Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1918-08-20
Mr.. Whites Care for the District.

Since becoming q member of congress
Wallace II. White, Jr., representative
from the Second District, has display ed
q zeal in watching the interests of this
district and of the people of Maine
which was never excelled by any man.
No better illustration of this Is to be had
than bis investigation of conditions in
which the Milliken regiment was being
kept. At the time, last winter, there
were all kinds of rumors aflost. Con-
gressman White did not accept these,
but went to Charlotte, n. c., and visited
the regiment.
he made personal Investigation, ate
with the boys and put in considerable
time with them. He found out BY q
first hand "look around" just how they
were cared for, and then, knowing how
interested Maine was, he gave careful
and minute statement to the press OF
this state. He told what was bad and,
with the natural characteristic of the
man to be fair, praised that which was
good. As q result of this the home
folks knew the truth. That they ap-
preciated IL was clear from the CON-
ments made upon Mr.. Whites letter. In
this letter he neither minimized the
good nor exaggerated the bad.
Shortly after this investigation by Mr..
White the Milliken regiment was trans
ferred to Spartanburg, s. C., where a
much more satisfactory condition exist
ed
Throughout the Second District there
are hundreds Of parents and wives OF
men in the service who have q keen
appreciation of how gladly the congress
man from this district interests himself
in their behalf. These are cases where
there have been difficulties and delays
In the payment of soldiers allotments to
dependents through the War Risks H.
sursnce Bureau. Mistakes in preparing
the papers and similar errors were re.
sponsible. Immediatsly;s case Of this
kind was called 60 Mr.. Whites notice
he gave 10 his personal attention. Only
those interested know of his work in these
matters. He has never mentioned one
of these cases. Had he deemed Ii
proper, which he has not, he could
have prepared list which would have
been startling.
ton and in touch with such matters have
knowledge Of the number of cases of
delay In payment of soldiers sllot-
ments. They are not numbered by
hundreds, but by thousands. This is
not criticism OF the War Risk Insur-
snce division of the government. When
one stops 10 think of the rapidity With
which this bureau had to be
organized, of what il means to register
and prepare the papers for mil
lions of men, the wonder 10 not
that there have been delays and mis-
takes, but that the number is not thrice
what II has been. Mr.. White has re-
garded each Of these cases as personal
matter, as one which must have prompt
and immediate personal looking after.
He has given this and hundreds of persons
i'm the district can testify TO the efficiency
of bis efforts.
Recently there has been an attempt to
show that Mr.. White opposed govern
ment control of the railroads. he did
nothing of the kind. He endorsed and
supported the measure. With many
other members of congress, both Demo
Gratis and Republicans, there were
features Of the railroad control bill
which be considered ill-advised. From
Commission, . part OF the United States
Government, has bad charge of the
making Of railroad rates for interstate
traffic. The railroad control bill took
this rate making from the commission
and placed It in the hands of the director
OF railroads. Many congressman deem
cd this unwise. The majority Of con-
gress, however, felt 10 best to make the
change and Congressman White accept
ed their judgment, % did the other
members who had opposed the change.
Mr.. White voted for the railroad control
bill, 10 exactly the Same form that it 10
now Law, az he has oil war measures.