Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1918-10-11
DEMOCRATIC CONGREssAEEN
AND THEIR WAR RECORDS

Occasionally these days you hear
democrats say that the people. re-
gardless Of politics. should vote the
democratic ticket this year in order
to show their loyalty 10 the national
administration and its war program.
These statements are made either
through ignorance Of the real condi-
tions or else on account OF a lapse OF
memory as to the number OF leading
democrats in congress. who have not
onyl not led in the fight against the
administration war program. but
who actually have vigorously oppos-
ed the presidents plans. The list Is
formidable one, and nearly every one
of them is a candidate for reelection.
and what is more. they are being
supported by the democratic national
congressional committee, presumably
on the ground of their loyalty to the
democratic party.
1t is true that some republican
congressman have also opposed some
OF the presidents war measures, but
the real truth OF the matter IL. that
If the leading republicans In con-
gress had not stood loyalty by the
president several Of the most impor-
tant war measures would have failed
Of passage. particularly the draft law.
Here are the names of the promi-
nent democrats in the house who
have opposed the principal war meas
ures:
Champ Clark, democratic speaker
OF the house Of representatives. was
the vigorous opponent OF the draft
law; he left the speakers chair and
made bitter speech denounming con-
scription and asserting that con-
script soldier was on the same basis
as a convict, in the opinion of the
people of his state.
Claude Kitchin, democratic leader
in the house, chairman of the ways
and means committee, who voted
against the declaration OF war,
against the Kahn CONSUMPTION
amendment, for the Mckenzie amend
ment, and who has been Quarreling
almost continuously with Secretary
McAdoo about the war tax pro-
gram. 1t might be added that MIR.
Kitchin also voted for the amend
ment not to draft any one below 81,
without which an adequate army
could not be raised.
Chairman Webb, OF the important
judiciary committees who did not
vote on the war resolution, who voted
for the Mckenzie amendment and
who also Is reported to have voted to
make the minimum draft age 81.
Frank Clark of Florida, chairman
of the pork barrel public buildings
and grounds committee, who voted
against CONSUMPTION, for the McKen.
zie amendment and who tried to put
an odium on the draft men by offer.
ing an amendment to the draft bill
allowing a period of time for young
men to volunteer before beng draft
ed.
Dent, chairman OF the house mill
tary committee, who has recently op
posed almost every proposal OF thu
war department and who Is persons
non grata to the military authorities
because of his work on military bills
representatives Fields OF Ken
lucky, Gordon of Ohio, Shallenberge
. of Nebraska, and Nichols of Soutl
Carolina, who have teamed Will
Chairman Dent in opposing the de
mands of the war department and II
fighting against conscription and 70
: the Mckenzie amendment.
4 Ben johnson of Kentucky, chair
man of the important committee 0
the District OF Columbia, who oppos
ed the Kahn draft amendment an
was for the Dent motion 70 recon
init the man power bill, equivalen
to the Mckenzie amendment
Finnis Garrett OF Tennessee. men
Der of the rules committee and sol
of democratic whip Of the house, VIII
opposed the Kahn amendment an
who voted for the Dent motion to II
commit the man power bill.
Moon of Tennessee, chairman
= the postoffiee committee, who did NJ
vote on the Kahn amendment an
who voted for the Dent motion
reeommit the man power bill.
pou Of North Carolina. chairma
of the rules committee, second mo-
important In the house, who vote
against the Kahn amendment an
for the Dent motion to recommf.
Representative Rainey OF IliinoI
! and Hull OF Tennessee, prominei
J member OF the ways and means con
? mittee, who voted for the Dent M
ton. Mr.. Hull also voted again
3 CONSUMPTION.
Small of North Carolina, charms
of the rivers and harbors eommitte
who voted for the Dent motion.
Hefiin of Alabama, who, to hei
him tell IT, Is the appointed spoke
]. man of the administration. voted +
the Dent motion.