The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-09-15
Democratic and Republican
Leaders of Both Houses Hold
Secret Conferences to Talk
Over Situation of Unrest.
PRESIDENT CRITICISED
FOR ATTACK ON SENATE
Belligerent Attitude of Labor
Especially Effort to Unionize
Police of Cities Among Big
Problems Discussed.
(RY GEORGE n. MANNINc.1

lieving that serious crisis has been
reached in Americas national and
domestic affairs the republican and
democratic leaders in the senate yes
terday went across to the house cloak
room and there, hidden from the eyes
of the public and newspaper men,
discussed the situation with the lead
ers of both parties in the house TO
see if some plan can be put through
to avoid unfortunate consequences.
The peace treaty and the recently
developed belligerent attitude of la
Dor, particularly the effort to union
ize the police forces of all the cities,
were Nne principal question discuss
ed. The conference followed others
held earlier in the week which We're
not so well attended and did not con-
slider the questions SO seriously as
that of yesterday.
The conferences developed these
improper facts:
1 That the democrats in the SEN
ate are as angry as are the republi-
cans over President Wilson's action
his speeches in the west in which he
indulged in calling the members
names" and have positively aban-
doned their efforts to put the peace
treaty through without considerable
amendment.
2 The leaders of both parties in
the senate and house fear the conse-
quences of the belligerent attitude OF
organized labor, both for the welfare
of labor and the country at large,
and are trying to frame some meas
ure to put a check to the movement
before 1t either does serrors irr5..rs.
to the country's development, or
wrecks the unions.
The congressional leaders agree
that the national situation is so seri-
Gus that political party advantage
should be cast aside. 1t was agreed
that poth parties should coordinate
their efforts in an attempt to, solve
the situation to avoid serious conse-
quences and that neither party would
attempt to gain political advantage
from any action so taken.
The conference broke up with the
best of feeling without anything defi-
mite being agreed to because the DEM
ocrats- could not give assurance TO the
republicans. who are in control in the
senate and house and would be re-
sponsible for any action taken, that
President Wilson would not vote any
step taken by congress or make politi-
cal capital out of it.
Among those who participated in the
conferences ami were consulted about
the deliberations were Senators Lodge
and Smoot, republicans; Simmons
and Thomas, democrats, and coa-
gressmen Monden, republican floor
leader; Kitchin, former democratic
floor leader and Champ Clark form
er speaker and now floor leader
Senator Simmons, spokesman for the
senate democrats, said that his DEM
ocratic colleagues shared the surprise
and resentment of the republicans over
the presidents action in abandoning
the conferences held in Washington 10
ach agreement or the peaco treaty,
and his bitter personal arrafgnment
OF the senators in his western speech
es.
The democrats wLo had determined
before the pr.,sidaGs went west 20 stand
through thick and thin for an un-
amended treaty, Simmons admitted,
had become angry at the presidents
attacks on the senate, and apparent
total lack of respect for that body,
and twenty of them are now pledged
to support the republicans in amend
irg it to make it safe for Americas
interests, beyond all question.
Whatever support the president has
,-aiaeo for the lelgUe of nations among
the PEOPLE who have heard and read
his addresses ~ the wes+ has been
is.ole than offset by the support he
has lost among the democrats in The
senate by his personal attacks on the
members, the conferees agreed.
The dangerous aspects of the union
izing OF the city policemen and their
affiliation with all other labor organ
izations was then discussed. Members
who have ardentIy supported labor for
many years agreed that the present
movement is going a little too far for
the good of the unions and the peo-
pie, and gave their acquiscence TO
plan for placing a check on unioniz-
ing the Washington police as a warn
ing and deterrent
The friends of labor in congress,
it was said. fear turn of public sem
timent against labor such as swept
the country against organized capi-
tai commencing twelve years ago Be-
ginning about that tims, 1t was point
ed out, as a result of the hold the
railroads and other corporation lob
bies had over the federal and state
legislatures. the public turned against
organized capital the lobbyists We're
driven out and it has been almost