Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-05-18
SENATE AGREES TO CONFERENCE
AMENDMENTS AND MEASURE
GOES TO WILSON.
ONLY EIGHT VOTES IN
oPPoslTioN FINALLY
Long Debate Staged over Technical
tiles and over Roosevelt Clause
Senator Stone Makes Vicious Attack
on Colonel and johnson Defends
Other News.

washington, May lS-Late yesterday
the senate adopted the conference re-
port on the war army bill accepted by
the house yesterday and sent the meas
use to the president for his signature.
f The vote was 65 to s. Those voting
against adoption were Senators Gore,
Gronna, Hardwick, Kirby, Lafollette,
Norris Stone and Trammel Senator
Fall was excused from voting.
When the army bin came up in the
senate for final action on the confer
ence report, 1t was thrown into long
debate over technicalities which Sena-
tor Chamberlain. chairman of the mil
itary committee, openly characterized
as hair splitting"
The principal contention was over
whether soldiers were being drafted for
"the existing emergency or the war"
Some senators protested that the
words the emergency might fasten
military policy on the country.
Senator Fletcher pointed out that
the existing emergency" could not be
stretched TO continue men in service
after the present war.
Senators Smith and Hardwick Of
Georgia, Reed Of Missouri and LaFoll-
cite were among those who raised OBJ
jections.
Senator Chamberlain reiterated his
and pointed out that the senator's de-
!a"::S :ac SS..,,!! nei1 ;.iosv wiiv lost
their fight against the draft system.
The conferees exhausted themselves
in reaching this agreement" said
Chairman Chamberlain. III it is sent
back the whole bill will be opened up
and we can never agree
Says Roosevelt Is Unfit.
Senator Stone attacked the Roose-
welt amendment on the ground that
Colonel Roosevelt Is unfit TO command
a body of troops because he has no re-
spect for authority, constitutional or
otherwise" and described the provision
"as scheme both personal and politl-
cal"
Many senators smiled as Senator
Stone pounded desks with clenched fist
and trod the center aisle. largely ad-
dressing his remarks 70 the republican
side.
Colonel Roosevelt is unfit to COM.
mand. certainly large body OF men,"
Senator Stone continued There is
nothing in his training. experience or
that fits him. Mere cour-
age, even to the point of audacity, is
not what fits man to control the lives,
safety and health OF great bodies OF
men.
O.. tfco1 l,rx shn. L.
itary training. He commanded a regi-
ment in the Spanish war for short
time, 1t is true. He led them courage
ously. but did not command them with
judgment. He got his men into bad
hole In imminent danger OF being cut
to pieces. and they would have been
except for regiment under trained
regular officers that came to the res
cue and saved them.
This scheme Is personal and politi-
cal. It Is smeared all over with politics.
It gives Roosevelt, the politician, a
chance to exploit himself as the great
volunteer hero of the war"
johnson Replies TO Stone.
An impassioned reply to Senator
stone was made by Senator Johnson
OF California.
II listened with surprise and chagrin.
with humiliation to the remarks of the
senator from Missouri" said Senator
johnson. Had the words come from
any other senator or been uttered out
side OF the capitol we would have con-
cluded that the utterer desired that no
Americans be sent at all. That would,
OF course, not be imputed to the sena-
tor from Missouri.
what is 1t that Is asked? Only that
this man in the twilight Of his life may
lay down that life for his country. only
that he may serve his country"
Senator Johnson said Senator Stones
attack was very sad thing in It's in
lection Of craftsmanship and at this par
ticular. time.
I'VE have stood shoulder to shoulder
in this chamber" he continued. "in
this war. It has remained for this sem
ate today to hear for the first tlmo In
this conflict 4 partisan note. To say
that Roosevelt desires for personal am
bitlon and political benefit to 80 TO war
for his country IL to deny the entire life
OF this patriot To say the desire to en-
list ID for . political reason Is without
ratification in fact"
- H q. " IL