The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1917-03-16
THE TROUBLE
IN THE SENATE
Who the Filibusters
Were--Sweep Of Pro-
hib;tion--Food
Riots.


spondent of The Mcdowell Times sat in
the Senate gallery, and Was an eye wit
ne<s TO the affair which caused 50 much
indignation.
Two or three hours before noon on
March 4, the Democratic majority cap
tured the so-calIed filibuster and did not
allow the little group of willful men"
TO speak upon the question of armed
neutrality. Their avowed intention was
TO prevent senator LaFollette, whom
they looked upon ss an arch -conspirator,
from making q speech. Therefore, in
reality, the flibuster toward the Close OF
the session was conducted wholly by the
supporters of President Wilson, who
took this way of getting even with the
obstru .tionists.
Incidental to the Inauguration the
Senate met in special ss-ssion on March
D, for the purpose of confyming tie pres
idential nominations. President Wilson
seized the point of vantage to enable him
TO demand a change in the rules of the
senate so that means would he provided
70 force . vote upon any measure pend
ing in the Senate. The rules of the SEN
ate have heretofore allowed for unlimited
debate, and more than one great public
measure has been talked to death in th.
closing hours Of Congress.
That part Of the metropolitan press,
which has been insistent for war for q
year or more, has gone 90 far as to Use
the word traitor and To compare Ger
tain senators of the United States with
Benedict Arnold, because they have dis
agreed With the President i'm his course
in dealing with Germany such talk is
likely intended To create excitement
among people who are not fully inform
ed; but those who are keeping clear
heads are inclined to listen to reason, n
voiced by Senator Cummins, who with
his colleague, Senator Kenyon 10 among
the little group of wiilful men," Cum
minis in one of the great speeches of the
session, expressed the belief that Ameri-
can sentiment needed revising % that
the people would stand by the Govern
ment," rather than "by the President"
No sane pereon should repeat the
charge that men in the senate, fearless
ly disagreeing with either the metropol-
itan pres or the President. are lacking
in patriotism.
Thee are days when there is great
difference OF opinion throughout the
and former President Roosevelt
and former President Taft, and Others OF
good presidential size, including Sena-
tors Cummins and LaFollette have differ
81 with President Wilson. And il would
be fsctuous TO question the loyalty OF men
Iiks Senators Kenyon. Norris. Stone,
Kirby, vardsnsn and the
members OF the minority
group.
In strenuous times like these men that
believe their attitude may affect the
10 such an extent as To draw IL
into war are using their best pstriotic
Judgement in upholding the honor Of
America and It's institutions. After al
Uncle Sam IL not looking for unnecessary
trouble. and the administration and th'
Legislative branches Of the Government
are doing their b~st u safeguard the IN
t~rests Of the United States.
THE SWEEP or PROHIBITION.
The National Capitol has been votsd
dry" Towards the set there ~as .
good deal Of talk about a referendum on
the question. but Congress regarded such
q course a. dilstory. This attitude wss
perhaps influenced largely by the fac,
that Washington people have made IL
quite clear thai they were ready to have
the saloon 20. There - perhaps leo
drinking in Washington than in most
cities Of 35O,yoo; but the r-ycholOgicsl
effect Of the National Capitol going dry
u looked upon e. prohibitions greatest
victory. There are some features Of IN
bill that have been drafted in such away
~ 10 leave the diplomats and other rep
resentstives Of foreign countries unre-
stricted IN the manner If conducting the
social affairs Of their establishments: hut
these mstters are unimportsnt a. effect
iug the general situation. Prohibition is
" be . reality 10 Washington next fall,
when the existing liquor licenses expire
FOOD RIOTS.
Any industrial condition that makes
for food riOts. y necessarily of first inn
port-nce st Washington. The President
hes already acted, and has ordered an
Investigation Of food conditions, and IL
10 proceeding under the joint direction of
the Federal Trade Commission and the
Department Of Justice
While the great prosperity Of the coun-
try has heen fairly advertised. . real
analysis Of it seems n indicate that t 10
confined entirely 10 certain industries
Prosperity has bern running Wild among
rnnnufs~furnru. and IN th& financial <~~u