The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-05-10
Capper Looks for Congressional
N. G. Investigation.
Removal of General Martin
May Be Taken Up.
LONG SESSION is EXPECTED
Kansas Senator Has State Sem
timent on the L. of n.
He VIII Leave for Washington
Sunday Afternoon.

Z Congress may investigate the action
Of the war department in ordering the
removal of Gen. Charles l. Martin on
the eve of the Argonne battle. In
vestigation may also be made as to the
rejection for overseas service of Col.
Wilder S. Metcalf, Col. P. NJ. Hoising-
ton and other Kansas National Guard
officers That was the intimation to-
day of Senator Arthur Capper, who
leaves Topeka Sunday to attend the
opening of the special session of con-
gress.
The new United States senator from
Kansas declared he believed the SEN
ate would promptly ratify the peace
treaty, that it would give it's approval
to the league of nations and would go
deeply into investigation of military
operations and expenditures of govern
nent funds. While Senator Capper
did not state that he proposed to urge
the Martin Metcalf- oisington investi-
CATION, he made it clear that such in
vestigation would doubtless come dur
ing the special session.
Expects Long Session.
Senator Capper expects congress to
remain in almost constant session for
at least a year.
There may be a short recess at the
holiday period or just after the open
ing of the regular session in Decem-
ber," said the new senator from Kan
sas.- But that will be about the only
chance 1 shall have to come home in
al least a year. We are going to
Washington prepared. for a year or
more of steady, hard work"
kInvestiga of the removal of Kan
sas officers will be only incidental and
a link in chain of congressional
probes.
ga great deal of time will doubtless
be spent in the investigation of the
military system and among these
things may be an investigation as to
the removal of General Martin, Coils.
Metcalf and Hoisington and other ma
tipnal guard officers. The feeling
against the regular army is very in
tense in many places and l do not
doubt that some rather startling revel-
ations may be made as to influences
used to displace national gHardsmen."
Senator Capper does not believe in
a big regular or standing army, he is
opposed to compulsory military train
ing and wants military system of the
nation handled thru the national
guards as extensively as conditions will
permit.
National Guard Booster.
81 believe we might have a little
larger regular army than before the
war" said the senator, but am OPP
posed to large standing armies. Pos
sibly an army of 100000 men might
be alright. In the main, tho, am in
favor of carrying on our national de-
Tense work thru organizations similar
to the national guards insofar as prac-
ticable.'
That the new congress which meets
May 10 in special session will ratify
the League of nations provisions is
Senator Capper's belief. The former
governor is strongly in favor of the
provisions of the newly drafted cove
nant and has written and received
hundreds of letters on the issue.
There is no doubt in my mind,Y the
senator said, that the senate will
promptly ratify the peace treaty and
will also approve the league of ma
tions covenant. I believe the redraft-
ed plan is generally satisfactory, altho
that does not mean there will not be
the strongest sort of opposition when
the policy is considered. Personally
I shall support the covenant and be-
lieve a majority of the senate will do
the same"
Has Kansas Sentiment.
Letters were sent to all labor and
farmer organizations by Senator Cap
per IN an effort to gain information
as to sentiment.
Most of the letters from labor or
CARNATIONS and farmers and women's
organizations favored the league"
said Senator Capper Returns from
mercantile and manufacturing inter
ests and professional men showed
about an even division on the issue"
Senator Capper will leave for
Washington Sunday afternoon. Will
liam Souders. the senator's private
secretary, will go to Washington
some time next week. Senator Cur
tbs. Republican whip and slated as
president pro tenn of the new senate
has been IN Washington several weeks
where he has been in conference with
party leaders regarding pending APP
preparation measures.