The Republican journal., 1916-10-12
Washington Letter.
democratic Congress Responsible for
SectiOnaIism.

~~N'oA's&siosAi-
WASHINGTON, D: c.. Oct 9, 1916. In renlv
10 CRITICISMS of the Democratic press that
governor Hughes is waving the bloody shirt
ana stirrlng up sectionasm in his remarks on
control OF the National government by the
oouth' Representative Fess, of Ohio, Chair
man OF the Publicity Committee of the Nation
ai Republican Congressional Committee, has
given out the following statement:
The Democratic press editoriay takes to
task Governor Hughes for calling the country s
attention to the sectionalism of the Wilson
administration. 1t denies the fact of section
alism-the editorial writers lack information
that's all.
"No man who knows would deny that the
Underwood bill retains duties upon southern
products-cotton goods, rice. tobacco. Angora
goat hair, etc. and places twenty articles of
agriculture on the free list-all northern pro-
ducts. That is sectional legislation.
I "If any citizen calls attention to these facts
he is at once accused by Democrats of raising
sectional issue. This Congress is RESPONSE
Bile for this sectional spirit The Congression-
al Record of June 3, 1916, records some inter-
esting data. By special order of the House
previously made, Representative Aswell of
Louisiana, was given stated time to eulogize
Jefferson Davis as one of the country's pa
triots. The Record shows mis- speech was
punctuated by frequent applause and when it
was finished the Record -'(prolonged APP
pause.)
Immediately following this speech Repre-
sentative Kingheloe, of Kentucky, by special
order of the House. previously arranged, pro-
nounced a second eulogy upon the head of the
Confederacy, which was closed with Cloud ap-
pIause.) When these Two euioeies were fin
ished the House adjourned making a days
work Of two eulogies upon Jefferson Dyvis.
This is but Que item of others indicating
the soctionalsm fomented by the present
Democratic administration that Republicans
are expected to grin and bear. but say nothing.
1t is in keeping with Wilson's statement in
Philadelphia: 4 look across the Potomac from
the White House and view my country
On March lst, the Congressional Record
gives interesting item of the same import
Both the 63rd and 64th Congresses had wit
messed efforts to do away with the element of
loyalty as necessary condition for southern
claimants to establish a against the gov
ernment for damage arising during the Civil
War This proof of loyalty has been steadily
adhered to. On March 1st when the House
was considering the subject of captured or
abandoned property. an amendment was Of
fered as follows: Provided that no claim shall
be allowed any claimant unless it is prov ed
that the original owner was loyal to the U. S.
government during the Civil War This amend
ment was rejected upon standing vote, ayes
So, nays IA. motion was then made to re.
commit the bill to the Committee on War
Claims with instructions to report back with
an amendment requiring loyalty as a condition
for any claim. Upon this the yeas and nays
were ordered by Republican members. By
vote of 1877 to ITO loyalty was again made re-
quirement. Of course the solid south voted
against it. They were joined by forty three
northern Democrats, five of whom were from
! Ohio.--Allen, Ashbrook, Gordon, Key, and
| Overmeyer. Neither B B-umbaugh, Gard, nor
| Crosser voted. Seven of the forty-three came
! from Indiana,-Barnhart, Cine, Cox. Dixon,
Gray, Lieb and Morrison. Neither Adair
Rauch nor Cullop voted. All the Democrats
from Kansas voted against requiring loyalty.
1.-THE Committee War Claims which has
charge of these matters has fifteen members,
nine Democrats and six Republicans. OF the
nine Democrats six from the southern
States including Chairman Gregg of Texas; of
the three from northern States two voted
with the Democrats against loyalty. One only
joined the Republicans in their demands for
loyalty,
"If the national treasury is required to salts
fly all the war claims that may be presented,
claims that grow out of the exgencies of
four years Civil war, wlether the claimant was
loyal or disloya. can any expert accountant
place limit upon the demands from that
source?
SIN the 63rd Congress Mr.. Underwood TAX
ing advantage of his position as floor leader,
secured passage through the House of a spec
ial act, granting a claim without reference to
the loyalty. This was carried after the most
determined opposition by Minority Leader
Mann. This was the opening wedge. In the
light of recent legislation of the most waste
full character where the federal treasury is
drawn upon for southern projects, and in the
glare of the proceedings of March 1st and
June 3rd of this year, the structures of the
Democratic press against Mr.. Hughes for
calling the countrys attention to the sectional.
ism OF the government now administered
are but whimperings of troubled minds seri-
ously disturbed by the strength of the critic
ism."