Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-10-05
Congressman Focht
Suggests Leiby Should
Enlist
Washington, D. c.,
September 80, 1918.

-. ~,
September 30, 1918.
When Congressman Benjamin K Focht
was shown Senator Scott Leiby's statement
as published in Democratic Boss Vance Nc
Corrnick's Harrisburg NEWS of the 9th,
and his Harrisburg PATRIOT of the 28th,
the Congressman was 10th to discuss it until
after the Liberty Loan campaign, but yielded
from his purpose to the extent of making the
following observations:
'I cannot conceive that the distinguished
State Senator would undertake to prosecute
campaign of any such hypothesis, unless he
believes, as do most of the southern Demo-
Gratis who are in the saddle here, that the only
patriots anywhere are Democrats, and the
only fit Congressman are rubber stamp legis-
latorS. Mr.. Leiby's announcement is some
what on the order Of the old-tirne newspaper
blackguardisrn which invariably brought par
Elephants well-deserved defeat. It is the type
of campaigning characteristic of the Demo-
cratic papers published in the Seventeenth
District by Government office holders, which
is usually too absurd to seriously countenance.
That Mr.. Leiby made these statements would
be beyond belief but for the recollection of the
cruel exaggeration and Misrepresentation of
the public record Of that fine old gentleman
and Civil War veteran, Senator Martin, which
secured Leiby's election by fluke in 1916.
Thus it seems to come easy for Mr.. Leiby to
refer to me in his announcement as possessed
of MEAN PARTISANS1IP AND MAR
ROWNESS OF SOUL
"Since the day war was declared have been
overwhelmed with work, looking after the
interests of the boys going to and at the front,
and their good folks at home, and at this time
have nothing further to say other than that
Leiby comes rather late with his warcry, mas
much as the war is nearing its end Never
theless, there is stin an opportunity for him
under the new draft law VOTED FOR
WAR AFTER DIP LOMACY HAD
FAILED AND SINCE THEN HAVE VOT-
ED FOR EVERY BILL GIVING ALL
POWER AND MONEY REQUIRED OR
ASKED FOR BY THE GOVERNMENT
TO SUCCESSFULLY PROSECUTE THE
WAR. AMONG THESE MANY BILLS
WAS ONE PROVIDING SIX HUNDRED
AND FORTY MILLIONS FOR AERO
PLANES! Now, if this war is not going fast
enough and is not bloody enough for Mr..
Leiby, he should enlist and at once go to
France and show Marshal Foch how to do it.
"It will be remembered how the late la
nented and beloved Colonel Thomas J. Stew
art enjoyed telling from the stump that he
should have entered the Civil War at it's begin
ming, for then it would soon have been over
The strife ended three days after the Colonel
joined his regiment. Here is suggestion for
Leiby, and its adoption would prove some
thing more worthy than his false ntimations
intended to discredit me.
Since I am well known from one end of
'the Seventeenth District to the other, I am
not concerned about the 'hand-picked' candi-
dates undignifed method of seeking seat in
Congress. The people in every township know
where have stood on all questions before the
war, they know where stand at this time.
and they know where will stand during the
great reconstruction period after the war.
when the interests of the soldier, the manu-
facturer, the farmer and the salaried men and
women and the laborer are at stake
Il must be excused from saying anything
further at this time, for deem it the duty
of all Americans to help make the Fourth
Liberty Bond Issue smashing success rather
than engage in political controversy