The Colville examiner. [volume] (Colville, Wash.) 1907-1948, 1918-08-10
CONGRESSMAN
SPEAKS HERE
G. c. DILL TELLS LARGE AUD
IENCE ABOUT WAR PROBLEMS
OF PRESENT AND FUTURE
Discusses Attacks Made Upon Him by
Press and Financial Interests of
the Fifth District

That Colville's interest in Congress-
man c. c. Dill's candidacy overshad-
ows that of any of his competitors in
the congressional race, was demon
strated by the audience which greeted
him at the Colville theater Tuesday
night, when AGA people listened to his
recital of war accomplishments by our
country, the problems of the present
and the future, and the facts which
must be faced in the selection of
congressman for this district. His
audience was approximately four times
that of Judge J. Stanley Webster, who
is one of the candidates on the repub-
lican ticket, and IL times that of his
opponent V. 7. Tustin on the DEM
ocratic ticket, who have spoken here
recently.
To what degree an attendance at a
meeting can determine the voting
strength of candidate would be fu-
tile to predict. Congressman Dill has
always been favorite with Colville
audiences, and holds the record for
size of audience accorded political
visitors. His personal acquaintance
with great part of the people has of
itself been sufficient in times past to
draw an attendance. And in this
campaign, in which the congressman
has been so bitterly attacked by news
papers and individuals, it is not
strange that he should continue to be
eagerly heard by all.
Mr. Dill's statements regarding the
magnificent accomplishment in the
war on the part of this nation were
punctuated at various times by the
injection of the American phrase
"when we win this war;" and his ex-
planation of when the war will end
was that the end would come with the
end of the military autocracy of Eu-
rope, and not before.
The last part of his remarks were
upon the attacks which have been
made upon him for more than a year,
namely, the charges of unpatriotism,
failure to support the president, and
being drag upon the administration
conduct of the war. To these charges
he answered that out of 149 war
measures which have passed since the
declaration of war, he supported all.
One which he did not support was the
original vote to declare war, his state
ment being he had promised from
that same theater platform that he
would not vote for war unless in case
of invasion or as a result of refer
endum vote, and when confronted by
the question Of following the presi-
dent, he had to break either his prom
Use to vote against war or the prom
ise to always support the president.
The president not having promised
the people to keep from war was able
to advocate a declaration without
breaking any promise. But Dill had
to~keep his promise to his constitu-
ents, and he did it, but following that
vote he had thrown his whole efforts
to winning the war, and the Congress
sional Record could serve as proof of
all his actions.
The charge that he voted against
the selective draft was shown to be a
falsehood, as he had favored that plan,
and the negative vote which had been
charged to him was in the matter of
an amendment to the original bill
The Spokesman-Review, Chronicle
and w. H. Cowles were given a rea-
sonable amount of attention, Mr.. Dill
stating that the reason these interests
were arrayed against him was be-
cause of his introduction and advo-
cacy of a tax bill which would raise
more revenue from the incomes of the
rich, leaving less for the common peo-
pie to pay. He stated that any can
didate was in honor bound to favor
the causes Of those who gave him the
election to congress, and that as he
had never been aided by the financial
interests of the district, he felt that
they had no special favors coming
from him, but that the common peo- /.
pie who had twice elected him were
entitled to everything within his pow
er to give.
The address as a whole was not an
effort at oratory, but more that of
plain statement Of facts, and some
wondered at the absence of the SPELL
binding clamaxes which have previous
ly marked his speeches in Colville.
Mr.. Dill stated afterward that he was
not making an oratorical campaign,
but was trying to state as many facts
as he could throughout the district in
the short time he has here during re-