The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1919-02-28
STORM Of APPLAUSE
IN SENATE CHAMBER
Democratic Leader Scores
With Soldiers In
Galleries

Washington, Feb, 19,-Applause
which shattered every time-honored
rule and precedent of the United
States Senate, rang through the cham
Der this afternoon, when Senator
James A. Reed, of Missouri, in a
speech of fiery eloquence, demanded
that the American soldiers be return
ed to thir hons.
The applause, which started in A
section of the gallery largely filled
with soldiers in uniform was deafen-
ing. 1t was unlike anything ever
heard before within the staid pre-
cincts Of the Senate. 1t brought a re-
buke from Vice-President Marshall
a rebuke which was not administered.
however, until after the applause had
run its course.
The rule requiring the galleries to
be cleared when demonstrations of
this nature occur, was not envoked,
and the crowd remained until the end
of Senator Reeds speech. with occa-
sional silent manifestations of ap-
proval of what he said.
Should Demand Ships.
Senator Reed demanded that ships
be provided to bring the boys back
from France. He insisted that il this
government did not have the ships, IL
should compel Great Britain and
France to postpone their demands
long enough to allow the Americans
to be brought home. He declared
that the way to do this was to keep
England and France out of Ameri-
cas- trade centers until they complied
with this demand.
The immediate discharge of the
soldiers now in camps in the United
States was also demanded by Senator
Reed. and he criticized the little
heads Of the War Department" for
keeping the men in service when they
are needed at home and when their
parents are pleading for their re-
turn.
Senator Reed declared with We
hemence that il 1t were possible for
the United States to transport troops
TO Europe at the rate of 100000 a
when the seas were infested
with mines and submarines, it
should be possible to bring them
home at the same rate of speed. The
fault lay. he said, with England and
France, which have taken their ships
away to facilitate their own COM
merce.
The particular phrase in Senator
Reeds speech. which brought the out
burst of applause, was uttered in
answer to a question by Senator Lew
is, the majority whip. as to what
methods he would recommend for
compelling England and France to
give up their ships. Quick as
flash, pounding with his fists on the
desk before him, Senator Reed re-
Piled:
IF the senator wants to know |
will tell him what / would tell them
If | were running this business. In
stead of writing leagues of nations
With perpetual peace in them, instead
Of spending my time in talking about
some scheme that is to concern the
nf tho fut,ra mould ea,,
TO the gentlemen running those coun-
tries: i need some ships, l need them
now; | want you to give them to us.
believe that You will give them to
u.s."
And If they did not give them to
as, would see to ii that every bene-
iii and advantage they have in the
American market was taken away
he day after tomorrow
Senator Reed said that millions of
dollars are being wasted by keeping
he men in the service, instead of al
owing them to get back into profita-
Die industries. He pronounced il a
wrong to the army and a wrong to
he country. Hundreds of appeals
rom mothers. fathers and widows |
lave come to him. he said. asking for |
he return of their boys; these APP |
,eals, he declared, would melt a
leart of stone"
Continuing his criticism of War De-
'artment officers who are response
1T for the situation, Senator Reed de-
Jared the war was not won by the
Var Department, but by the
thousands of fathers and mothers of
america from whose firesides went
nut the boys who carried on the war
nd brought victory TO the American
ause."