Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-03-28
BITTER PARTISAN
DEBATE IN SENATE
Sreoot Charges President with
Using Powers of Office for
Party Purposes.
JONES ATTACKS HURLEY.
Declares Shipping Board Head Makes
Misleading Statements-Clash Still
On mt Adjournment.

Washington, March 27.-The biggest
partisan breach between democrats and
republicans of the Senate since the war
began developed to-day in a bitter debate
which followed Speech by Senator Jones,
republican. Of Washington. attacking the
Shipping Board and critcising President
Wilson'S attitude toward Congress-
Senator Williams of Mississippi, demo-
crat, accused the republicans of playing
politics in behalf of Representative Len
root, candidate for the Senate in Wis
consin. This aroused the republicans. and
leaders on both sides Of the chamber
joined in the fray. Senator smoot. republi-
can. Of Utah. delivering an address he had
prepared for tomorrow, charging the
President himself with using his high
office to further partisan ends.
Adjournment brought the clash to
close. 1t may be renewed tomorrow, and
is regarded as certain to commence again
when consideration of the Overman bill,
to enlarge the Presidents powers to re.
organize government departments il
undertaken.
In his speech Senator Jones declared
statements of Chairman Hurley Of the
Shipping Board were misleading and that
German submarines are sinking ships
twice as fast as they can be built
democrat. had deplored what he termed
unfair" criticism Of war operations and
said all government officials were doing
their best. Senator Williams took the floor.
Senator Smoot declared that the re-
publicans had supported legislation asked
by the President although some of 1t
has been revolutionary and socialistic
! and in some cases unjustf1able and un-
necessary"
mo republican," he asserted, has
sought to secure party advantage by
calling attention Of the country to ad-
mitted blunders of the administration.
No word Of warning of the extravagant
and wicked waste of the peoples money
or weaknesses in efficiency Of the ad-
| ministration have been intimated, but
| some democrats would Immediately rise
and claim that it would only bring Joy
| to the Kaiser"
mo man while occupying the White
House." the Utah senator proceeded, has
| ever uttered structures against his politi
| cal opponents as severe as President Will
| son in his Indianapolis speech
BY speeches and actions in national and
local campaigns and by refusal to accept
| pronered services of "a most capable
man" of the opposition party. he said.
| the President had proven his partisan
ship. President Wilson'S recent letter
to Mr.. Davies stating the McLemore resc.
luton was the "acid test" of PATRIOTS >
and his letter to New Jersey democra; g
were cited by Senator Smoot as proof e.
the Presidents partisan purposes The
| letter to Mr.. Davies. he said, discloses
| that not only is the President willing to
use the prestige of his high office for
| partisan purposes, but that he was Will
ing to case aspersions upon the loyalty
of members Of his own party to accom-
plish the present partisan task of elect
ing a democrat to the Senate.
He Is a most intense partisan and
persists in that partisanship in time Of
war. just as he did in the time of peace.
yet he makes no pretense Of being other
than partisan and in this respect Is
dealing frankly with the American peo-
ple."
| Referring to the "acid test" cited by
President Wilson on the McLemore resolu-
ton. Senator Smoot recalled that he had
appointed former Representative Kent Of
California. who voted for the resolution.
to the tariff board.
HE has made the issue" said the Utah
senator in conclusion, ''he has thrown
down the gauntlet to those Americans
who believe in superiority Of republica II
principles and in greater ability Of those
men who constitute the Republican party
1t is an issue republicans have been will
ing either to ignore or to minimize. They
can now in maintenance of their SELF
respect take no other course than that of
accepting the gage OF battle as the Pres-
dent has drawn the battle lines. We can
only regret that our commander. in chief
has not seen fit to abstain from partisan
activities. and thereby reciprocate the
real n-partisanship so essential to his
ultimate successor"
The only reply to-day to Senator Smoot
came from Senator Myers Of Montana,
democrat. who deplored criticism and .n-
vestigation in the Senate of the nations
war activities The Montana senator said
that while spending much time in
criticism, the Genate has failed to give at
tention to charges against one Of It's own
members which have heen pending for