The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1918-09-06
BOTH HOUSE AND SENATE SAY
THEY ARE EXPEDITIONS WITH
WAR MEASURES.
ONE REASON FOR CRITICISM
All Boys Schools Now Fitting Pupils
To Become officers-Senators Who
Support Suffrage Resent White
House Demonstrations.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

SlnuatlOGS mat 1t is in any sense a
Stacker i'm the matter of legislation for
carrying on the war. From time TO
time prominent men in both houses
take occasion to deny the imputation
that war work or war preparation has
been In any way impeded by failure
of congress to act promptly in passing
bills demanded by the administration.
Whenever senator or representa-
tive speaks on this subject he usually
takes occasion to review the war leg
islation of congress since il was called
together April 2, 1917. very remark
able array of bills can be presented
under such conditions, for congress
during that time has not passed much
legislation that did not have some
thing to do with the war.
Speaker Clark is one of the most
vigorous defenders of congress, but he
devotes his time particularly to the
house of representatives. He and some
other leaders in the house cannot fore
go the pleasure they take I'm jabbing
the senate on such occasions and
pointing out how unlimited debate in
the senate tends to delay congression-
al action. On the other hand such SEN
ators as Reed of Missouri and Cum
minis of Iowa point out that nothing
more than legitimate debate which
tends to the Improvement of legislation
has been INDUCED in by the senate In
the consideration of war measures.
One reason why congress Is criti-
cized whenever delays are noted is be-
cause widespread impression pre-
walls in many editorial Offices through
out the country that all delays in
Washington are due to congress. This
idea has been fostered by congression-
al critics, and besides there is n nat
ural tendency to support the admins
tration rather than congress when dis
cussng events and happenings in
Washington. Then it is far easier, and
perhaps much safer, for editors who
feel the desire to take n crack at
somebody to nit collective crowd
like congress rather than somewhat
limited circle like the administration.
One effect of the war has been to
make every boys school military
school. A glance at the advertise
ments of various schools shows that In
every state military instruction and
drill are included as q part of the
course. Before the war there were
quite number of schools that special
lied in military matters and boys who
graduated from them were ready for
military duty, and a great many of
fhntfN hayn
in the army. 1t now appears that
every military school is TO fit young
men to be officers in the army.
During the recent discussion on the
latest woman suffrage demonstration
In front of the White House Senator
Thomas of Colorado limited Mt a posi-
bic change of attitude by senators who
now advocate the suffrage amendment.
Nothing Of that sort Is likely to oc-
cur, but 1t Is evident that a great num-
Der of senators supporting the amend
ment seriously objected to the demon
stration and criticism Of the president.
In his last campaign Senator Thomas
knew what IL was to have this same
suffrage contingent against him. For
some reason they went into his state
and tried to defeat him, although he
had been a consistent supporter of
suffrage for a quarter of century.
Besides lot Of important business
to transact, the senate has stacked up |
before It several days of eulogies for |
departed senators. Seven senator's |
have died since the beginning of the |
present year. They were: Newlands,
Nevada; Brady, Idaho; Hughes. New |
Jersey; Husting, Wisconsin; Brous-
sard, Louisiana Stone, Missouri TILL |
man, South Carolina. There will be |
considerable to say about such men
as Stone, Tillman and Newlands, as |
they had attained q very prominent |
place in congress.
Americans turned the tide on |
the western front. No official in !
authority in Washington will give
public expression to that declaration
because Ii might be offensive to our al
lies. 1t is a fact they all believe, and |
probably accounts for the earnest wish |
which has been heard expressed so fire.
quently of late that we had three
times the number Of American troops |
In France that are now available, In
order that the tide which has been
turned might quite overwhelm the
Huns. There Is no reason why our nj
lies should be offended at even an off,
cial expression to the effect that the
Americans have turned the tide on the
western battle front, for the others |
won undying fame and glory during |
the four years that they have held the |
greatest military force ever known and
prevented Germany from over-running |
the world.
AS long as time endures there will '
be praise enough for the valor Of
French, English, Canadians, Austral- |