The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1918-10-11

icies, and that the Republican repre-
sentation in the Senate and House as
whole has DISTRACTED essential war
measures, Scott Ferris of the Demo-
cratic Congressional Campaign Com
mittee, recently authorized the state
ment that the Democratic party would
seek to retain control of Congress on
its records of support of the Presi-
dent and the war.
"Claims of Republican leaders that
the election Of a Republican Congress
is necessary to insure a vigorous pros
ecution of the war, fall before the
facts" said Ferris. "The record dis
closes that the Democrats of the Sem
ate and House have been the reliance
Of the administration on war meas
ures. The same record reveals that
the Republicans in Congress, viewed
as a whole, have been obstructionists.
Attitude Matter of Record.
at is not necessary to refer to the
recent attacks on the President and
his followers by Senator Sherman and
Representatives Rodenberg and Ma
son and others to convince the coun-
try that the Republican party, as at
present organized, is a party of oppo-
sition rather than party of support.
''In the face of recorded votes and
actions, it is idle for the Republican
leaders to assert that the Republican
minority in Congress has been con-
structive. The contrary is the case.
1t is likewise ridiculous for the Re-
publican spokesman to maintain that
they have shown more foresight than
the party in power. This record cam
not be disputed.
"The 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 entire war
program.
"Just as the Federal Reserve law,
the Tariff Commission act and other
measures were enacted over Republi-
can opposition, the Shipping Board
bill, three war revenue measures and,
indeed, the war resolution itself, were
put through over stubborn opposi-
ton by the minority.
Shipping Board Held Up
"The Shipping Board, whose value
now is 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.
1.-THE Shipping bill was introduced
at the behest of President Wilson in
September, 1914. He then foresaw,
as everyone 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 to Europe should Germany
force 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 de-
spite Republican opposition. 1t went
to the Senate, where it was killed by
the now memorable Republican fill
buster conducted up to nearly the very
hour that Congress expired by con-
stitutional limitation in March, 1915.
Reintroduced the next session, it was
August, 1916, before Republican op-
position finally was conquered by the
Democrats and the important meas
ure written into law.
"Will the Republican leaders now
deny that they held up the shipbuild-
ing program two years by these OBJ
structive tactics? They dare not, they
cannot, because the record furnishes
undisputable proof of the indictment.
1t was not because of Republican help,
but despite Republican opposition in
Congress, that the administration has
eclipsed the world in shipbuilding.
"The ship bill was opposed by 100
Republicans and only one Democrat
in the House and by 81 Republicans
and no Democrats in the Senate.
Many War Measures Opposed.
81 mention this as single instance.
Dozens of war measures could be cit
ed to show how Democratic support,
and that alone, has kept the admins
tration's war program moving. The
three great revenue bills of 1916, 1917
and 1918 were opposed by many Re-
publicans on partisan grounds. Had
they not been supported by the Demo-
Gratis, the administration would have
been without funds to prepare for and
carry on the war. With the elections
approaching, the Republicans for the
time being are rallied to the support
of the administration, as witness the
unanimous passage last week by the
House of the pending revenue bill.
This is in striking contrast to the Re-
publican record on previous revenue
bills.
Republican leaders seek to make an
issue of their support of the selective
service act. AS a matter of fact, the
opposition to the original draft meas
ure was negligible, only "a Republic
can and Democratic Representatives
out of 435, and 8 Republican and DEM
ocratic Senators out of So voting
against it. The supplementary draft
act was passed in both branches vir-
tually without opposition.
at is significant that the Republi-
can leaders in their precampaign
statements do not attempt to analyze
tha vafac on tho 1uar rnna c,lrar 0ape-