The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-20
DEMAND PERSHING'S
ARMY Be RETURNED
Senator Reed Wins Tumult-
nous Applause From the
Senate Galleries.
SIDE SLABS AT WILSON
Also Calls for Speedier De-
mobilization of Men in
Home Camps.
SIDE SLABS AT WILSON
Special DssputcA TO THE suS.

(Mo.) denounced to-day the War De-
rehabilitation OF the American army
and the return Of the overseas forces.
He took occasion to remark that II he
were running this business instead of
spending the time writing leagues OF
Nations with perpetual peace In them
and talking about some scheme that is
to concern the civilization OF the fu-
turo" he would inform the European
nations that he wanted enough ships to
bring his army home in or else close the
market OF America to the world. The gal
leries broke into a roar Of applause such
a. never before within the memory OF
the oldest Capitol employee had been
heard.
The President good naturally
warned the galleries that silence must
be preserved.
Letter From Soldiers Father.
Senator Reed FIRST read to the Senate
letter-which he said was typical of
hundreds he was receiving-from the
father of a soldier held m the service.
The letter was a strong protest against
retention of men In the training camps
in the United States.
This war has been over now for
good WHILE" Senator Reed proceeded.
Peace ought to have been made before
this and II we had been making peace
instead OF contracts Tor the future, X
we had been settling our own disputes
instead Of undertaking to provide for
the settlement of all the disputes that
may hereafter arise. / think We would
have been much nearer a final settle
ment.
But waving that, II IL certainly true
that the keeping OF the American boys
in the camps in America IL absolutely
lnexcusable. 1t Is q piece OF stupidity
without parallel, and I say unqualifiedly
without excuse, and the sooner 1t Is rem
edied the better It is for our country.
II am getting tired OF wasting time
with the War Department. know
something of what is the matter, be-
cause / happen to have heard con-
versation almost Immediately after the
war closed to the effect that great care
would be taken lest the labor market
should be overcongeSted by the return
OF these troops. think II Is time that
Congress took some effective action to
compel the rehabilitation OF troops in
this country.
Wisdom Not All In Capital.
Il suggested at the time of the con-
versation 1 referred to that II the War
Department could just get II into its
little head that the American people had
some sense and knew something about
managing their own Affairs we would
get along better. There Is theorv
abroad to-day that the people of the
United States do not know anything
that all the wisdom In the land has been
centred here in Washington; that the
most of that has been concentrated in a
few departments, yet in majority OF
cases the men in those departments could
not hold a first class job in any RESPONSE
BILE business concern.
Senator keed also urged the prompt
return Of the troops from abroad. say
ing they were taken over at the rate
Of 100000 a month. but were not being
brought back at more than small
fraction OF that rate. as British and
French bottoms were being employed in
the rehabilitation OF the overseas COM
merce OF Europe.
IT protest that the keeping OF the
American Army abroad another day Is
wrong upon that army" said Senator
Reed land It is wrong upon this
country"
Senator Walsh (Afon), referred to
the "deplorable condition at Brest,
which he said was due TO the fact that
the returning armies are cOngregated
there in such numbers that they are
unable to get ships enough to take them
out
Tells How He'd Do II.
Senator Reed retorted that the Govern
ment ought to take steps to get the
necessary shipping from France and
England. IT know they would furnish
those ships II the proper kind Of de-
mand was made. and II ought to be
made mighty quick" he said.
May l ask our friend what method
would the Senator from Missouri suE-
gest to force France and Britain to
put their ships at our commando" In
terrupted Senator Lewis (Ill.). II should
like to have II myself"
III the Senator wants to know I will
tell him what ! would tell them II
was running this business" replied Sena-
tor Reed. Instead OF writing leagues
OF nations with perpetual peace In Them
instead OF spending my time talking
about some scheme that IL to concern
the civilization of the future I would
say TO the gentlemen running these
countries:
81 need some ships: need them
row: l want you to give them to me-
and IL they did not give them to us
l would see TO 1t that every benefit
and advantage they have In the Ameri-
can market was taken away the day
"a