New-York tribune., 1920-02-11
No Party Split
Over Training,
Say Democrats
House Leaders Cite Other
Occasions Upon Which
They Have Acted Against
Advice of the President
Move Wise, They Assert
End of Universal Service in
the House Seems Certain
as Result of Action

From, The Tribune's Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10.-Democratis
leaders in the House fastened to-day
to deny that there would be any split
| in the party because of the caucus
action last night against universal mil
itary training legislation despite Pres
| ident Wilson's suggestion that no such
action be taken.
Democrats pointed out that while
this was the first caucus that had come
out flatly against something which the
President had suggested, members of
the party have voted frequently against
Mr.. Wilson on measures that were be-
fore the House and have helped in
overriding several of his vetoes,
notably on the daylight saving law and
the Volstead prohibition enforcement
act.
1t was generally admitted to-day
that last nights caucus action means
! the end OF universal training in the
House. Representative Anthony of
Kansas, leading opponent of train
ing, said tonight that he did not be-
lieve the House Military Committee
VIII "otS W put d Training provision IN
the army reorganization bill
Chairman julius Kahn, of the COM
mlttee, has been working with might
and main to control it in favor of such
provision, and was confident he would
have majority, but last nights de-
velopments will seriously affect the
lineup in committee.
Representative Arthur G. DeWalt of
pennsylvania. who was chairman iof
last nights caucus, was one of those
who to-day denied there had been any
rebuke for the President in it's ac-
ton.
There are some who interpret the
action OF the Democratic caucus in re-
gard to compulsory military training
as rebuke to the President and Sec
risetary Baker. l do not believe that
this l:1, inference can be fairly drawn.
The resolution adopted only de-
clares that it is the sense of the
caucus that no legislation on the ques-
ton of compulsory military training
should be enacted by this Congress. it
defines no party policy for the future.
put declares only as to the expedency
at thls time by this Congress"
What governed the caucus" he
added was in large sense the per
South is opposed to compulsory mill
tary training because it does not want
the negroes armed and thus increase
ilnsubordination among them. The West
IS dependent in a great measure for
It's prosperity upon the product of i'm
mense farm acreage and its mining
industry. Were the farms deprived Of
this labor and the mines robbed of it's
iaooTers and miners the prosperity of
the West would be nil"
No Clash, Says Garner
There Is no crash between the House
and the President" said Represented
tive John N. Garner, of Texas. at is
merely difference OF opinion as to
what is necessary at the present time"
Representative Crisp, of Georgia,
said:
81 don't regard the situation result
ing from the action of the caucus as
breach between the Democrats of the
House and the President. 1t was not
a breach when the majority Of the
Democrats voted to override the Presi
dents vetoes of the immigration act
that carried the literacy test, the bill
repeating the daylight saving law or
the Volstead prohibition enforcement
act.
Legislation providing for universa,