The Oskaloosa herald., 1918-12-26
MANN, LIKE OTHER STATESMEN
HAS MADE BITTER ENEMIES
BY HIS SARCASM.
SHERMAN HAS NOT FORGIVEN
Republican Leader Once Called Him
a wo-Spot"-Ehorts Are Being
Made to Maintain a Strong Military
Organization.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.


Itics. James G. Blaine referred to Ros-
coe Conkling as a "strutting turkey
cock" and it is possible that that re-
mark cost Jim Blaine the presidency.
Thomas b. Reed would rather utter
4 sarcastic remark than make friend
and it is probable that he made more
enemies by cutting phrases than any
other man that served in congress dur
ing his time. 1t may be that these re-
marks accounted for the greater pOpu-
larity of Mckinley. when both were
contestants for the presidential nomi-
nation.
And now it appears that James r.
Mann, who has frequently been men,
toned for the Republican presidential
nomination, once uttered q remark
which may stand IN the way of his
advancement. Back in 1916 when
there were eight or ten prominent
men seeking the Republican nomina-
tiOn, Mann referred to Senator Sher.
man of Illinois, then a candidate, rs a
"twO-spOt." That the remark still
rankles was shown by The manner In
which Sherman handled Mann in "A
recent speech in the senate. Not since
the days of Tom Reed has there been
anybody in congress quite so prone to
make stinging remarks as Jim Mann.
Day after day since the president
departed for Europe those who have
been In the habit of putting forth or
interpreting views Of the president
have been asserting with gerat posi-
tiveness that he is against milltariSm
and that she will make that cardinal
feature of the coming peace negotia-
tiOnS. At the same time efforts are un-
abated here to provide very strong
military organization. The estimates
for a standing army run anywhere
from 100000 to 100000 men and there
is still Il determination to have uni
versal military training. While reduc-
tiOns are being made in the navy.
there is still a disposition to maintain
Il very strong sea force.
1t Is going to be hard TO maintain
large military and naval establish
ment by the volunteer system. If the
idea put forth by one of the English
statesmen prevails, that the new peace
treaty should contain provision
against COnscriptiOn, possibly the mill
tarism problem will be solved, as it
would be very difficult to raise large
armies for anything save defensive
purposes, except by COnscriptiOn.
A new side of the applause question
developed in the senate recently when
Senator Williams of Mississippi was
making a speech. He was interrupted
by Senator Sherman of Illinois, and
his retort to Sherman caused much
laughter and applause in the galleries.
Vice President Marshall ordered the
dOOrkeepers to clear the galleries If
it happened again, and was backed up
by Williams himself.
''In addition to that, ladies and gen.
tlemen in the galleries." said the sena.
tor. Il desire to say that applause
always bothers me; that it always
worries me-" After that there was no
more interruption from the visitors.
There was some slight exchange of
pleasantries when Chairman Sherley
of the house appropriations committee
introduced a resolution providing for
the payment of full December salaries
10 members and employees on the I'D
of the month. Minority Leader Mann
commented jOcosely on the system
which has been customary; that is,
10 pay the employees before Christ
mas day so that they can spend the
money during Christmas week and be
hard up in January" The resolution
also provided that all employees hired
for the last session were to receive full
pay for the month of November, al
though the session ended on the DIST.
Congress treats its employees well,
even if it does bully them occasion
ally.
The first appearance of Congress
man Hefiin of Alabama after the cleo
tiOns served, as was expected, to let
loose the usual flood of "God pity the
poor old Republican party" oratory. In
the course of this speech eX-PreSident
Taft was referred to as ''the greatest
Republican now living" his greatest
work, to judge from Heflin's remarks
being his endorsement of President
Wilson's trip to Europe. However,
the Republicans rather had the laugh
on Hefifn, for he swore by all the gods
just before election time that Demo
cratic majority of 40 would be return
ed to the house. u
There is one department Of oratory
In which Senator Lewis of Illinois
stands out above every man in con-
gress, and that is his ability to use
long and complicated sentences with
out ever losing the thread of his
thought. Lewis has that faculty which
many members absolutely lack. 1t Is
almost Impossible to rattle him and he
never has to use short, Jerky sentences
to convey his Ideas.