Omaha daily bee., 1918-08-29
Washington Correspondence

The defeat OF senator James N. dt aaihaAA
for denomination in the primaries held IN
Mississippi on Tuesday last leaves IN the
senate but six of the original II senator's who
Conducted fibuster in 1917 against the
armjpg of merchant ships and for their con-
duct we're called the "willful twelve by
President Wilson. Because of the fact that
Vardaman was one of the "willful twelve. .
and has, since the entrance OF the United
States into the war, opposed all war meas
ures his defeat by Representative Harrison,
a stanch supporter Of the president and the
war, is especially pleasing to the president
and his followers.
There has been a good deal of talk re-
Gently in Washington, as elsewhere, concern
ing the interference Of President wilson III
the local congressional campaigns. Most
democratic members Of both the senate ana
house, especially those whose records on the
McLemore resolution and the declaration OF
war and other administration war measures,
were in support of the president, contend
that the president has been perfectly justified
in writing letters to the various states giving
his views on the records OF the representa-
tyes and senator's from those states.
The president is being held responsible
by the people for the winning OF the war
much more so than their congressman, de-
clared a member OF the house the other day
This being the case, the president has per
| feet right to tell the people that their sena'
| tor or representative, as the case may be, Il
not giving the administration the support Il
| should have in time OF war. VI course, some
contend that the people follow the work o.
| their congressman and can take the proper
action at the polls Granting that, it is JUS
as we'll that the president let the people
know that the winning of the war can be &C
complished more readily if congress give:
| the administration its united support"
| While the majority of the republican
members of both the senate and house be
lieve that the president should not interfere
in congressional elections, they are not saying
so for publication. On the other hand, ther'
are some republican members that approve
the letter-writng campaign which the presi
dent has instituted. Many republicans haV
been the benefciaries as result OF the presl
dents action, being given the democrati
nomination in number OF instances. 70
example, Representative Hicks of the Firs
New York congressional district, has beef
nominated by the democrats. In this cas-
the president did not write letter indorsln
Mr.. Hicks, but his strong support OF, tn
president was sufficient for the democrats t
law aside their partisanship and indorse hi
candidacy for another term.
A number of democrats have had thei
road to a reelection made easier, being nom
mated by the republicans as we'll as the dem
ocrats. Consequently, the only disgruntle
members of the house and senate over pres
dental interference are the men whose rec
ords are not Al on the McLemore resolutlo
and other war measures, together with teN
members whose records meet the presder
tal requirements, but are OF the opinion ths
the president should keep his hands Off
Speculation now among the members {
the house and senate all centers around tn
question as to whether the president WI
carry his fight into the general congression;
election, which will take place as soon as tn
primaries are completed. AS long as I'll
president has deemed it proper to oppos
certain members in the primaries there al
any number of members, mostly republican
who hope he will take similar action in ii
general election. They see in this a meal
of getting the president to support numb
OF republicans, present members seeking
reelection, whose records are all right. Iht
contend that the president should do tt