Evening journal., 1918-11-02
G. 0,P. WAR RECORD
TWISTED BY FERRIS
Of Ten Offenses in Congress
Charged by Democrat Some
Predated Hostilities
OTHERS EXPLAINED
BY C. o. P. LEADERS

MACulNG ONs ANuN. IL ht NutotiVh
Of which pSrty had given the better
support 10 the President was brought
down TO brass tacks through the issu-
ance OF a carefully prepared statement
by Chairman Ferris OF the Democratic
Congressional Campaign Committee re-
viewing the action by the two parties
in Congress on 10 measures designated
by him as war measures The Ferris
statement was intended, 20 be such a
broadslde as would blow the Republican
claim Of greater support out Of tho
water.
Mr.. Ferris enumerated the 10 meas
ures and the Congressional action on
them as "Omense No. g. "Onense No.
." and so on. The selcciiye draft act
and the bill 10 increase the pay OF sol
dlers from Sis 10 $50 a month. which
were carried only through Republican
efforts, and in fact Republican leader
ship, were omitted in the Ferris state
ment. a fact 10 which the Republicans
| Immediately called attention.
"Offense No. 4" in the list made out
/ by Mr.. Ferris was the McLemore resO-
Tuition calling on the President 10 warn
/ Americans against travelling on the
armed ships Of belligerent nations. This,
! Mr.. Ferris said, was the very acid test
/ OF loyalty" the statement saying
This was a measure 90 obstruct the
/ President in his efforts 10 avoid war a
mischievous resolution that President
J Wilson asked be summarlly Killed. Ihe
roll was called: isi Democrats voted 10
table the resolution, % Democrats voted
against tabling il, % Republicans voted
10 table Il and i0i Republicans voted
against tabling II. Thus % Democrats
voted against the President. iOl Repub-
liicans voted against him than with him.
licans voted against hi mthsn with him.
Is that support OF the President? Is
that helping more than hlndcring
Which party served its country best
that day?"
In reply the Republicans pointed out
first that the McLemore resolution was
voted down in the House i3 months
lacking one day before the United
states declared war: also that II was
eight months after this vote that Wood
row Wilson was reelected President
largely on the campaign slogan lie
kept US out OF war
In addition TO this argument the re
publicans referred to the Congressiohs
Record 10 show that one OF the man
fights in the House was that Inc rue
under which the resolution was consld
cred did not permit OF a direct vote OF
the adoption or rejection OF me NC
Lemore resolution and that a vote u
table" did not give any indication 0
whether the voter favored the actus
purposes Of the measure.
To prove this Republicans quote.
, former Representative Fitzgerald ,
J ". who declared in the debate ina
, members of the-5Iouse desirous o
e lodging the question in direct opposl
tion 10 the Presidents written reques
D that il be beaten, would vote 10 tab
a IT, The statement by Mr.. Fitzgeral
quoted by Republicans was:
e Il apprehend that gentlemen upo
, that side OF the House who are loud y
! their professions Of a desire 10 war
4 Americans on armed ships Of belliger
: ents arc preparing TO cover up ihei
; retreat BY voting TO lay the McLemor
resolution on the table.
"Onense No. ." charged by Mr.. FER
ris was the failure 20 support the snip
: ping bill. This measure he DESCRIBED
as "a bill absolutely essential to IN
transportation Of troops. food and am
2 munition.n continuing: "Reccmmende'
! Inv every branch OK the government
p legislation that has been sought 10
fifty years. One hundred and ninety
2 four democrats voted in favor OF tn
: hill. four Democrats voted against II
! Ten Republicans voted FOR the bill anl
! i55 Republicans voted against 10, fal
, tered. failed 10 do their duty and oh
p structed their country at a time whel
I it was entitled TO their support
shin Bill Not War Measure.
, To this the Republicans immediatel,
= retorted with the statement that thi
, bin had nothing 10 do with troops. O.
, flood. or ammunition, and was voted oi
in the House 10 months before war wa
declared. Republican opposition, the
, pointed out. was FOR two reasons ina
, The bill was put through under an un
fair gag" rule and that II COMMITTEES
those who voted for II TO the policy o
government ownership. Not only that
but is appropriated s60.O0OOoO. in thos
days a great big appropriation.
"Offense No. g." cited by Mr.. Ferris
. was the revenue bin passed by Tn
Z House on July 10, 1916. This bin MI
l. Ferris described as "a preparedness bill
a bill 10 equip. feed and clothe an army
and advocated by the President. tn
roll was called; i9i Democrats vote
for It. No Democrat voted against II
. 2s Republicans voted for it, and i3o Re
2 publicans voted against IT, Twenty
: eight Republicans stood with the Presi
dent: i3s fought him, opposed him an
/, voted against the bill. They were sup
j porting the President with a ven
! geance."
Y The Republican answer was that th
! 1916 revenue bill was not measure {
! raise. feed and clothe an army, and wa
] not a war measure at all. as IL ante
0 dated America entering the war by min
5 months. and there was hardly any arm
10 feed and clothe at that time. In ad
; diilon 10 this, Republicans referred {
e the record Of the debates on the meas
] IRE TO show that Republican oppositlo
T was based on unwillingness TO impos
j high taxes without resorting to revisio
T OF the tariff when a great deal OF th
2 money TO be raised by the bill was
! defray deficiencies caused through opel
= ing 10 the complaint OF the dupont d.
So