New Britain herald., 1917-07-23
WILFUL GROUP DOES BUSINESS AS USUAL
Continues to 0bStruCt War Legis-
 lation in Congress

group of wilful men" in the United States senate is living up to its repu- tatlon and running true to form since the organization was founded during the notorious armed ship f1libuster early last March. Its membership has undergone some slight changes but most of its members are always ready with their votes to throw monkey wrench into the machinery and give encouragement to the Kaiser
 The latest activity of the group was an unsuccessful attempt to amoush the $640.000,000 aviation bill, which the war experts declared 1nd1spen- sable to the winning of the war. The mem bers disguised their opposition behind an aversion to tho draft, aim ing their fire at the provision author izing the president to make use of the draft, if necessary, to recruit the flying corps to full strength. The president already has this power; the army has assured congress it will not use the draft to obtain flyers, be- cause there is already . sufficient number of volunteers but those facts made no difference to tho wilful few They could not resist the temptation to interfere with the successful con- duct of the war.
 Some of the members sometimes fall out of step with tho rest, but there are three who can always be counted upon to maintain the groups reputation. They are Senators La Toilette, Gronna and Vardaman. With several exceptions. they can be found on the 'nay' side of the roll call wherever there has been 8 record vote on important war legislation.
 "Fighting Bob's" Record.
 Here is brief resume of Senator La Follettes activities since charter membership in the wilful group has been his:
 He voted against the adoption of the cloture rule to cut off unneces- sary debate and facilitate the passage Of war measures.
 He voted against the declaration of war with Germany.
 He voted against the conference re- port on the draft bill, while the coun- try clamored for prompt action oil the measure.
 erendum on the draft.
 He voted against the Esnions1e bill, which the president wanted to help rid the country of spies.
 He forced the senate to vote down an amendment which he proposed to take the teeth out of the embargo.
 He fought the Aviation bill be- cause of the draft provision.
 In each and every one of these actions his friend and lieutenant, Sen- 1 ator Gronna, has piped Me too."
 Senator Vardaman's record is very 1 similar. He voted against the dec 1 laration of war; the Espionage bill 1 and for the LaFollette amendment 1 emasculating the embargo. He has announced his opposition to the Avia- | tion bill because of the draft provi- 1 sion. Last week he made a speech | praising the anti-conscription demon- 1 strations in Canada as manifesto tions of independence and patriot ism.'
 "Gum Shoe" Bill.
 It has never been definitely de- termined whether Senator Stone, of Missouri the chairman of the For eign Relations committee, was 3 bona fide charter member of the little group of wilful men," It was stated at the time of the organiza- ton of the group that the president did not intend to include him, but the
 
 confidence of the administration since then.
 He voted against the declaration of war with the statement that he would immediately after the formal pro- clamation of war cease to be peace dove and become a screaming war eagle. In some respects he has made good this statement. However, he voted against the conference report on the draft bill, and in a speech a few days ago sharply criticised the administration for getting the country into war He insisted the shedding ot American blood and the spending of American dollars might yet be averted if the administration would follow the course he has suggested.
 There are several members who have made an effort to 1.-Two down the unenviable advertising tho president gave them when they blocked the armed ship bill. Among them is Senator Kenyon, of Iowa, whose name is not to be found on the anti side of any important record vote since the war began. His colleague. Sem ator Cummins, too, has made an ef- fort to "get out from under" his only decorded opposition being on his vote for the LaFollette amendment to the embargo
 ErDcr 0urr nU~cr ,~Drccr1u