The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1918-10-25
UNITY OF ACTION AT
CAPITOL ESSENTIAL

"Unity IF action in Washington is
as essential now as unity of military
command in France"
This is the keynote of the Demo-
cratic Congressional campaign, as
sounded by Chairman Scott Ferris, of
| the Democratic Congressional Com
mittee. He is calling attention TO the
record of the War Congress to prove
his assertions that, as Democrats
| have supported the Administration,
Democrats should be relied upon in the
next Congress.
"The Democratic party will ask the
return of Democratic Congress in
the forthcoming campaign on its rec
ord in support of the President and
the war;" said Mr.. Ferris. claims
of Republican leaders that the cleo
ton Of a Republican Congress is
necessary to insure vigorous prose-
cution of the war fall before the facts.
"fhe Federal Reserve, Farm Loan,
Agricultural Extension, Tariff Com
mission, and other laws enacted by
Democratic Congress put the country
on a stable basis before the war be-
gan. And Democratic support of war
measures has vitalized the whole war
program.
1.-The Shipping Board Bill, three
war revenue measures and, indeed, the
war resolution itself, were put
through over stubborn opposition by
the minority.
The Shipping Board, whose value
is now appreciated by the whole coun-
try and by all the Allies of America,
was held up for two years--lacking
only 81 days-by Republican opposi-
ton. That is a chapter in the history
of war preparation and foresight the
Republicans now would like the coun-
try to forget.
''The Shipping Bill was introduced |
at the behest of President Wilson in |
September, 1914. He then foresaw,
as every one now realizes, that an
abundance Of ships would be abso-
lutely essential not only to take care |
of Americas overseas commerce in |
times of peace, but to transport our
armies and supplies to Europe if Ger
many forced us. as she ultimately |
did, into the world war.
The original shipping bill was
passed by the House in January, 1915,
not with Republican aid, but despite |
Republican opposition. 1t went to the
Senate where it was killed by the now
memorable Republican filibuster con-
Quoted up to nearly the very hour
that Congress expired by Constitu-
tional limitation in March Of 1915.
Reintroduced the next session, it
was August of 1916 before Republi-
can opposition finally was conquered
by the Democrats and the important
written into law.
1.-THE ship bill was opposed by 100
and only l Democrat in
the House, and by q Republicans and
no Democrats in the Senate.
81 mention this as a single instance.
Dozens of war measures could be
cited to show how Democratic support
and Democratic support alone, has
Kept the Administrations war pro-
gram moving. The three great reve-
nue. bills Of 1916, 1917 and 1918 were
opposed by many Republicans on par
.isan grounds. Had they not been
by the Democrats the Ad-
would have been without
'unds to prepare for and carry on the
var. II
Republican leaders seek to make
IN issue of their support of the Sc
ective Service Act. AS a matter of
act, the opposition to the original L
lraft measure was negligible, only
"A Republicans and Democratic Rep
esentatives out of 435, and Republi- c
AN and Democratic Senators out of I
rs voting against il" {