The Farmington times., 1916-02-25
SENATOR LEWIS SHOWS
UP ROOTS INSINCERITY
Illinoisan Replies to Speech Made
Before New York Republican
Convention

Senator from New York would hav,
the country understand, was it nee
essary, as fulfillment Of the honor
of America? ] reply that since tn,
4 Lusitania incident and the Gulfighf
incident the able Senator was men,
Der of this body, representing the
imperial state of New York. There
was no power in the world to para
lyze his arm from introducing res
olution for action here in the Senate
Of the United States and in the only
place in all America where it could
be executed was here where he serv-
ed in his sovereign capacity. If there
was such wrong upon this country
that they could only be righted in
honor by war, the disruption of our
friendly relations between us and a
friendly people, the death of our cit
liens, the paralysis of commerce, the
end of all prosperity and progress in
America, then the eminent Senator
was equally qualified to present such
resolution.
No Tender for "Action."
"The eminent Senator from Indiana
(Mr. Kern), the leader of the ma
jority, suggests as ] speak that--if
such views as expressed by the dis
tinguished ex-senator from New York
are the views of his party-there is
not any eminent Senator on the other
side but has the same privilege now
as he has had before, to tender a res
olution for such action. Since there
has been no such tender, since the
Senator from New York himself nev-
er rendered such, why will he be
found in high place, in an elevated
position, discharging an eminent
trust, so abusing its common sense
by attempting to delude the American
people by arraigning the President
of the United States merely because
he is Democrat as unworthy of their
confidence for not doing that which
he knows well in power he could not
do, and where the circumstances new
er could justify it?"
Senator Lewis declared that form
er Senator Root had an opportunity
in 1914 to declare war on Mexico, but
did not avail himself of it. He charg-
ed him with trying to make d party
issue of the tariff by delivering a
calamity howl at Philadelphia in a
recent speech, and failing in that eff
fort, he is now crying the false issue
of war.
Referring to Roots declaration that
the Government had neglected its du-
ty in not acting more forcefully with
regard to Mexico, Senator Lewis read
from the New York Senator's speech |
in the Senate-opposing Democratic
proposal for Intervention in 1911, and
the occupation Of Vera Cruz in 1914. !
Conditions Same in Mexico.
"The conditions in Mexico now are
the same as they have been for more
than four years." said Senator Lewis.
"These conditions prevailed when the
New Yorker was in this body as
spokesman for his party. When Sem
ator Stone introduced resolution,
which sought power from the Senate |
to direct President Taft to act, SEN
ator Root condemned the effort of the
Democracy to do everything which
he now says should be done. The
Senator from New York declared such
course would be step backward in
the path of civilization.
"Who is behind the masters in the
Republican party now? Whom do
they serve by making war upon Ger
many? And if they do succeed, then
how are they to proceed? They con-
fess that after 16 years power and at
a cost Of over $sO0,0OO,O00 spent un-
der the guise of national defense,
there is no army, no navy, no avia-
tion corps, no Notifications. Did not
Senator Root himself on this floor
participate in the filibuster to kill the
bill which would have provided ships
that might have carried our army
against an enemy?"
When Senator Lewis had conclud-
ed Senator Smoot had inserted in the
record Roots entire New York con-