The Washington herald., 1914-04-23
MOCK HEROICS,'.
SAYS PENROSE
Makes Caustic Speech on
Senators Offer to Furnish
Volunteers.
RAPS "PICNIC COLONIES"
Mr.. Shafroth Tenders Services oi
Troop of Cavalry that Took
Part in Spanish War.

The only debate on the Mexican situa-
ton In the Senate yesterday turned upon
a flood OF volunt -er offers to go to war.
Several Senators laid before the Senate
offers from citizens in their States to
enlist. raise regiments, or serve in other
ways In connection with the military
movements in Mexico. Senator Shepard
offered thirty or forty regiments. made
up Of the uniformed rank of a fraternal
organization, one regiment being in
Texas and special request was made tina:
II be accorded the privilege of crossing
the Rio Grande first OF all volunteer or
ganizations. Senator Shafroth. OF Colo
radO. submitted to the Senate the tender
of a troop Of cavalry that served In the
Spanish-American war. the headquart-
ers Of the organization being in Denver.
Senator Reed made a contribution to the
offers Of volunteers.
Senator Penrose. who came back to
Washington Tuesday from his campaign
in Pennsylvania, sat impatiently durinG
the presentation of these offers, and
finally took the floor after Senator Sha-
froth had caused telegram to be read
from the Denver organization.
II have listened with a sense of philo-
sophical competency to the mock hero
les and cheap demagogy which we have
just heard in this body" said Senator
Penrose.
Directed mt Mr.. Reed.
This was directed at Senator Reed OF
Missouri, who had upbraided Mr.. Pcnrose
for commenting on the practice OF Sena-
tors laying these volunteer offers before
the Senate Senator Reed declared that
Mr.. Penrose was "sneering at the uni
form" This remark irritated Mr.. Pen
rose. and after having fired his opening
gun at the Senator from Missouri. he
continued, to the evident amusement OF
Senators:
Il make due allowance for the nervous
tension which Senators have been under
until o'clock this morning, and there
fore I do not look for the clearest in
tellectual progress today. l can under
stand extraordinary bravery which eX-
hibits itself after a year and half of
patient watchful waiting. during which
women have been assaulted, American
citizens have been murdered, American
property despolled. without the slightest
evidence Of sympathy from our Secretary
of State or from the National admins
tration. or, so far as l know. OF the Sen
ator from Missouri. or any other Sena-
tor on the Democratic side. Now that
some fifteen battleships have concentrat-
ed upon a dcfenseless port and their
a naked and distressed people. it is fitting
that the kind OF bravery that seems 10
flI the breast of the Senator from Mis-
souri, should suddenly find voice"
effort to Make Capital"
Senator Penrose said he had detected in
the matter submitted by the Senator
from Colorado, ''an effort of the Democ-
racy to make paltry capital out OF
weak. wicked and unnecessary war, and
/ thought at the first evidence of such
intention | would Scotch and call the
attention of the country to it
Mr.. Penrose expressed the opinion that
all such volunteer offers from picnic
colonels' ought TO be referred TO the
War Department and have the acid test
applied TO them.
Perhaps this gallant company from
Denver might require a physical examina-
ton: perhaps their avoirdupois, the eX-
tent of their girth. the shortness of their
wind might disquaify many of them
from marching over the torrid plains of
Mexico and might render them better
fitted for those elevated climatic condi-
tions where they could cope with the
anarchy and the homicide which prevails
more Immediately in their midst"
This last was a reference to the labor
conditions in Colorado. which had just
been before the Senate. Senator Pen
rose said that Senator Reed showed re-
markable bravery in wanting to attack
the Mexicans who have enough trouble
to excite the sympathy of the United
States. rather than our bioodthirsty and
resentful passions. which have aroused
the Senator to a military oratory, which |
tempts me to hope. but not believe. that