Evening star., 1918-06-28

SsssSAASAAs S@~s~NS
Mr.. Johnson's statement, as it ap-
pears in the Record. is as follows:
Il assume that this entire member
ship is familiar. with the status of the
anti-profiteering rent bill passed by
the House March u last. likewise as
sumo that all are familiar also with
the present barnacled condition of the
bill. Therefore I deem 1t not to be
necessary at this time to speak or the
bill itself in extenso. but rather of the
resolution which was offered by Sena-
tor Pomerene of Ohio, and which is
now pending before the committee.
"The resolution-somewha lengthy
in Observation-Disclosures the House that
the Senate conferees have been 'ex-
cused from further service as such
the Senate Further service is good.
since none had been rendered. and
none seemingly contemplated.
However, prior to this l had been
advised through the news columns Of
the local press that senatorial pass
ports were to be handed me and dip
lomatic relations severed with the
House because
First. I had made some remarks on
the floor Of the House which were ac-
cepted as reflections on a part Of the
Senate membership; and
dent by submitting to each Of the Sem
ate conferees a list of questions indi-
eating the probable points of disa-
greement which would arise when the
conferees on the part OF the two
houses met; and
third. That 1 had written two let
ters to the conferees which, later. the
author of the resolution stated, one
gentleman would not write to another
gentleman.
Did Not Say Senators Took Money.
Concerning the first-my remarks
on the floor of the House, shall only
say that I confined myself to state
ment of facts without in any way at
tempting any conclusions: and I dis
claim having said that any member of
the Senate had been paid any of the
money which Mr.. Worthington, by
letter. told his fellow realtors had
been spent by the National Associa-
/ tion Of Real Estate Brokers to aid the
local association of real estate bro
kers in its fight in Congress.
"As to the author of the resolution
now before us, Of him particularly. l
wish to say that have never thought
for moment that he got any of the
money.
my reason for singing him out
for this disclaimer is not because he,
in his remarks before the Senate.
read from my speech in the House
what said about the money paid by
the real estate brokers in their local
fight in Congress. nor because he
seemed to construe my remarks to
mean that he had been paid a part
of that money Ny reason for singing
out this particular senator for my
disclaimer is because 1t Is my opinion
that he Is not enthusiastically. at
least, in sympathy with the tenant
class in the legislative controversy
now going on. This senator enjoys
thinking intricately and accurately;
and. at the same time, his reputation
for being able to express his thoughts
in writing is just as enviable. In
fact, he IL conceded to be man of
very much ability.
Equal Right to Viewpoints.
Therefore. when express the
opinion that his sympathiss are not
with the tenant class l do so from as
careful and as thoughtful digestion
of what he has written on the sub
ject as. by comparison. my poor abili-
ties will permit. Broadly stated, not
sympathizing with the tenant class
when in controversy with the land
lord class Is no legal offense. For
that lack of sympathy with the ten
ant class which l accord or impute
to him he has perfect right. My right
not to be in sympathy with the land
lord class Is no greater than is his
to be with them.
conditions I am partisan in the
cause Of the tenant. If were to say
that he Is a partisan on the other
side of the question, 1 would impute
to him nothing that I do not assume
tor myself. With all of a plentiful
!, an1isfa6 tho
ant in the fight of which Mr., Wor-
| thington wrote his fellow realtors
"In drafting bill for the relief of
| the tenant in his present extremity l
gave it all the effort and thought of
which am capable. II what wrote
will not accomplish that end, neither
the tenant nor have yet discov-
cred the failure.
"On the other hand. il the amend
ment known as the Pemerene bill
the discovery has been made only by
the landlords and its author.
Since the appearance of the Pom
creme bill l have been constrained to
belieye that in the exercise of my
legislative efforts in behalf of the
bia I had to meet the opposition of
the able author of that paper, because
his seeming sympathies have been for
the landlord class. use the express
sion seeming sympathieSi while If
| his attitude Is to be determined by
the bill bearing his name. ! may
safely omit that Werd,
Witnesses for Each Other,
Heretofore have said, and now
repeat my opinion, that another can
express himself on paper most ac-
curately indeed. In doing it he has
written that to which the tenant
class and their friends object, and
that which the landlo and their
supporters approve. But that is his
right, Just as 1t is mine to write that
which is to the interest of the tenant
class.
"The distinguished parsonage of
whom I will speak Will agree, I am
sure, that the landlords gave me
mono OF the money of which Mr..
Worthington wrote his fellow real
tors.' and. just as readily and without
any sort of qualification, 1 shall
agree with him that they gave him
none. The attitude of each of US to-
ward the bill, as a matter Of course.
money to spend in the local fight IN
Congress. II both he and get some
Of the money-and each Of US is
good witness, one for tho other. that
neither got any Of TIT did not alter
he yioxuu of eitharD