Evening star., 1918-03-28
PARTISAN DEBATE IN
SENATE IS BITTER
Democrats and Republicans
in countercharges Of Po-
IiticaI and War Tactics.
PRESIDENT IS AssAILED

A partisan debate, more bitter than
any which has taken place in the Sen
ate between democrats and republi-
cans, since the war began, Droke out
late yesterday afternoon
Senator Williams of Mississippi dem
ocrat, accused the republicans OF play
ing politics in behalf of Representa-
tive Lenroot. candidate for the Senate
in Wisconsin. This aroused the repuo-
licans and leaders on both sides of the
chamber joined in the fray, Senator
Smoot, republican of Utah, charging
the President himself with using his
high office to further partisan ends
demand of Senator johnson OF
California, republican, yesterday for
..pitiless publicity regarding lack
of American airplanes and to the
assertion of Senator Lodge .sd od
people be told the truth about war con-
ditions. remarking that these speeches
were made on the most critical day OF
the German offensive.
.sWhile in the Wisconsin election be-
tween loyalists and disloyalists this
poisonous gas attack in the Senate was
made" said the Mississippi senator,
mot only on the republican side. but
followed up on the democratic side
\
to determine whether a man of luke
warm support of America and the al
lies or man always patriotic is to be
elected to the Senate"
Come From Lukewarm Source.
Asking if the coincidence Of the Sem
ate criticism was accidental" Senator
came from those who also have been
somewhat lukewarm" on American
questions.
Senator McCumber Of North Dakota
asked if Senator Williams was not un-
fair regarding his reference to Repre-
sentative Lenroot as being 1ukewarm,
stating he understood both Mr.. Lenroot
and Mr.. Davies. the democratic candi-
date. stand upon loyalty platforms OF
Americanism and that both ere pa
triotic.
Senator Williams replied that If he
was correctly informed Representative
Lenroot supported the embargo pro-
posal, the McLemore resolution and
voted against war with Germany.
Senator Smoot said that, as matter
of fact. Mr.. Lenroot voted for the war
resolution. and observed that several
democrats also voted for the McLemore
proposal.
Senator Williams deplored PARTISAN
ship in the war and said 'the repubii-
can party as whole had been patriotic
and true to the country"
RepuOllCdH Leader ddliluSer inter-
rupted to suggest that as Mr.. Davies
was not a member of Congress his at
titude could not be recorded on the Nc
Lemore resolution. He intimated that
Senator Williams would vote for any
candidate provided he was a democrat,
adding:
Il assume the Vice President is on the
stump in Wisconsin" /said Mr. CALM
ger, because Mr. Davies is a democrat,
Senator Curtis, republican whip" de-.
Tended Representative Lenroot He de-
cfared that the bureau of public infor-
nation has circulated the Wisconsin
representatives speeches as documents
of patriotism and loyalty and that
congressional records show war meas
ures have been supported by rs per cent
of the total republican membership and
that '75 per cent minus" of the demo-
Gratis had voted for them.
Senator Smoot declared that the re-
publicans had supported legislation
asked by the President although some
of it has been revolutionary and So
cialistic and in some cases uniustifiable
and unnecessary"
The Utah senator. contrasting re-
publican and democratic partisanship
declared all democrats directed their
Efforts to party advancement Presi-
dent Wilson. he said, has frankly
announced himself the leader of his
party.
NO man while occupying the White
House., the Utah senator proceeded,
has ever uttered, structures against
his political opponents as severe as
President Wilson in his Indianapolis
speech"