The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1919-09-04
REP. WINCO HANDS
HOT ONE TO COP.
Tells Republican Leaders Party Pre-
judice Has Blacked Constructive
Legislation in Congress and
Hurt National Program.

Washington, Aug 2S.--Congress-
man Otis Wingo of Arkansas, in a re
cent speech in the House of Represen-
tatives criticised the Republicans
caustically for their failure to make
good their campaign promises; their
lack Of program on reconstruction
and other legislation and accused
them of wanting recess in order TO
map out a program and settle 'the
petty differences and jealousies" of
the leaders. In the four months that
the Republicans have been in control
of the House they had done nothing
but growl and abuse the president
"and organize smelling committees"
to investigate the conduct Of the war.
Among other hot shots for the G. o.
z. Congressman Wingo handed out the
following:
"The net result of months of your
work is to report a bill to repeal the
tax on soda water. What is yonr pro-
gram on the railroad problem? What
is your program on the soldiers?
What is your program on taxes and
tax legislation? Have you got one?
Nobody but that mysterious body
known as your steering committee
knows; your own side does not know.
Yfou went to the country country ;:pea the
plea that you would repeal lot of
taxation. And what happened? The
gentleman from Michigan, chairman
Fordney of the Ways and Means Com.
mittee) came in here with certain re-
peal legislation. And what happened
to that?
why, the Steering Committee took
him by the seat of his parliamentary
breeches and yanked him and his bill
off the floor, and nobody knows where
that bill is today. Oh, yes; you are
sick and tired and you want recess.
You do not want to go to the golf
links. Oh, no; you want to be able to
settle your differences and map out a
program, because you have not got
any, Notwithstanding the promises
House on false pretenses.
What are you going to do? Go
and read some Of your literature; go
read what the gentleman from Iowa
tMr. Good said in his magazine ar
ticle-tha it was necessary to bring
this Congress together in order to en-
act important legislation; and yet you
you have been here four months. You
have organized few smelling COM
mittees' and have growled at the
president, and you are investigating
the high cost of the war, but you are
dodging, like a skittish mule, the
question of the high cost of living.
The responsibility is yours.
"You now attempt to lay it on the
Senate, saying that you are five weeks
ahead and that the Senate is going to
debate the treaty question. There is
another reason, and that is on ac-
count of your steering committee. 1t
might be good thing for you to give
you this five weeks, so that you can
settle your differences and frame
some of the legislation you promised,
but | predict it will take you longer
than five weeks to settle the petty
differences and jealousies of your
leaders in the party; to queil the ris-
ing spirits Of the West that realizes
that IT mas been bunkoed by this Re
publican organization of this House.
"You voted down in your caucus the
other night a proposition to give the
West representation on your Steering
Committee. What is this Republican
Steering Committee? Nobody knows
what it is. | asked leading Repub-
lican to state who the members were
the other day, because had forgot
ten, and he could not tell me.
"Oh, gentlemen, you may laugh, but
notice the members from the Wesi
do not laugh; it is serious matter
with them. Leaders, whom that Pro
gressive Republican Theodore Roose-
vclt, denounced in days gone by, are
laughing now, but it is in hollow
metallic, tone, because you laugh as
men going thru grave yard.
"You have been here for months in
control of both the House and the Sen
ate, and you have done absolutely
nothing but pass the supply bills tha
would have been passed in March if
it had not been for your Republican
filibuster. Nothing else have you
done but growl and abuse the pres
dent and organize your 'smelling
committees Not one single con
structive measure have you reported
to the House, and now you are run
ming away under the pretense that yols
must wait on the Senate and that
is too hot. If you do not quit growl
ing at the President and quarrelin
among yourselves, it is going to ge
hotter for you, and no five weeks re
cess viii cool you off. Let us sta
here and make an effort to solve tn.
great probiems that confront us. d.