The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-03-20
National House Plays Poll
tics with the Army
Measure
REPRESENTATIVE
GARDNER MIXES IN
Speaker Clark's Carefully
Transcribed Speech-West
Point and the Senate

Washington, March 20.-Non. partisan
though the army increase bill may be, il
Is hardly non politician. So il transpire'
Just when beautiful sentiments had be
come current about all legislative hand.
turning to with manimity when the
country had real need of that kind oil
action in capitol halls. Chairman Hays
committee bill still promises to pass by
almost a unanimous vote, but Democrats
are playing politics with it to beat the
band, and so are Republicans
Forth came Chairman Hay Saturday
afternoon with assertions that President
Wilson favored the pending measure.
This grew out of proddings by Represen-
tatiye Gardner of Massachusetts. who
would have it appear from Secretary Of
War Bakers untutored letter, that the
House bill was not what the president
wanted. Without hesitation Mr.. Hay
declared the president fully approved the
bill and, indeed, the bill was the presi-
dents Republican ears began to prick
up at this, although Representative
Gardner was trying to promote trouble
as between the Hay and Chamberlain
measures. The latter bill, which the
Senate expects to take up to-day, pro.
vides larger regular army, and il seems
that, in lieu OF political controversy of
safer kind, Republicans in some numbers
may show preference for it.
Minority Leader Mann, who has be.
come eontortionist in his support of
President Wilson, had planned his own
organization, however, which comprised
denunciation of the Hay BILL in l5-
minute speech. 1t provided too meagerly
for the regular establishment. Thus Mr..
Mann put himself en- rapport with Mr.
Gardner, and the Republican end of the
issue had special emphasis, but the gen.
eral debate was closed by Speaker Champ
Clark. The guise of his remarks was
entirely friendly, patriotic and non parti- |
san. But his preface bespoke unusual
efforts to be accurate, because. among
other things, the speaker said his words
would be regarded as the voice OF the
House. He had written down what he |
wished to say, avoiding even any pos
siblity of error in stenographic tran
He Endorsed the Hay bill as
Just the right Interpretation of what the
people want
OF course, when the presidential cam
paign has gotten hot in five or six months
there may be nimble Republican efforts
to obtain credit for the army increase.
official records in the House can then be
sited to Indicate it was an administra.
lion bill which Republicans supported.
Republicans on the other hand, convinced
hat the country is for preparedness are
putting an anchor to windward Should
,roubles in Mexico be aecentuated. or
here be other eyentualities watch for
'uch Republican wisdom as: ave saw
he increase was puny and insufficient,
We tried to get more, but were over
nled."
Nevertheless, for the time being every
hing looks rosy for the House army bill.
The reading by paragraphs and sections
satisfactorily Saturday. Some
hink the bill of 90 odd pages may be
ompleted by this evening. Probably it
will take a day or two more than that.
All In all, II was a rather brisk week
nd at the capitol The Senate had a
rosy day, discussing an increase of ca
let's at West Point. The tendency is
more and more to give the enlisted men
chance for West Point and also nm Of
GERS commission. The Senate debated
considerably Saturday afternoon wheth.
r one enlisted man or five from every
egiment should be given cadetship at
he military academy.