The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-01-27
"CUM SHOE BILL" MADE bLUNDER IN POLITICAL TRADE This Is Admitted on All Sides in Washington Fol lowing Senate Speech BUT PERHAPS RESULT SECURED INTENDED Missouri Senator Digs Up Partisan Ratchet in Midst of War and
 Gives Roosevelt Chance
 to Appear
By HUGH w. ROBERTS

Washington. January 26.-(SpeciaLl Immediately following Champ Clarh declaration that Senator Stone IS the greatest strategist in Congress" the veteran and irascible statesman pro- ceeded to disturb an otherwise compla- cent situation by highly colored and passionate discussion of partisan politlcs. The strategist, in the opinion or prac- tically every other member of Congress, thereby committed a serious blunder which cannot fail to have melancholy effect. President Wilson, it is said, tacit- ly urged Stone to desist. It is now de- clared that he deplores the fact that the Missouran declined to follow his sug- gestion.
 The republicans were prodded into state of intense anger Two of them re- piled, and one of them, the ponderous Penrose of Pennsylvania, expressed him. self heatedly regarding the chief ex- eeutive and his personal representative, Colonel House. The other, MT. Lodge Of Massachusetts, contented himself with a higk-toned argument to the effect that a patriot was essentially a critic rather
 
 acquiesce.
 THE BREAK" REGRETTED
 Senator Stone blundered,' said Sem ator Bankhead. Even if the repub- licans, by insisting on investigations, are playing petty politics, the discourse of Stone will not deter them. On the con- trary, it Vill have the effect of inspiring them to renewed effort. The repub- licans, as a whole, have rallied finely to the necessity of the nation in it's conduct of the war against Germany. Since Stone fired his gun, they feel at liberty to express their minds freely on any matter of state which might present it. self"
 Senator Harding of Ohio expressed re- gret that Senator Stone had dug up the hatchet "The republicans have not failed to do their part in support of the war administration" he said. They will continue to do so. However, they will no longer hesitate to point out in- competence, or to oppose legisI,tion which they do not believe wise or neces- sary.'
 Senator Kenyon of Iowa said: Tt was ridiculous for Senator Stone to declare Roosevelt traitor The colonel has four sons in the service"
 Former Attorney General wickersham said ''The revival of party animosity in time of war was unfortunate.'
 Former Secretary of War Dickinson, while declining to discuss the Stone "break," did say that "criticism during time of war was unfortunate"
 INTO TEDDY'S HANDS
 In the opinion of many members of Congress, Stone played into Roosevelt s dent desired someone of consequence se- verely to criticize him in order that he might have excuse to visit Washington, and lon the scene conduct his political propaganda to best advantage For that very reason, democrats contend, he, each day, made his editorials, printed in and disseminated by the Kansas City Star. more inviting of angry rebulxe. At any rate, scarcely had the sound of Stone 8 voice died away when the colonel un- smiling, came to Washington.
 The first night of his stay was en- lvened by a secret gathering at the home of his son-in-law, Nicholas Long worth, at which 1t is said that discus sion ranged from ''how to win the war quickly to how best can I secure the nomination in 1920" It was subse- quently announced that the gathering