The Farmington times., 1916-02-25

Washington, FEB. 49, Senator
Lewis of Illinois spoke to day in ths
Senate in reply to former Senator
Roots address before the New York
State Republican Convention, il
which Root, denouncing the admins.
tration's foreign policy, likened Pres
| ident Wilson to a man 'first making
his fist and then his finger" He
charged Root with inconsistency and
hypocricy and said Root was now hint
ing at war to make an issue for the
Republican party.
"The able ex-senator said in his
keynote speech to the New York Re-
publicans, striking base note, that
it is necessary we should have a
President of the United States who
has something more than words
who would follow words by actions" /"
said Lewis.
"What action does the honorable
ex-senator, as leader of the Republi-
can party, mean? There can be but
one other kind of action and that is
war. If the Senator would mean war,
why did he not say war? Why mask
under utterances ubiquitous and
doubtful in form of construction the
real meaning of the demand for ac-
tion?
Invites Making of Issue.
IF the able ex-senator, speaking
for his party, expected to pledge his
party to war as an issue in this coun-
try, let him declare it with courage
and the Democracy will make it the
issue.
Why not tell the people Of Ameri-
ca now that, if the object is to make
the issue against the Democratic
President of the United States, that
he did dot declare war, then say so?
This hypocraey of craftsmanship |
protest against. AS an American
who will be called upon to tender all
l have in the fateful hour of conflict,
/ desire to know the purpose on the
part of the distinguished leader. If
the object is to elect a President un-
der the covert object of war and to
hide the truth from the American
people under doubtful phraseology,
wish to expose the fault. If, on the
other hand, the purpose is that war
shall be declared against Germany
and that the issue shall be war with
out regard for its merits, or to the
justice of the declaration, then, that
they shall come forth and declare it
and the country shall judge them by
their utterances, by their action, by
their sponsors"
Lewis then said that Root was in
the Senate at the beginning of the
submarine warfare that has brought
the United States and Germany al
most to the breaking point several
times, but did not declare for war.
"The Lusitania incident is in the
memory of us ALL" said Lewis. The
Gulfight incident succeeded it, but
this administration, with the coop
Grafton of many of my eminent Re-
publican friends, looking toward
peace and concord with all peoples,
have turned their attention to achieve
results through the only course civil
lied countries ought to adopt as long
as it was available by methods Of
peace.
President Indicted as Weak.
"Then, says the ex-senator, 'ac-
ton, He indicts the President of the
United States as a weak and supine
victim of surroundings, whose ten
dency is to address note. So the
able Senator knowing this is con-
stitutional Government, failed to tell
the country all the President Of the
United States can do. What else can
he do? He may go to the country
and speak from his own lips. The
only other thing to prevent despots
violating their authority and abus-
ing pride Of power is that he shall ad-
dress by note his views, either to the !
government to which it is addressed,
or to the representatives Of the peo-
pie, and through them, and from them
alone, may come action. Then if ac-
tion was a thing that the eminent