Norwich bulletin., 1919-08-05
WASHINGTON AFFAIRS
lSnecial Id The BuIletin.l )

several topics took the wind out Of such members has made plans Tor extended trips during that time Com mittee work for the Interstate Com merce had been arranged and they were to listen to testimony on theI railroad question during the recess; steps had already been taken by prop CT committees to look into the high cost of living; Merchant Marine and other committees had mapped out a plan of Uninterrupted work, and such members as had no pressing commit tee assignments had engaged passage on the George Washington for trip to France, or joined congressional party going to Alaska, or in some oth- CT way had planned, to make good use of the five weeks before congress was again in full session The president had known their plans for more than week but let that time go by with out a protest. Then at the last mo- ment, for it was literally less than "A hours from the time the recess was to begin-he sent a request that amount ed to a command, that they change all their plans on the ground that probably within two weeks he would have something on which he desired to address them.
 They compiled without a dissenting vote, but it is fifty fifty who is the most indignant, the republicans or the democrats. Both sides have made it very plain that the president will have to make a pretty good showdown when he addresses them. or they will feel that his appeal to them was not justified. Meantime they will do noth- ing but wait, for although in nominal session. the house will be as literally in recess as if the five weeks plan had not been recinded. Theren be ]! nothing doing till the president speaks the word. according to all signs today.
 Col. "Maehine Gunr Parker of Con necticut, who led the 1o2nd Infantry IT, se in Ul S17i n today had a long talk with Congr ess- man Tilson, who was lieutenant colonel of that regiment when it was a part of the Connecticut National Guard army and was in command of the regiment when it was mustered out after service on the Mexican bor- der.
 Col Parker discussed at length al plan of army reorganization along the lines which he believes will promote patriotism and interest among tine people of the country. Col Parker is of the opinion that the safety of he United States does not dspen1 ci larg standing army, but or the nla:n- tenance of a great .;itizen reserve. con. pcsed of men ready to arswe. call to arms. as did rae ma lori1y Of the men of his old regiment. T fought in France and received these wounds" said Col. Parker. sfowng his threei wound stripes, Gin order to down mili 1 tarism and not to saddle the United States with great army. I had the greatest regiment in France and from my experience with the 102nd, which did more hard fighting than any oth- CT regiment with the American expe- dition, I knew the patriotism and the spirit of our militia. I have studied this subject for more than twenty years and I firmly believe that a sys- tenn of defense by the maintenance of a trained militia or reserve will be vastly superior to the present system
 r., e. %ssa .e- which tend to discourage the patriotic American who desires to prepare him. self for an emergency such as that through which we have just passed" Col. Parker did not discuss his plan in detail, it's apparent object is to give the country military system which will have the voluntary sup port of the general public and in which the lot of the enlisted man will he more in accord with the sacrifices he makes. Col. Parker, regular army man. is not unmindfuI that he may he jeorardizing his military fu- ture by urging such radical changes. but said he felt he owed tho ad--o~a o-- he owed his work on the firing ] ne at Chateau Thicrry and in the Ar gonne.
 Col. Parker presented a notable ap- pearance. Dhree times wounded. he carries practically every decoration in the gift of the American army, and-l is idolized by the men of his com mand. Col. Parker and Congressman Tilson will have conference later this week and a bill will probably be drafted along the lines of Col. Park CTS suggestions and later he may ap- pear before the military affairs com mittees of congress to explain them in detail.
 The foreign relations committee was much pleased that they smoked out" lan Ra1a ia r7O t0E laxr 1aif proposal to adjourn till it came to them. Senator Brandegee was largely responsible for the result, it is ne- lieved, for before the statement made by the White House that the French treaty would not be forthcoming un- til after the president had returned from his proposed across the contin- ent trip. six. weeks or more hence, Senator Brandegee said: .'The pres:- dent violated Article " of the treaty which he himself adopted. That sin cannot be atoned for It is yiolatel be- yond redemption for he had agreed in the treaty to submit it tc the senat e a' tte same time he did the German treaty. He also stated thu. the two
 treaties were linked together What he has linked together we ought tG con slider together. If I had my way Il would not proceed a day further with the consideration of the treaty of Yer .sailles until the president had sub- mitted the France American treaty.
 The next day the president sent the France American treaty to the sen ate.
 Senator Bert E. FernaId of Maine,
 describes himself just a plain American" and that fits the case very we'll if we add that he is a farmer a man of big business, has been pres ident of the National Gamers associ- ation and was governor of Maine be- fore he entered the senate But all has ala I,i 1Ioi straight forward way of getting at4be meat in the cocoanut. So when the president wrote and asked Seua GOT Fefnald to. come to the White House and talk over the League of Nations the Maine senator accepted, but he gave the president a new view EOjnt of senatorial sentiment in '.he hour conference which followed ! Senator Fernald took no middle ground and in referring to this distaste for :he treaty AMT nTfn TTHFyf