The Washington times., 1917-09-07
CONGRESS UNLIKELY
TO CLOSE SESSION
OCTOBER IS
By DAVID LAWRENCE.
CONTINUED from Page One.)

indicates that the war hasn't stripped
patriotism Of pretense. Partisanship,
too, shows itself with disturbing fire.
quency. The proposal for a commit
tee on war expenditures, sponsored
by Republicans and aided by peeved
Democrats, Is by no means a dead
issue. 1t is openly asserted with
cloakroom assurance that II the Presi-
dent would agree to the creation Of q
Joint committee to supervise expendi-
lures, Congress would reciprocate by
Immediate adjournment. There are
more votes for such a measure in the
House than is generally supposed
votes among Democrats. too.
But Mr.. Wilson has put his foot
down hard on the idea because he
thinks IL win hamper and obstruct
instead of help. And the Presidents
judgment is likely to be accepted by
majority In both houses II he
makes a fght against the committee.
On the other hand, there Is no sign
that he wants to compromise the ques-
tion. So the Republicans frown and
scowl about IL and say sooner or later
public sentiment will get back OF the
proposition with a vengeance, espe-
cially IL Secretary McAdoo gives Con-
gress more Nightmares by dropping in
a new request for a few billions every
other week or so.
Can shed Much Light.
But IL the members OF Congress do go
home can they. shed much Hight on the
objects OF the war or its conduct Most
OF them have been too busy handling an
overwhelming number OF requests from
rnn9fFfrtnpF9 II
ment Of Cantonment. and war contract
difficulties and kindred matters that
give the Senator or Representative little
opportunity to get a broad perspective
on what is really going on.
And IL members go back to their
districts and make the kind OF speech
that Senator Jim Watson OF Indiana
made to a rally OF Virginia Repub-
licans. 1t is difficult to see why Mr.
Wilson should be solicItous about ad-
journment. The Indiana Senator IS
quoted as saying the President, IN en-
tering the war, was guilty OF "the
most amazing piece OF treaCnery that
ever shook the country" He had been
talking about Mr.. Wilson'S electoral
campaign and the slogan keep the
country out OF war" which the Demo
Gratis used so effectively.
A storm OF resentment from Re-
publicans as well as Democrats has
arisen against Senator Watson's ef-
fusion, but the gentleman from In
diana denies he said what was re-
ported. No stenographer was present
and the newspaper accounts were
taken down long hand. But the In
diana Senator admits he argued about
the unpopularity OF the war and
even his friends admit he was con-
siderably indiscreet about It.
G. o. p. LeadershIp Lacking.
As for partisan politics, Republican
leadership has been lacking. There
has been no reputation OF those Re-
publicans who hate Woodrow Wilson
worse than the Emperor OF Germany.
and who pretend to be very loyal to
the Government, but do not hesitate
to denounce in private practically ev-
erything the Chief Executive OF tho
Government does.
II the issue OF the next political
campaign Is to be 81 will stand by the
President" or II have stood by the
President" there will be considerable
opportunity for Democrats as well as
Republicans in primaries as well as
in elections to uncover a few hypoc-
risies OF 1917.