The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-01-24
VIII SONS FOES
IN SENATE ARE
ALREADY BEATEN
War Cabinet Bill Fails and
Not Even a Test Vote
Is Likely

against the administration is over
before it is begun. The question of
confidence in his conduct of the war
that the President was willing to
place before the Senate, and which
was to have been forced to a deci-
sion today, will not be put to the test
unless the unexpected occurs. Mr..
Wilson's position has been supported
to such an extent that a vote is no
longer regarded as necessary to prove
it.
The last chance that the opposi-
ton to the executive had to place on
record what would have amounted to
censure of the manner in which
America has managed her end of the
war was dissipated yesterday when it
became known that Senators Lodge
of Massachusetts and Warren Of Wy
oming, two of the most powerful of
the Republican group, stood with the
President and would throw their in
fiuence and votes against the War
! Cabinet measure.
j When the Chamberlain bill is reached
it will be referred to the Military At
fairs Committee, of which the Oregon
senator is chairman. Should he at
temnt to make an immediate report
ing out of the bill 1t will be opposed
/ by warren, who will ask an oppor-
tunity to formulate a minority re-
port. In this he will be joined by
certain of the Democratic committee
men who oppose the measure. It is
possible that a vote may be taken on
ha 70
gard it as improbable. Later, should
the proposed law he reported out,
Swanson of Virginia, acting chairman
of the Naval Committee, will ask that
it be referred to his body, since it
concerns the workings of the Navy
Department as much as it does the
army. In this position he will be
Joined by Lodge, ranking minority
member Of the Naval Committee.
Should it reach that committee, the
bill will die there, but it is very
doubtful whether it will be reported
out of the Military Committee, once
it is sent back there, for it is realized
that the administration is in control,
and the committeeman, including
some of those who favor the bill, be-
Ilieve that the part of wisdom lies in
avoiding an open break with the ex-
ecutive.
When the measure has been dis
| posed of the administration will offer
J such a program as has been found
necessary through the experiences Oh
the various departments, but it car
be said authoritatively that nothing
of a radical nature will be asked fol
at this time. No War Cabinet IS need
ed. in the opinion of the President
and the pending bill to create a D1-
rector of Munitions will likewise De
strapped.
1t cannot be denied that Col Roose'
welt played a part in the situation
which developed yesterday afternoon
although it is a question whether h
was not an involuntary performer
His presence in Washington had thu
effect of Immediately solidifying the
Democrats and it was not without eff
feet among certain of the Republi
cans who do not hold the Colonel IL
high esteem.
Perhaps news of the inner natur'
of things reached the Colonel yester
day, for he secluded himself and de
that he might have a statement tt
make today. y.
Senator Chamberlain is showing
Quiescence with the new turn matter
have taken He is not trying to swim
against the tide. He said yesterda,
that he would not make fight agains
= the procedure, but instead would ris
] to a question of personal privileg
and on the floor of the Senate max
v public reply to the Presidents char
: acterization of the speech he made il
s New York last Saturday.
S Chamberlain has announced tina
his defense will be found in the recor
of the War Department which tn
military affairs committee investiga
. ton brought out. Democratic Sena
;. tors will make reply, with possibly
voice or two from the Republican sid
also.
It is more than likely that the de
;, bate will close the whole issue an
e that the war cabinet measure wi
never reach a vote. After three day
of consideration the belief is genera
Il even among certain of the group mos
partisanly inclined, that the Presi
dent must be supported in the posi-
ton he has assumed unless the un
l, dermining of all public confidence
is to be risked- And but few of the &C
= ministration's critics are willing t
e. go so far as to say that this hazar
e should be made.
l. Friends Of Wilson regard the viz
t. tory as highly significant The
al spurn the thought that the retire
n ment of the opposition has been du
to consideration for the administrs
ton; they insist that it means notf
ing more nor less than a complet
:. backdown on the part of the critic
20 who it is charged, lack the materi;
) to make good their frequently r.
v peated attacks.
q The administration caused it to /
~ known last night that it was oppose
to any sidetracking of the test /
r. means of parliamentary technical
"a ties. Those who know the Presidel
4 best say that his attitude yesterds
d is very like it was at the time of Il
n McLemore resolution, when he il
A. sisted that the matter be fought o.
in the open. If he has any reason
believe that the situation in the Sci
ate today will not be effective in Sc
Ting finally the points at issue it
~ possible that he viii compel vo
~ to be reached so that a record ma
III be made. In fact, it can be said TIL
he regrets that this method is n
o. likely to be followed, for his con-
w. dence in the conditions is such tn
he he is quite willing IN give the wide
S opportunity to his opponents.
cd Last night it was admitted that Il
r air had been cleared and that Il
al President had succeeded in maki1