The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-08-09
"BEST UTTERANCE SINCE
WAR SPEECH"
Republicans Generally Were
Touched by Presidents
Message '"tarday.
G. o. P. LEADERS APPROVE
Congress Lifted From Parti-
san Role-Will Work 81
Hard. 2l
f1Y DAVID LAWRENCE,)


body who heard President Wilson de-
liver his memorable address to con-
gress on the high cost OF living could
fail to observe that for the moment
at least, the personnel OF the legis-
lative and executive branches Of the
government seemed to be lifted out
OF the depths of cancerous partisan
ship and brought back to the plane
OF unselfish patriotism which won the
war and which must now help keep
the peace.
II was an impressive sight, re-
publicans applauding, but the doc
trines OF law and order pronounced
with a deliberateness and finality
intended to give tonic to a paniclSy
and disturbed state Of mind, for the
national capital had been torn be-
tween a nationwide demand for
lower prices and a sudden inslstence
by railroad leaders that they be per-
mitted to introduce the soviet sys-
tenn management of the country.
Brought Down House.
Every time the president hit at Inn
plications of bolshevism he literally
brought down the house. Republic
cans and democrats Joined in a spon-
taneous tribute meaning Of which was
unmistakable. There must be no
threats" said Mr.. Wilson. and both
the senate and the house assembled
didn't wait for him to finish the
thought the world has just destroyed
THE arbitrary force of a military
junta, 1t will live under no other"
Again cheers through the Legislative
chamber.
But tho climax came when the
president added: "Every one who
is in real touch with the silent
masses OF our great people,
and steady self control are still
there, firm against violence or any
distempered action that would
The worst thing, tho most fatal
thing that can be done now is to
stop or interrupt production, or
to Interfere with the distribu-
tion of goods by the railways and
the shipping Of the country"
1t must not be forgotten that
whether the country has realized the
situation here or not, tho truth Is,
congress being republican, and the
administration democratic, a game OF
party politics has been played ever
since the elections last fall. It has
projected itself even into the contro-
versy over the peace treaty and
league OF nations. The encouraging
thing about the reception by congress
OF Mr.. Wilson's address was the ten
dency to lay aside political consid-
erations again and tackle anew the
acute problems of the moment on
which party platforms have never
functioned, because they could not
foresee the present economic disturb
ance.
Partisan Display.
The scene was all the more re-
markable because 1t began as usual
with a partisan display. Only the
democrats clapped hands Of Mr.. Will
son entered. Senator Reed of Mis-
souri,, democrat, was a conspicuous
exception, with his hands locked be-
hind him.
AS the president slowly revealed
how closely interviewer the peace
treaty and the economic situation
seemed to him to be, again the re-
publicans smiled cynically at what
some Of them regarded as a typical
bit OF Wilsonian strategy. Senator
Fall, republican, who said congress
can declare state Of peace without
ratifying the treaty, didn't seem i'm
pressed. But the democrats and a
few republicans wondered If possibly
Europe's distressful condition hadn't
affected America somewhat, espec-
tally in the reflection OF economic un-
rest and credit uncertainties.
So 1t was when the president
turned from what might be con-
sidered his pet subject, the league OF
nations and international co-opera-
tion, as he abandoned his mild re-
buke at a tagging senate and took UP
the domestic problems so well un-
derstood by the average voter and
so well accentuated in the events of
last week. both parties listened with
avid interest and concentrated
thought.
Threats Denounced.
Threats and undue insistence
upon the interest of a single class,
make settlement impossible" was ap-
proved by all, because Wilson struck
a note for the common interest, and
because he seemed to be serving
notice on the railroad shopmen that
they were not the only class suffer-
ing, and that rather than increase
wages unduly in their behalf, relief
must be found in measures lower
ng the entire scale of living for
everybody
When the president came to the
passage: 1--WE are all involved in the
results Of the high cost
'r living, and we must unite, not d.
'ide, to correct It," / noticed ap-
ause by Mr.. Campbell chair
nan of the rules committee,
epubliCan who has been most bitter
n his attacks on the president. What
ioes this mean? Simply that con-
Sress is alive, not asleep, in these
ritical moments, and that the voice
II the country has been heard in the
legislative halls at Washington. 1t is
lot too much to expect an era of nom
such as prev aiIed dur
ng the war, when committee after
ommittee brought In unanimous re-
'orts. Perhaps this may be said TO
lave begun when the senate commit
ee on interstate commerce brought
n an unanimous recommendation to
he effect that Mr.. Wilson had the
ower to raise the wages OF railroad
nen,
No ouibble.
The president did not stop to quib-
lie, he took this recommendation
terally and started at once to adjust
he railroad dispute by executive
ction.
But his ultimatum to the railroad
1en that they must obey their lead
RS and go back to work before con-
liberation could be given to their de-f
---------------T