The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-08-11
PRESIDENT WINS
APPLAUSE FROM
BITTER ENEMIES
Practical Suggestions for Do
ing Away With Profiteering
Appeal to Judgment Of All
the Legislators.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Especial Correspondent Of The New
SnIni4arN

Especial Correspondent of The News
seIm'tar.,
WASHINGTON, Aug. 11-Nobody who |
heard President Wilson deliver his
memorable address to congress on the
high cost Of living could fail to OBJ
serve that for the moment at least, the
personnel of the legislative and execu-
tive branches Of the government scenes
to be lifted out of the depths of can
cerous craftsmanship and brought back
10 \ plane of unselfish patriotism
which won the war and which must now !
hep Keep the peace.
1t was an impressive Sight-Repub-
Ilc8ns ~applauding along with Democrats
-app3udlng not the mere phrases of
IN individual, but the doctrines Of law
and order pronounced with a deliberate
nAA and finality intended to give tonic
10 q panicky n disturbed state Of
mind. For the national capital had been
torn between a nationwide demand for
lower prices and a sudden insistence
ny railroad leaders that they be per-
mitted to introduce the soviet system
IN the management of the transporta-
ton facilities OF the country.
EVERY time the president hit at i'm
plications Of Bolshevism he literally
brought down the house. Republicans
and Democrats Joined in a spontaneous
tribute whose meaning was unmIs-
Threats Denounced.
There must be no threats" said Mr..
wilson and both the senate and house
assembled. didn't wait for him to finish
stroyed the arbitrary force Of a mill
tary junta; 1t will live under no other
Again cheers echoed through the leRis-
lattve chamber. But the climax came
when the president added: Everyone
who Is in real touch with the silent
I VnA00Ao ~ ANV- seq 49,
the old strong fiber and steady self
control are still there, firm against vio-
lence or any, distempered action that
would throw their affairs into confusion.
The worst thing, the most fatal thing
that can be done now is to stop or in
tsrrupt production or to interfere with
the distribution of goods by the rail-
ways and the shipping Of the country"
1t must not be forgotten that whether
the country has realized the situation
mere or not, the truth Is, congress being
Republican and the administration
Democratic. q game Of party politics
has been played ever since the elections
last fall, 1t has projected itself even
into h controversy over the peace
treaty and league of nations. The en-
couraeing thing about the reception by
congress- Of Mr., Wilson'S address was
the tendency to lay aside political con-
alterations again and tackle anew the
acute problems Of the moment on which
party platforms have never functioned
because they could not foresee the pres
emit economic disturbance.
Republicans Sheer.
The scene was all the more remark
able because it began as usual with a
partisan display. Only the Democrats
olapped hands as Mr.. Wilson entered.
Senator Reed. Of Missouri, Democrat,
2 a conspicuous. exception with his
hands locked behind him. AS the presi-
dent slowly revealed how closely in
terwoven the peace treaty and the eco
nomic situation seemed to him to be,
again the Republicans smiled ~cynically
At what some OF them evidently re-
garded as a typical bit Of Wilsonlan
strategy. Senator Fall, Republican, who
said congress can declare a state Of
peace without ratifying the treaty, didn't
seem impressed. But the Democrats
and q few Republicans wondered II pos
sibly. Europe's distressfui condition
hadn't affected America somewhat,
especially In the reflection Of economic
unrest and credit uncertainties.
1t was when the president turned
from what might be considered his pei
subJect--the league Of nations and In
ternational co-operation-as he aban-
+ doned his mild rebuke at a tagging sen
ate and took up the domestic problems
80 well understood by the average voter
and so we'll accumulated in the events Of
the last week, both parties listened with
avid Interest n concentrated thought
No Class Favored.
Threats and undue insistence upor
Element impossible" was approved b,
} all because Mr., Wilson struck a nott
for the common interest and because h,
seemed to be serving notice on the rail.
rail shopmen that they were not thu
only class suffering, and that rathel
than increase wages unduly in their be
half relief must be found in measure,
, lowering the entire scale Of living To-
everybody.
when the president came to this pass
age; W are oil involved in the dis
tressing results Of the high cost Of Twin.
and We must unite, not divide, to cor
tive Campbell. chairman Of the rule
: : committee, . Republican who has beef
most bitter In his attacks on the presi
! dent.
!. what does this moan? Simply tina
: eongress 10 alive. not asleep, In thss
q the country has been heard In the leg
tslative hans at Washington. 1t is no
4 too much to expect IN era OF non
\ p~artisanship such az prevailed dvrinl
the war when committee after com
mittee brought In unanimous reports
. 4 Ntll6pE III civ tl11 w SAlA " nav
J begun when the senate COMMITTEES O.
Interstate commerce brought in a unan
: imous recommendation to the effec
!, that Mr., Wilson had the power to raie
) the wages Of railroad men. The presi
dent did not stop to bubble. He too
to work at once to edjuet the railroa,
g dispute by executive action. But hi
ultimatum to the railroad men that the
must obey their leaders and &c back I
work before consideration could b
given to their demands brought instan
approval throughout the capitol. Eve
before Mr.. Wilson read his message
there we're those of opposite politics
faith who remarked upon Mr.. Wilson
words of sanity. Indeed, 1t is said tina
as the president finished his message
Senator John sharp Williams, Demo
Senator Calder, Republican, who sat l
front OF him, observed: well, the pres
ident may be visionary and an idealist
but he m across with some prac
tical sense when u counts
Republicans Thaw.
Senators and representatives OF bot
parties crowded around President Wi
son as he finished speaking. Cham
Clark and Claude Kitchin came for
ward to congratulate him. Some sal
since the message declaring Ws'
whether that Z SO or not. it certainl
was the first Wsne since that occasio
that one saw Republicans and Demo
Gratis applauding and cheering. It wa
interesting to see Senator Kellogg an
Senator Harding, Of the Republica
fold. and Senator Lodge. too. clappin
their hands. It was interesting to waite
the mods OF approval by other leader
of opposite political faith. The trut
is some OF the Republicans were har
PLY surprised. They feared Mr.. Wilso
might seek TO ride on the crest of tn
radical wave In America, that he migl
suddenly stimulate the radical move
ment by recommendations of a funds
mentally radical character. But the
learned that President Wilson had d.