The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-09-05
The Star and Mr.. Connolly.
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Well informed voters in the Sixth
congressional district were amazed
when they read in last Saturdays
edition of the Kansas City Star an
editorial which appears TO have for
its purpose the intent to camouhage
the record of Congressman Connolly
on his attitude toward the war and
preparedness. The Star pointed out
congress, namely: The McLemOre
Resolution, the Cooper motion, the
Declaration of War and the Draft
Bill. The Star then adds:
"On every one of these motions
Mr.. Connolly voted with the Ameri-
can party against the pacifsts, not
withstanding his violent opposition to
preparedness before the war"
The statement is entirely false,
anyone can see by looking at the re-
cord. Mr.. Connolly voted against the
declaration of war, being one of only
fifty who stood out to the last in his
opposition. So the people of the Six
tn district believe that was San all
American vote"2
Whether The Star deliberately at
tempted to deceive the voters or
whether it was the result of careless
ness makes little difference. To her
aid broad statements of that kind
without sufficient knowledge is about
as bad in a great metropolitan news
paper as to do it deliberately. Some.
times such things can be overlooked
in a country newspaper which hasn't
always the facilities for getting at the
facts, but it is either shameless ne
gligence or intentional misrepresen-
tation when it appears in a paper
! like The Star, which has every facili-
| ty for obtaining the facts However,
the statement of The Star will act
as a boomerang, for it will not only
serve to emphasize what the people
already know concerning Mr. Con-
nelly's vote, and the only effect it
will have will be to discredit The
Star in the eyes of people who are
keeping track of events.
Mr.. Connolly has been one of the
most persistent opponents of prepar-
| edness IN congress, and is today enc
of the men who is to blame for the
unpreparedness of the country at this
time He began back in 1915 to re-
cord his vote against an efficient navy,
and his opposition continued right up
to and including the final declaration
| of war. We are in possession of his
complete record m both the 63rd and
| 64th congresses, and now that The
Star has brought the matter up with
an attempt to lwhiteWash Mr.. Con-
nelly. we might as well give the peo-
pie the exact facts in the case.
On. February 5, 1915, when the
naval appropriations bill was up for
consideration, Mr.. Witherspoon NOV
ed to recommit the bill (H. r. 20975)
back to the committee with instruc-
tions to cut down the number OF
| no. fn
one. Mr.. Connolly voted yea" on
the amendment. Congressional Rec
ord p 1882
The above was after the war in
Europe had been going on for months
and when it was known that we were
likely to be drawn into it.
| Again on May 2, 1916, after the
war had been going on year and a
half, H R. 15947, being the Brown
ing motion TO recommit the naval ap-
preparation bill to the committee with
instructions to provide for greater
naval preparedness, Mr. Connolly
voted f'no." Congressional Record,
p. 9189.)
Again on August Is, 1915, after
the war had been going on two years,
II. r. 15947, on concurrlng In the
senate amendment for the three-year
naval building program, providing for
ten battleships and auxiliary cruisers
for greater protection to American
interests. Mr. Connolly voted mo. "
Congressional Record, p. 1270O)
But here is the capsheaf of all, out
side OF his vote against the declara-
ton of war:
On May 16, 1917, more than a
month after we had entered the war,
House Roll No. 3545, the Army In
EcreaSe bill On motion to commit
the bill with instructions to raise the
pay OF all men in the army. Mr.. Con-
nelly voted sfNo." &C. R. 1927
Mr.. Connolly has persistently and
consistently taken the pacifst view
of preparedness plans, and had q
| majority In congress voted as Mr.
Connolly In the past four years this
country would be IN a desperate con-
: dition indeed. It is not his fault that
we are now getting into shape to de-
fend ourselves and send a winning
army to Europe. On all of the pre-
iminary attempts along that line,
Mr., Connolly steadily opposed It Il
. Is true that after war was declared
: he changed his tactics and has since
voted to sustain the president IN mosi
/, of his war measures, but the man who
: has to be whipped into line by the
man the people Of the Sixth district
, want to trust at this time. If Mr.
ConneeIly had his way American hon.
or would have been trampled IN the
: dust by the kaiser's brutal armies and
: the American flag would today be dis
credited In every land. We are viii
: ing to admit that Mr.. Connolly has
since repented, but death-bed repen.
lance are always subject TO suspicion