Evening star., 1920-02-10

Wilson, the House democrats are on
record today as opposed to universal
military training.
This direct issue with the president
was taken at Il caucus last night.
The democrats rejected the Presi-
dents appeal that they refrain from
declaring themselves on the issue
until the deInocratic national conven-
ton in June. by voting sS to 8
against a motion that action on ths
1O6 to II against any measure pro
viding for universal compulsory mill
tary service or training.
Explaining their action at the eau
Gus, several democrats declared tnat
they felt they knew the sentiment
better than either the President or
their leaders.
Foresees Debate Of Program.
Representative Caldwell, New York
who led the fight in favor of the
Presidents proposal. declared that un-
less there is a change in sentiment or
the democratic side of the House II
is apparent there are not enough re-
publicans who favor universal train
ing to include in the Army reorganiza-
zation bill.
1T is the sense of this caucus de-
clared the resolution. adopted by the
dem ocratS, that no measure Shouto
be passed by this Congress providing
for universal compulsory military
service or training"
Formal Statement Issued.
In a formal statement after the
caucus, Mr.. Caldwell said:
Unless there is considerable change
in sentiment on the democratic side
of the House. it is quite apparent
there are not enough republicans who
favor universal training to include 1t
in the reorganization bill.
Nevertheless, it is anticipated that
both House and Senate will have to
vote on the universal training pro-
posal. for it is included in the Sen
ate bill, and Representative Kahn,
republican, California. chairman OF
the House military committee. which
is framing the House bill, reiterated
last night his intention of pressing
adoption of the plan.
President Wilson. in his letter
which was presented at the caucus
after being made public during the
day. declared any action that would
make the proposal a party issue would
be unfortunate" and urged tha,
action be foregone until the party s
convention in June.
Differences Of Opinion.
There was a wide difference OF
opinion today among senator's, ano
representatives as to the probable
effect of the action of the House
democrats last night.
Chairman Wads~orth of the Senate
| military committee announced that
the vote of the democrats would not
deter him from pressing the Army
| reorganization bill reported by his
committee. He added that he was
confident that when Congress ane
the public came to understand the
bill there would be very different
view of it."
Chairman Kahn of the House mill
tary committee also is determined tt
press an Army reorganization. meas
ure embodying the military training
feature, and the whole question viii
House.
Vote Not Binding.
The vote in the caucus last might
believe that the 106 democrats wht
| voted for the resolution opposing uni
versal training will have the balance
of power w hen the question comes te
an issue in the House. as many re.
/ publican members ALSO are opposed
to general training.
sCompu1eoryetraini will not have
clear sailing lin the Senate. Five
members ofEthe military committee
! voted against it and minority re-
port was filed by Senator Nick ellar
democrat, of Tennessee. with Sena-
tor Sheppard. democrat, Of Texas con-
curing Senator Kirby, democrat
tArkansas. already has offered ,.an
amendment to eliminate general
training from the bill. -.
Whether Army reorganization 1egis-
lation can be completed before the
party conventions in June fse doubt
full. Senator Wadswerth- has an.
Int ha Y10o nr VI,
be taken up in the Senate until attei
the peace treaty has been disposed
| of, and no senator is predicting Wher
that may be. The House commfttee
still is working on its bill, and II
may be several weeks before it comes
to consideration in the House.
Debate in the Caucus.
Debate in the caucus by those favor
| ing universal training reflected the
Kitchin North Carolina). Flood (Vir-
ginia) and Dent (Alabama) are among
the speakers opposing the acceptance
Of his argument. Though urging re-
lection of the Presidents stand, these
and other democrats offered no per-
sonal criticism of either the Presi-
dent or Secretary Of War Baker. who
recently announced his support Of
universal training.
Reading of the Presidents letter
virtually opened the business before
the caucus, and almost Immediately
afterward Representative Caldwell
who read the letter, sought to BLOCK
any action by moving adjournment
His proposal was lost by an unrecord'
ed. but overwhelming vote. Genera
debate was then pfecipitated by Rep
resentative Ayres, Kansas. offering the
resolution recording the democrats
against universal training. Speaker!
did not discriminate against universe
training and service-the latter In
cluding the enrolment Of the youth.
into the Army-and as finally adopted
the resolution was SO changed as te
declare opposition to both.
Though the debate WAS held Close
to the issue before the caucus, fre'
quent references to the President anc
Secretary Baker were injected into
the discussion. Representative kitch'
in declraed with all due deference'
to these officials he believed ther'
could be no objection to the House
stating its position. especially since
both officials had put the party OF
record" by announcing their attitude
Mr.. Kitchin. in explanation OF the
Presidents stand, told his coleaguei
| that Mr.. Wilson's illness had "unfer'
an intimate touch with national AZ
fairs and sentiment. In this connec'
ton he read a telegram from Repre-
sentative Ferris. Oklahoma, chair.
man Of the democratic congrbsslona
campaign committee, declaring the
country Is opposed to universal train.
ing"
The opinion Of Mr.. Ferris was citet
by Mr.. KitchIn as that of ono wht
knows the feeling Of every district
in the country" which prompted re-
sponse from the floor. Eyes. Ferris II
running for the Senate"
Mr. Flood Takes Up Attack.
Taking up tho attack started by
tho North Carolina member, Repre-
sentative Flood declared It was al