The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-01-21
Senator Stone-Of Original
s.Kaiser's Dozen'-Is Bitter.
Evidently Fears Roosevelt VIII
Run for President.
SMELLS A REPUBLICAN PLOT
Attacks on Govt Efficiency
Political CamOuflage.
Flaws Penrose, Chairman. Will
cox and Whole G.. o. p. Party.

Washington, Jan. 21.-Characteriz-
ing former President Roosevelt as the
most potent agent the kaiser has IN
America" and the most seditlous man
of consequence in America. senator
Stone, addressing the senate To-Day
charged that Republican leaders are
engaged in a studied effort to make
politics out of the war. Their object Is
to take the government over into
their own hands, by partisan criti-
cism of the conduct of the war, he de-
clared.
Senator stones address. carefully
prepared, the first or political signif-
icance made in congress since the
United States entered the war and re-
garded as the forerunner of bitter par
/; tisan strife, excorlated partsansh1p IN
the war. Besides Colonel Roosevelt
the Missouri senator named Chairman
WILCOX of the Republican national
committee and Senator PenroSe among
Republican leaders as his Witnesses
to the political plot he alleged. In
vestigations by congress of the war
operations, Senator Stone also de-
clared, have almost entirely been
launched by Republicans and adroit-
ly exploited for partisan purposes.
Citing statements of the Republican
leaders regarding the political plans
and editorials of Colonel Roosevelt,
which he said are "villainous screers,"
published for money, Senator Stone
declared:
Rooseveit-War Obstructionist
''On my responsibility as a senator
charge that since our entrance into the
war, Roosevelt by his attacks on the
government has been a menace and
obstruction to the successful prosecu-
ton of the war
The only possible effect of these
widely published utterances of this
man. said Senator Stone has been
as they were designed to be, to dis
credit and bring the present govern
| ment into public disfavor and weaken
its hold on popular confidence. That
seems to be the Rooseveltian standard
of patriotism"
Similar utterances made by less
powerful citizens, Senator Stone as
serted, would subject them to prosecu-
| ton for disloyalV
! OF all men," the Missouri senator
continued, Roosevelt is most respon-
sible for what he den ounces He does
his propaganda he throws a deceptive
his Propaganda he throws a deceptive
political camouflage. 1 charge that
+ Theodore Roosevelt, whether willingly
or out of sheer Madness don't
KNOWS the most potent agent the
kaiser has in America I cannot es-
cape the belief that this exceptional
colonel, who has played so many
I games of questionable politics, is now
playing another game of his particular
brand for very great stake
The Republican plans he cited, Sena-
tor Stone said, have been ''adroitly
directed
: All Senators in ..Plot..'
! Many, if not all Republican sena-
/ tors, ne asserted, ARE acting in mani
fest concert with dominant Republi-
! can leaders thruout the country to
nf he
proof of Republican partisan plans.
Senator Stone. declaring that there is
no need to try to fool each other or to
fool the country. declared that con-
gressionai Investigations of the war
proposed by Republicans were signi-
ficant
Calling attention to the election next
fall of the entire house membership
and many senators, Mr.. Stone said two
years later the presidential election
would follow.
Here is a chance" he proceeded.
'for the dominating Republicans of
/ the country-Some of them, perhaps
more than one of them seeking to pro-
! mote in his immediate personal glori-
fication, and others acting on a larger
scale to promote a party advantage
| to strike hard to turn down this ad-
ministration and take the government
| into their own hands That fight is
on. 1t is being played before our very
eyes
There are various elements of dis
content in the country Their poten-
tiality as political equations is recog-
nized by ALL The natural disposition
of these discontented elements will be
to strike blindly at the party in power.
I Therefore, in a way. Republicans ally
themselves with these discordant e1e-
ments of unrest
.sHarp'' on Blundcrs.
But 1 especially protest against
and denounce the effort put forward
under the guise of patriotism to dis
parage this congress and the present
administration to excite a wider feel
ing of discomfort and lack of conf
dence, and to spread the poison OF
this impression broadcast. Plainly,
this sort of movement is afoot'
AS proof of his charges which SEN
ator Stone said, he presented delib-
erately and regretfully the Repub-
licans are "harping'' on alleged ad-
ministrative blunders and stalking
their political fortunes upon their
criticisms.
First, l present the Hon. Boise
Penrose," Senator Stone continued
who as a great leader of the fore
most Republican, state, very properly
occupies the front seat in the Re
publican national sanhedrin."
Citing alleged statements of Senator
Penrose, that the Republicans leaders
were planning to demand an account.
ing of the conduct of the war Sen
ator Stone said that Senator Pen.
roses justifica ton for his partisan
outburst was over appointment of tbs
Democratic grocerymen in Pennsyf
l (Continued on Page Two1