Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-23
Thursday Set for Vote on
Resolution Creating Spe-
cial War Council.
ROOSEVELT RUSHES TO THE
CAPITAL FOR CONFERENCES
Issues Statement Later Defend
ing Senator Criticized Mon
day by President Wilson.
OPPOSITION is DEVELOPING
Representatives Already Lined Up
TO Halt Any Action Taken
by L. S. Senators.

WASIIINGTON. January o@.--senato-
Chamberlain still hopes 20 take his
war cabinet bill over the top The
fs-ce pressure from the administration
nas not daunted him.
Il feel II is my duty-and ! doa't
shrink from that" he said to-day 20
newspaper men.
But whether he will be successful in
tanning his bill past the Democratic
phalanx is doubtful.
To-day the Democrats have nfty-one
Senators; the Republicans fortytwo.
Republicans are expected TO vote al
most solid g for the bill. .Admnistra-
ton Dem ,cra;s said to-day that SEN
ator Chamberlain could summ mon only
three other Democrats to his standard
Hitchcock. Mckcllar and Reed. Eui
friends OF the bill predict rapidly
rising tide Of antaEonism among Dem
ocrais against the Presidents stand. It
The Republicans stand solid. only Ave
Democratic votes are necessary 10 pass
the bill.
However. even II the bill passes tho
senate. it's fate viii Still hang in the
balance. /, Will meet with tiH sharp
est opposition in the House. Dem
ocrats will summon every ounce OF
their political strength TO defea, Il.
Chairman Dent, of the House Military
Affairs Committee. has already linked
his arm in that OF the President. |,
Is alao said that the House Republicans
Who generally favor the bill arc not
sufficiently organized 10 make the ii.ht
they wish 10.
The summons 10 the White House
lss, night OF eleven Democratic son
ators has already had noticeable
enec,. To-day Senator Sheppard. OF
Texas "A member OF the Senate MIL
:,ary Affairs Committee. said:
''Ycs. | voted TO recommend ono OF
the bills. But did i. under 4 mis-
apprehension. thought It VAS one OF
Secretary Bakers measures"
Virginia SENATOR'S At
WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE
senator Martin, the Democratic leader,
and Senators Swanson. IIoke Smith
Robinson. Williams, Hollis, Myer.
simmons. Fletcher. Pomerenc and Beck
ham. who went TO the White House last
night. were all said TO be confident
,hat the bill would he defeated. Sen
ator Swanson. who opposes the bill be-
cause nc does not wish TO see tho navy
purchasing system disturbed, said the
measure was 'Coomcd.
Tho big crash" on the bill will come
Thursday, when the Senate convcnca
again Senator Chamberlain will al.
most surely move that the bill be
rorrcd to the Military Affairs Commit
tee. Then will como the debate. The
Military Affairs chairman is expected 20
spcak his mind freely. II Is said he
viii answer the Presidents charge that
he has acted from political motives.
II IS predicted that he viii recall
that he championcd not only the sclcc-
tive draft against bitter opposition. but
that when Senator Gore deserted the
administration. he, Chamberlain. was
called from the military committee to
undertake tho unfamiliar task Of carry
ing through the food bill. In this lead
crsh!p he was forced to undergo tho
most violent attack.
In talking last night with the Sen
ators tho President made it plain he
was much opposed to both tho bills.
Nevertheless lie discussed them freely.
SENATOR CHAMBERLAIN
ISSUES 4 STATEMENT
At Senator Chanbcrlain's Office il
MAS said that kilograms approving his
course came TO his Office in great num-
bers to-day.
The President takes issue with the
;ruthfulncsa of my statements" he said.
81 am sorry. Eus believe owe i;
10 the country and myself to state the
facts disclosed in the investigation OF
,hc War Department. II IS not merely
the right. IL is tho duty. of Congress
10 conduct Investigations.
The Military Affairs Committee will
not cease the war probe In spite of the
Presidents defiance. The committee
determined to-day to summon Surgeon
General Gorgas on Saturday to testify
regarding conditions in cantonments.
The inquiry will be continued rcgu
!arly. /, was said, until all necessary
investigation has been made. To-day
Captain Richard IIaigh, a British Off
cor. testified about conditions on the
western front.
now PRESIDENTS ATTACK
is VIEWED IN CAPITAL
Prcsidcn; Wilson's attack on Senator
Chamberlain was described tonight in
administration quarters as a notice TO
all that the executive will brook no
attempt to tic his hands in the conduct
Of the war.
Following to-day's Cabinet meeting.
Cabinet members declared that the
President had won his first skirmish
with his critics. 1t wa5 predicted that
the war cabinet and munitions minis
try bills would never pass.
"The President will deal with OBJ.
structIonists as Andrew Jackson dealt
with the United States Bank" was