The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1918-07-19
WHITLEY ANSWERS
VICIOUS ATTACKS
CHARGES FOLK Is lNSlNcERE
AND REVIEWS WILSON'S :.
PEACE EFFORTS.
SENATOR'S WAR ACTIVITIES
"Quit Sympathizing With Ger
man Cause" and Gave
Any War Service.

Senator Whitley has issued the fol-
lowing reply to Gov. Folk:
The vicious and unwarranted attack
made upon me by my opponent in his
speech in Southeast Missouri, quoted
in Sunday papers, creates a situation
which l deprecate. To my mind it is
regretable that he should seek to con-
duct this campaign on plane of mis-
representation and distortion of facts.
II seems to me that when the country
is making such tremendous sacrifice
Ia defense of cause that is upper
most in the minds of the people there
should be no dissension created, espe-
ctally for purely selfish purposes.
If were physically able l should
not be here resenting the vicious as
saults which have been made upon me
for the purpose Of tearing down a
reputation that comes from genera
tons of patriotic ancestry and devoted
service. would be in the trenches.
From the declaration Of war have
been engaged in war activities; al.
though have never heard of my op-
ponent participating in any war &C.
tiVities until he became a candidate
for the United States Senate. Now
he is seeking to attack my record and
my loyalty.
Endorsed Wilson's Policy.
The telegram of March s. 1917, is
incapable of the construction put upon
il by my opponent. The purport of
the telegram was to indorse the policy
of. President Wilson In his action to
avert the war That was perfectly
consistent with the campaign on
WulSu ht adu pCCA SleClCu Will thC
slogan HE kept US out of war"
When that campaign was conducted
Germany had overrun Belgium and
had been guilty Of all the atrocities
t which she now stands convicted be-
fore the world. The sinking of the
Lusitania had occurred before Presi-
dent Wilson had been reelected.
The President and Congress had not
seen fit on account of these acts to de-
clare war against Germany and the
people of the country in November,
1916, approved the policy of staying
out of the war in spite of what had
happened prior to that time.
No sane man in this country under
stands and no honest man would
charge that by keeping out of the war
to November, 1916, the President or
Congress or the citizens of this coun-
try approved the action of the German
government. in the invasion of Bel
GUM or the sinking Of the Lusitania.
We had, nevertheless, not made those
circumstances the occasion of enter
ing the war.
The President delivered his famous
Peace Without Victory" speech on
Jan. %, 1917. On Feb. rs, 1917, the
President delivered another message
to Congress. This was after we had
broken diplomatic relations with Ger
many. In this address the President
said: 1T Is devoutly to be hoped that
II will not be necessary to put armed
forces anywhere into action. The
American people do not desire 1t and
our desire is not different from theirs.
I am sure that they will understand
the spirit in which am now acting
the purpose ! hold nearest my heart
and would wish to exhibit in every
thing do. am anxious that the peo-
pie OF the nations at war also should
understand and not mistrnst US. /
hope that ! need give no further
proofs and assurances than I have al
ready given throughout nearly three
years Of anxious patience that am
friend Of peace and mean to preserve
It for. America 50 long as | am able, !
am not now proposing or contemplat-
Ing war or any steps that need lead
to it,s s.y t,,,a
a. This was 10 days before the tele-
gram was signed. In his inaugural ad-
dress delivered the 9Th Of March. 1917.
the President reiterated the same SEN
timents expressed in his message of
Feb. 20, and in addition he said: 1--WE
stand firm in armed neutrality since 1t