The Washington herald., 1918-08-29

Severe indictments have been re-
turned against J. Ham Lewis in Con-
gressional debate.
First, 1t is charged that in his own
biography he gives away the fact
that his name was presented to the
Democratic national convention of
1900 as a Vice-Presidential candidate
when his age was five years below
the requirements.
Second, he moved to Georgia two
years before he was born-going there
in 1855 and having been born in 1858.
Third, he entered upon the prac-
tice of law, according to other IN
format atlon in the Congressional Direc-
tory. at the age OF IA years.
Verify, such Inconsistencies are not
to he found in the biographies of other
members of either House. Why should
they be in the biography of 4 candi-
date for reelection?
The defeat of Henry Ford in the
Michigan Republican primaries caused
some glee among Republicans on both
sides of the Capitol yesterday. Their
belief is that Ford will not make
much headway with the Democratic
nomination and that a Republican
successor to William Alden Smith can
now be counted upon. 1t is hard to
imagine Mr.. Ford making no effort
to gain the place. in view of the Pres
dents interest in him. Is II possible
that he will not interest himself in II
more when the general election battle
comes on with all its ferocity? Ger
tainly his is a queer candidacy.
The resignation Of Representative
Woods as head of the Republican Con-
gressional Committee means that Mr.
Hays has again scored an intraparty
triumph. selectios will now be
made in keeping with the require
| ments Of the office. and the G. o. P.
leaders will go forward as IL they
meant to storm and capture the cita-
dels of Democracy. Mr.. Woods could
not have expected to be of the least
assistance to his party in the anoma-
lous position he occupied, but whether
his successor will be any better fitted.
in some Of the requirements so
abundantly possessed by the Iowan,
remains to be seen. Mr. Hays has a
number of men in view and. OF course.
his wishes will govern largely in the
matter. This movement shows how
carefully he is watching all corners
VI iic pOlltlCdl liSHts lOT nO" tndt
he has taken charge of the forsaken
bark he means to inspect every deck
at all hours and will not permit the
naming of the most insignificant hand
until he has had opportunity to pass
upon him. The old bark leaked at
so many point In 1916 that Mr.. Hays
doesn't care to have it occur again.
He means to prevent II through the
exercise Of the utmost caution.
Interesting details are shown from
the soldier vote of a normally Repub-
lican State in the Middle West. OF
the nearly 1000 votes cast more than
50 per cent were Democratic-an un-
| usual proceeding in a primary.
The majority Of those who express
ed themselves on the question were
| against woman suffrage, but over
whelmingly for prohibition. Five hun
dred. however. did not vote on suf-
frage, while more than GOO did not ex-
press themselves on the liquor ques-
ton.
Barring Of two members Of the
House from the war zone shows what
infinite care has been exercised by the
British in prohibiting men from their
territory who are inimical to their in
terests. Scotland Yard probably he'd
very full delineation of what had
been said by the two members in
question, Dillon and Lundeen, and
knew just how to make best use Of It.
The incident caused much amusement
among their colleagues yesterday, but
II was ample vindication for those
members who told both solons pre-
viously that they would have to keep
their thoughts to themselves IL they
cared to get the greatest good from
their trip abroad.
Work OF the National Security
League Is going to figure in the elec-
tions Of many States. The league has
found some OF the members to be
wrong-most OF them in varying de-
gree. In fact-and there are eight
questions upon which the tests are
applied. Those who come under the
"seven-eighths" ban are most fero-
cious against the league. while those
who come under the "three-quarters"
ban are only a little more tolerant Of
the leagues efforts. Even consider
able antipathy Is heard among the
fve-eighths" squadron. And the
'half-and-half' squad Is not neutral
by any means, although the chances
OF defeating the members who come
within its pale are not az strong as
defeating those higher up the scale.
Some OF the members of the House
tpgist the Leagues 3affortn against