Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-05-11
Advocates of Colonel's Pro
posal Will Not Give Up
and Will Garry Battle to
the Floor of the Senate.
CERTAIN THE PLAN
WILL NOT SUCCEED
The Administrators Oppo-
sition Too Strong to Be
Overc ONE - Interesting
Correspondence Between
Roosevelt and Joseph
Letter Published.

Washington, May 11.-Colonel Theo-
dore Roosevelt's fight to lead an Amer
lean force to France is going right on.
Unfavorable report by house and SEN
ate conferees on the Roosevelt divi-
sion amendment of the army bill will
be answered by Republican senators on
the floor. These men plan to fight for
its incorporation in the selective
service measure.
AT the same time friends of the colo
mel in the house are prepared to
launch a new effort there in behalf OF
his volunteer division.
1t is stated that the Roosevelt plan
never had a fair vote in the house be-
cause when taken it was not assured
that selective service would be approx
ed there. In the senate some Repub-
licans admittedly voted for the amend
ment in order to please the colonel al
though not necessarily committed to
the advisability of taking a step
counter to the advice of the war de-
partmest.
WILL NOT LAST LONG.
Senator Harding believes, however,
that all of the Republicans who were
for the measure before will remain in
approved it will stand pat again.
Owing to the pressure being exerted
on congress for action on the army bill,
1t is believed the fight for the colonel
will not endure long, unless it is quick
ly won.
The administration does not ap-
prove the plan and many Democrats
who previously voted for the measure
are expected by Democratic leaders to
follow the wishes of the government.
1t is not believed congress will run
the chance ON public criticism for in
activity by prolonging discussion of
the conferees' report. Instead, early
next week, it is believed the report
will be approved by both branches as
agreed upon by the conferees.
CALLS 1T POLITICS.
Meantime, the subject of the Roose-
welt division was enlivened today by
publication of correspondence between
Roosevelt and Joseph Letter. president
of the Army League of the United
States. Roosevelt resigned as hon
orary vice president of the league, and
In his letter said: Indeed, so far as
the opposition ito the Roosevelt
amendmenD is not due to mere puzzle
headedness, it can only be due to poll |
tics, and politics of very unwise and
improper kind"
To which Letter replied in part do
you think that you alone can think cor
rectly? Did the Almighty constitute
You the sole arbiter of what is right |
or wrong? Do you think that you are
the most competent person in the |
United States to head the first expe-
dictionary force sent to Europe?"
Roosevelt resigned from the Army
league because it did not sanction his |
division amendment in the senate.
ISSUE VERY MUCH ALIVE.
That the Roosevelt division issue is
still very much alive and kicking was
evidenced today not only in the senate,
but the house.
Representative hurry Hubert, New
York, Democrat, introduced a bill au- |
thorizing Roosevelt to raise volunteer
division as part Of Washington City's |
national guard.
Hubert voted against the Roosevelt |
division amendment to the selective I
service bill on the ground that it
might interfere with formulation of !
the draft system.
Another evidence of the fight that I
still is to be made in the Roosevelt
volunteer issue came when Gardner,
Of Massachusetts, and Austin, of Ten
nessee, objected to the suggestion of
Chairman Dent of the house military
committee that debate on the Roose-
welt idea be limited to two hours.
BUTTONS TO DESIGNATE
THE MEN WHO HAVE TRIED