The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-01-23
FIGHT WILSON
IN The SENATE
Bill For War Cabinet Menace
to His Prestige.
ROOSEVELT TO LEAD BATTLE
Party Lines Drawn Taut as Result of
Stones caustie Speech-First Test
Tomorrow.

Stones caustic Speech-First Test
Tomorrow
Washington, Jan. 23.-President
Wilson has begun the most spectacu-
lar fight of the war for control Of
congress-
Battling against passage of Senator
Chamberlain's war cabinet" bill,
which would amount to congressional
recognition of the administrations AL
legged failure TO conduct its war plans
properly, the president is faced by
almost solid Republican opposition,
added to a few in his own party
To add zest to the battle Colonel
Theodore Roosevelt arrived to take
up the cudgel for the Chamberlain
measure. An editorial in the morning
papers under his signature preceded
arrival of his snow-blocked train. 1t
conveyed his determination to throw
his influence against the president.
1t insisted upon passage of the
Chamberlain bill $50 that we may
never again be caught utterly and
shamefully unprepared."
All factors in the pending struggle
have gone before the people for sup.
port.
President Wilson declared the legis-
lative measures designed to wrest
from him and Secretary Baker direct
administration of war work had not
even been brought to his attention Is
conferences; that they would delay
progress rather than hasten it, and
that Bakers plan of reorganization
was based on experience and, there
fore, equipped for successful opera.
ton
Accepting the presidents challenge,
Senator Chamberlain announced he
would make reply in the senate
within a few days to the charges
against him is the statement issued
by the chief executive.
"The president takes issue with the
truthfulness of my statements" said
Senator Chamberlain. "I believe that
l owe it to the country and to myself
to state the facts as they have been
disclosed by the investigation Of the
army"
Roosevelt, through his writings for
months, has been trying to swing pop
ular opinion against the administra-
tons conduct of the war. Today he
ID prepared personally to enter the
lists in an effort to bring about a
change
In the wake Of the bitter partisan
outbreak in the senate, during which
Senator Stone sharply criticized the
Republicans for injecting politics into
their war work, and was heatedly
answered. by Lodge and Penrose for
trying to stop criticism Of the presi-
dent" party lines were drawn taut.
The appearance Of Roosevelt has only
served to accentuate the bitterness OF
the Democrats vast majority of
them-at what they believe concert
ed plan to discredit the administra-
ton previous to the opening of the
fall congressional campaigns.
But a few Democrats are standing
behind Chamberlain In his conscien-
tious effort to improve what he be-
lieves to be faulty situation In the
war department. These, with the viz
tual solid Republican strength, will
make the fight for control Of the SEN
ate-for or against President Wilson
the most dramatic in its history.
The battle will open when the SEN
ate meets tomorrow. Senator Cham
berlain will carry the issue to oppon,
ents of the measure Immediately bv
calling up the bill for second reading
and reference to committee.