New-York tribune., 1918-10-22
Tanner Defes Pell
Go to People on
Loyalty Platform
Attitude of Kitchin and
Dent Made Issue in Local
Congressional Fight
Patriotism Questioned
Republican Candidate Chal-
lenges Opponent to Assist
in Unseating Them

direct ha'lenge on the adjourn
ment of politics" issue is laid down by
Frederick {. Tanner, Republican can
didate for Congress, in letter made
public yesterday to Herbert c. Pell,
Jr., his Democratic rival in the 18th
District
Making fidelity to Americas cause
in the war the only admissible validity
test in the present campaign, Mr.. Tan
ner vigorously assails C.aude Kitchin
and S. Hubert Ont, Jr., Democratic
chairman of important congressional
committees, on the ground that, de-
spite their influential position, in the
ration's hour of need both of them
voted rgainst the selective draft.
declaring that such men on their
record ar, unfit for the posts they
held, Mr. Tarner pledges himself to
oppose them. ana demands to know
whether his opponent, if elected, has
the national interest sufficiently at
heart to waive marty considerations
and do likewise.
The letter reads:
Mr.. Tanners Letter
The Liberty Loan is subscribed
and consideration nay now rightly
be given &c the election to Congress
in this district, in which you and
are candidates of he Democratic and
Republican parties, respectively.
New York City has a vital inter
est in the organization of the House
of Representatives. Our district has
furnished its fu quota of men, and
pays probably more TAX and has
purchased more bonds than any other
three districts in the United States
combined. Two committees of the
House are particularly important to
New York-,he Committee on Ways
and Means, which frames the meas
ures for taxation. and the Commit
tee on Military Affairs, which pro-
vdes for the so diers.
The Democratic party has per-
mitted Mr. Claude Kitchin. of North
Caro- ina, and Mr.. S. Hubert Dent,
Jr, of Alabama. to remain chalrmen
of these committees since we en-
tered the war, in spite of their long
record of unpatrlOtlc and obstructive
acts.
Tells of kitchin's Record
Mr.. kitchin voted against the dec
lara ion of state of way, against
the 'selective draft, and repeatedly
against measures to increase the
army and navy. In addition, he has
shown himself unable to cope with
business and financial questions on
i large scale.
Mr.. Dent, although his committee
was charged with he prime duty of
raising an army, voted against the
seleetive draft law, the only means
of raising an army effectively and
with iu tice He even voted repeat
edly against increasing the army any
navy under the old system.
New York City is wiling to bear
its full share of taxa ion, but 1t OBJ
jects to chairman who raises the
issue of sectionalism and who dis
plays more vigor in Furnishing some
people and some parts of our own
country through the power Of tax
alton than he does in carrying on
the war. New York City demands for
the chairman of the Committee on
Military Affairs a man who supports
war measures and who can be relied
on to oppose an inconclusive peace,
which would make our sacrifice
vain thing.
Issues Challenge to Pell
bclCtt We SlLSltQ IAtC Wal JoiHCN
in the most practical way | knew
wi Mr.. William Church Osborn,
formerly state chairman of your
party, in movement to subordinate
party questions and organize the
Congress then about to meet, solely
on he basis OF effective prosecution
of the war.
/ am opposed to the continuance,
as chairman of the Committee on
Wavs and Means and NJ litary Affairs,
of Mr. Ktchin and Mr.. Dent. l pledge
myself, at the earliest possible mo-
ment to vote against any candidate
for Sneaker or any organization of
the House, which will make possible
their retention as chairman of those
committees or nut men like them,
of any party. in these vital places.
VIII you make a like pledge?
The answer to this question is the
acid test as to whether a candida
will really throw ell political consid-
erations as de in driving this war TO
the quickest possible conclusion, and
in safe@uarding the interes of New
York both III war and in peace. It
is a clear and concrete question
wh 'ch is certain to arise at the very
commencement of the next erm of
Congress. and the mer and women
whose votes we ask are entitled to
know our convictions upon this mat
ter and what hey may expect from