South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-09-29
DENIES CHARGES
Of SECTIONALISM
Sen. John Sharp Williams
Points Out That Republican
Accusations Are Untrue.

Sen. John Sharp Williams, who
spoke at the high school auditorium
last night, emphatlcally denied the
charges Of sectionalism in democra-
tic administration of national af-
fairs. in an interview given out here
yesterday.
Sen. Williams has in his long con
gressionaI career established a re-
cord Of freedom from sectionalism
~ his consistent support Of recla-
nation. irrigation and other legis-
lation mis- own particular state and
section were not directly interested
in. and when minority leader.
Was very severely criticised by some
Tor breaking the rule OF seniority
ia com mittee assignments in order
70 give places To northern and west
orn men on important committees.
Rule il Broken.
The charge that the south is
controlling the present congress is
not true" ne said. The rule Of
seniority. an arbitrary rule and Gus
tom OF promotion established by the
republicans and followed by the
democrats. at this time gives 10
many southerners Of long service in
the senate or house the first place
or chairmanships on many commit
tees. The present congress has
broken that rule only in favor Of
Eortherners or westerners. But
q
majority or in control OF single
committee These facts are indis-
putabie- II sectionalism prevailed.
the southern members would not
have allowed westerners to hold
places OF speaker of the house and
majority leader in the senate. and
would have put themselves in con-
troll OF the caucus elected commit
tees-the ways and means in tho
house and the steering committee in
the senate.
Denies Charges.
Then too, consider" said Sen.
Williams. the fact that two mem
bers of the supreme court who we're
southern men have died during the
Wilson administration and neither
of their successors IS from the south.
Moreover. although the south is al
most entirely agricultural and there
fore particularly interested in farm
loans no southern man was appoint
ed member OF the farm loan board.
II would like 20 say something.
while 1 am here in this part OF the
middle west. about the west and the
south. The relations, political. So
cial, commercial and otherwise. he
tween this section Of the country
and the south should be most cor
dial. We eat your flour. pillow our
cotton and corn with your ma
chinery. ship YOU cotton to be
manufactured into clothes that both
OF us wear. and now that we have
eradicated the cattle tick we ship
YOU cattle for your stock yards. 7
see no reason why neither section
should view the other with dis
trust or suspicion.
Antipathy Dying.
Down I'm Mississippi union vet
Grams living there fraternize with
the confederate veterans camps.
and on memorial day march with
them 10 decorate the graves Of botn
union and confederate soldiers.
Some OF them are even honorary
members OF confederate camps.
Any union Veteran who has been TO
f Nicksourg at dedication ceremonies
of monuments in the national park
there viii tell you that there are
no bitter reCollections of '61-64
there.
THE truth u.s." continued Sen.
Williams. that about the only sec
tionalism manifested is the making
OF this charge of sectionalism
against the south. There is no evil
dence % support IL. There cannot
oe cited "a single law passed or a
single executive order i'm support OF
the asSe. tion.