Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-10-28
CANNON PREVENTS
DEMOCRATS FROM.
KILLING WAR BILL.
Republican ex-Speaker Saves
Presidents Important Appro-
priation Bill From Defeat

Washington, Oct. 2S.-Almost on
the heels of President Wilson's ap-
peal for a Democratic Congress to
back up his war policies came an
exposure of its fallacy in the House.
1t came when the Republicans led
by ex-Speaker Cannon, forced the
adoptin of the big six million-dol-
lar military deficiency bill while the
Democrats were endeavoring to force
an adjournment to prevent the hu-
initiation of Hefiin, of Alabama, who
had been successful contrary to the
House rules in having the Presidents S
partisan appeal placed in the record
before the statement was issued.
For the sake of partisan politics,
Heflin and his Democratic associates
were willing TO sacrifice the impor-
tant war measure.
If the House would combine upon
putting through the war measure,
Mr.. Cannon declared, he himself
would ask that the Presidents pro-
nouncement be placed in the record
as of the present date.
The speech of Mr.. Cannon was one
of the most stirring of the war Con-
gress, when the eX-Speaker urged
upon the members of the House the
necessity of supporting the men in
the trenches with true patriotism,
and without partisanship. He re-
minded the House that while there
was no quorum present, because
many members had departed to
their homes under the gentleman's
agreement reached between the
Il, s,Nnv
tance to take up Immediately the
conference report on the military
deficiency bill, which will provide
the appropriations for the equip
ment and sustenance of the Army
fighting in France. Consideration of
this measure, he told the House, was
being stopped by Representative
Heflin's threat to make a point of
no quorum.
Later when the conference report
was adopted the Presidents state
ment was incorporated in the min
utes of the day in the record.
A Sign of Weakness
Republicans and many Democrats
believe the Presidents appeal to be
a serious blunder. He has injected
partisanship at a crisis of the war
and cannot complain if his chal-
lenge is accepted by political oppo-
nents.
Leading Democratic newspapers
declare a serious mistake has been
made. The ST. Louis Globe-Demo-
crat says: THE future of America
depends upon our wise application
of the lessons Of the war to the life
and the pursuits of peace; we can
not agree with the President that a
Democratic majority is essential to
our solidarity for war, and we dis
tinctly disagree with him in the as
sumption that it is necessary for the
great settlement that must come aft
erwards. The tendency of President
Wilson's act will be to disrupt the
unity of spirit that is our strength
and pride, for no Republican can fail
to resent it's implications"
The Cincinnati Commercial -Tri-
bune says, He (the PresidenD de-
scends from the high attitude he has
held and distinctly violates the ethics
of the situation when he attempts to
the patriotism of the coun-
try in war time for the partisan in
terests of the party to which he be-
longs" Another angle is suggested
by the Minneapolis Tribune. 1t says:
"Of one thing the Presidents ap-
peal for a Democratic Congress is
mighty good evidence and that is
that the Democratic managers are
alarmed by the prospect
of Republican success in the con-
gressional elections. We are bound
to assume, out of respect for his Of
fee, that if the situation were not
serious from the Democratic stand
point, the President would not have
taken the position of rank partisan
ship which this note exhibits"
Democratic candidates alls over
the country, it is believed, will suf-
fer as a result of the unprecedented
move. A half-hearted
campaign Immediately takes on high
energy and the Republican slogan
will be henceforth Unconditional
Secretary of the Treasury Nc
doo's letter to r. Z. O'Malley, of
Kansas City, urging election of ex-
Governor Joseph w. Folk to the
United States Senate is also giving
to Republicans as further
Indication of Democratic panic. His
declaration in this letter that "the
prestige and power of the President
and the influence of America in this
war would be irretrievably hurt If
he President should be repudiated
1t the forthcoming election by the
-eturn of a majority against him in
either or both Houses of the Ma
,ionaI Congress-" is cited as further
evidence of the partisan scheming of
1tr41ay- fha laad of