The Washington herald., 1918-03-28

get a contract delivered on time"
As in the morning he insisted that
the "men In charge" were doing
their best" and asked, why, then.
criticise them? Why not help them?"
Secretary Baker" said he. ''is an
incessaf1t worker day and night. If
you select another secretary how do
you know he will be any better?"
t'Does the Senator take the posi-
tion," asked Fall, that right or
wrong, there should be no criticism Of
a public official unless he willfully
pursues a wrong course?"
No" replied Shafroth. but instead
Of being encouraged. they are de-
bounced, although straining every
nerve"
Here was the point where John
Sharp Williams came into the debate.
Reads FIetltIons Cable.
He read fictitious cablegram to
a friend in France telling Of a
poisonous gas attack made yester-
day in the Senate.
THE enemy was carefully prepared :
there were not many of us here; but
by the Providence of God the wind
shifted and the enemy was stifled, :"
read the cable.
At this moment. Williams spoke of
the WISCONSIN elections where "a
man lukewarm in the past" was rae
ing, against "a man warmly for the
allies"
He proceeded:
The popularity of the attack yes
terday was that 1t was from no
motive of patriotism. yet 1t occurred
on the most critical day of the great
battle abroad"
Senator McCumber interrupted to
ascertain whether Senator Williams
had alluded to Mr.. Lenroot as luke
warm
I'm not prepared to apologize or
explain" said the MisSissippian.
The gentlemen in whose favor this
attack would operate was / think in
favor of an embargo on food to the
allies; against arming merchant
ships and against the war declara-
ton"
When told that Mr.. Lenroot had not
voted against the war declaration.
the Southern Senator accepted the
correction, but already there had been
hot passages between Williams and
Smoot. and Williams and Gallinger.
Democrats who take the same
stand as Mr.. Lenroot are lukewarm,
said Williams.
"The President has appointed one to
high office" said Gallinger. The
Senator seems to put himself on
plane of patriotism above US all. It's
a trifle late in the day to do that"
At one time Williams refused to al
low SmoOt TO interrupt him
Calder, of New York, asked: do
you know your representative in the
House voted with Lenroot?"
Williams-"Who?"
Calder-"Sisson.'
Williams-"Oh! He's not my repre-
sentative
One of the most heated incidents oc-
Cured between Fall and Williams,
thus:
FaII-"The only politics injected here
has been by the Senator from Missis-
sippi."
Williams-"That is absolutely incor-
rect"
Fall-'rNo one else has referred to
the Wisconsin election before. 1t
seems. if there is any criticism of a
Democratic official, it must be dis
loyal
WiIliams-"If the criticism is to cor
rect and rectify. it should be made to
the official and not on the Senate
floor
1t was very late when Senator Smoot
began to read a speech he had intend
ed for today.
NO criticism is ever offered by Re-
publicans," said he, but what some
Democrat arises. and cries, No good
can come Of it and it only gives COM
fort to the Kaiser
mo man in the White House has
ever uttered such structures against
political opponents as President Wilson
Says PartisanshIp Obvious.
He deals frankly with the Amer
ican people in one respect, for he
makes no pretense of being other
than partisan. He has shown this
in his appointments and support of
candidates.
Whenever a contest occurs his
motto Is Give no quarter
He not only uses the prestige of
his Office for a partisan purpose in
wartime. but he is willing to cast
aspersion on his own party. Con-
gresham Kent, whom the President
appointed to a high office, failed to
pass the acid test of the McLe-
more resolution and voted with Len
root.
Republicans are patriotic and will
ing to aid. but the President re-
fuses. He has not seen At even in
war to shed his partisanship."
During the stormy afternoon, Sem
ator Curtis. the Republican whip,