts,, and Repre-
sentative Lenroot. of Wisconsin, both
Republicans with following in the House.
spoke strongly in favor Of repeal and
without indirect attacks upon the Presi-
dent. Representative Doremus made the
strongest argument for the anti-repeal
forces.
Clark Speaks Today.
The wind-up today will be sensational.
Clark will close debate for the anti
repeal Democrats. Either Swager Sher-
ley, of Kentucky, or Judge Covington,
OF Maryland. is expected TO get In on
the final stretch. Mr.. Covington Is
strong proponent of the repeal
Speaker Clark will be the principal
point of interest Little authoritative in
formation as to the tenor Of his remarks
has leaked out. though speculation was
general on this line yesterday. II is
pretty generally understood that he will
pa his respects to at least one news
paper, which has attacked him unmerci-
fully for his so-called eleventh-hour op-
position to the repeal. Whether he will
carry personalities further than this in
defense Of his motives is not known II
is not believed he will even indirectly at
tack the President or the latter's spokes-
men in the House.
While Interested in what the Speaker
may do, administration leaders are in no
way concerned for their prospects be-
cause of his opposition. They pointed out
yesterday that his speech and opposition
had been entirely discounted by his state
ment and vote on the rule. They cannot
see how the Speaker can add anything
to his position by speaking at length on
the merits of the controversy, or TO his
political prospects by seeking to inject
his personality into the fight.
President DcpIores Aethods.
The President was nothing II not opti-
mistic as to the result when he talked
to the newspaper men yesterday morn
ing. He was a good deal Disguised over
the method of attack of Representative
Knowland. of California, and other
members of the House who are ambitious
of Frightening their political chances
through the tolls controversy.
The President permitted the publication
OF this much of his reply to a question
touching on the sensational Knowland
speech Of Saturday:
"Of course, that answers itself 1t
is just the crowning insult of num-
Der of insults which have been intro
duced into this debate.
This whole thing reminds me of
story / used to be fond OF telling oI
a very effective debater. who sent
down into a country very
hostile to him, to debate. The people
down there did not like the job very
mBch. but they put up the man they
liked best and who was generally put
up on such occasions, a great big
husky fellow whom they all called
Tom. The challenger was given the
first hour of the two hours allotted to
the debate. and he hadn't got more
than half way through his speech
when it became evident that he was
the audience, when one of
Toms partisans in the back of the
room cried out. Tom. Tom. call him a
liar and make il a fight That is the
stage this has reached"
Representative Knowland last night is
sued a statement. declaring that the
President had been guided by newspaper
headlines and not by the subject matter
Of Saturdays speech.
The Senate yesterday spent several
hours in a forerunner of the tolls debate.
when Senator Lewis sought to explain
10 his colleagues the true inwardness of
the Presidents warning as to interna-
.ional complications. Senator Lewis eX-
planned that the President wished to keep
England friendly in order to prevent the
occupation of Mexico by Germany and
France and the seizing of Alaska by Rus |
sia and the Pacific Coast, Hawaii and the |
Philippines by Japan.