The sun., 1919-09-07
WILSON FOLLOWS
JOHNSON'S STEPS
Representative Fess Points
Out Similarity of Appeal
to People in 1857
THEN A DOMESTIC ISSUE
Executive Referred to Con-
gress Opposing Him as Actu-
ated by Personal Pique.
Special ps,tatcn 70 TEE sus.

DcokNtCft
WARRINGTON, Sept. 6.-President
Wilson by his tour of the country to
compel legislative subordination to Exc
cutive decree" is following in the foot
steps OF President johnson who Swung
around the circle" in 1867 after bis
bitter dispute with the House as to that
body's authority over the qualifications
of it's own members. Representative
Fess (O.), Chairman Of the Republican
Congressional Committee, said to-day.
He pointed out that President Johnson
received enthusiastic receptions, just as
are given (Mr. Wilson, and stated that
both bitterly attacked their opponents
in Congress as "actuated by personal
piuue, sectional bitterness and ignorant
prejudice
THE Johnson ISSUE" Mr.. Fess said,
involved the vital question of Federal
relations, which was distinctively domes-
tic. The Wilson issue involves inter-
national relations and the preservation
Of American sovereignty and independ-
ence
Mr.. Wilson's swing around the circle
is not the first of Its kind. Andrew
Johnson in his contest with Congress
was the first instance where the Execu-
tive undertook to compel legislative sub
ordination to Executive decree.
Johnson,s Acrimonious Tour.
AFTER a contest which was marked
by some bitterness as displayed In pub
lie utterances on both sides and the ex-
ercise of the veto power quite freely.
President johnson In the city Of Wash
lngton publicly declared he would carry
the contest to the country. In Septem-
Der, 1867. just flfty-two years ago. he
started on his famous trip. making
speeches to great crowds on, the way.
"Since President Wilson left here I
have reread the reported utterances or
President johnson. He referred to Con-
gress as actuated by personal pique, sec
tional bitterness and ignorant prejudice.
His language was .caustic and his state
ment dogmatic. He spoke with the air
of assurance of his ground that at times
approached egotism II not arrogance.
He assured the country that his position
, must win because he was right. In Chi
cago he minimized the opposition and
referred to opponents. some as ignorant
Of the real issue and others disloyal to
the best interests of their country.
Everywhere he travelled he was
greeted by great crowds which at places
were wildly demonstrative. His utter
ances increased in acrimony with the
progress of the tour. The friends OF the
President, convinced Of the popular just
tihcation of his position. anxiously
pushed him forward as the standard
bearer of their views.
GIamor of the Tournament.
THUS far the two famous swings
around the circle are not unlike except
Johnson's contest was with the House of
Representatives on the question of that
bodys authority over the qualifications
over elections of its own members, which
the House asserted belonged to it.
ION the other hand President Will
sons contest is with the Senate over
the part to be played by that body in
the making of treaties.
Both were constitutional in charac-
ter and admitted of wide discussion upon
fundamentals. in which the Executive
in each case proposed to carry the con-
test to the people as a method of per-
sonal approval. since under our system
the contest must be final with votes of
each house.
I'm the johnson case the difference
reached the point of extreme bitterness
before 1t was taken 10 the people. The
climax was reached in the following
sentence: 1T Is true that cases may
occur in which the Executive would be
compelled to stand on his rights and
maintain them regardless of all circum-
stances
Naturally the country will read with
more than the usual interest the speeches
of President Wilson and note the dem
onstrations accorded the head OF the
nation. The entire setting upon which
the tour is, staged lends to II all the
glamor of the tournament"