Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-20
LEWIS MAKES v|TR|OL|C
At TACK ON EL|HU ROOT
Protests Against Hypocrisy OF
craftsmanship" Displayed in Re-
cent New York Speech.
REsENTs sNEERs AT PRESIDENT
Republican Party. lie Declares. Now
Seeking to Make "War With Ger
many" Dominant Issue for Coming
Political Campaign.
Especial to The Timcs-Dispatch. !

Especial TO The Times Dispatch
WASHINGTON. February 1a-Scna-
tor Z. Hamilton Lewis. of Illinois, in
the Senate to-day. delivered a vitriolic
attack on Elihu Root. in reply to the
speech recently delivered by the former
Senator to the Republican State Con-
vention or New York
lie reviewed international conditions
Of this country with respect to Ger
many and Mexico. He declared that,
after losing every other Issue. the Re-
publican party. under the leadership
or Mr.. Root. was seeking to make war
with Germany dominant issue for
the coming political campaign.
"rhc speech had for its purpose the
awakening OF the American people to
n spirit OF resentment against the
Democratic administrations" said Sena-
tor Lewis.
Its deliberate object was TO hold
the President OF tho United States up
ns an individual unworthy OF tho re-
spect OF his country and lacking the
confidence OF the nation"
Taking up tho phase OF Mr.. Roots
speech relating to Germany. Senator
Lewis said
''Alr. Root says il is necessary we
should have q President who has some
thing more than words, who would fol-
low words by actions.
Yet, what action? Ther. can be
but one other kind of action, and that
is war.
LET PARTY DECLARE
IT'S PLEDGE TO WAR
"if the able Senator expected to
pledge his party 10 war as an issue in
this country, let it declare IL with
courage, and tho Democracy will make
the issue.
IF the action referred to means that
tho grievance against the Democracy
is that ii has not marched its people
across the sea into Germany to be
killed. If that be not the purpose OF
the word action what other action,
then. could he refer to-
This Hypocrisy OF statcsmanship I
protest against, an American who
viii be called upon to tender all
have in the fateful hour or conflict
'lf the object is 10 elect a President
under The covert object OF war and
to hide the truth from the American
people under doubtful phraseolog-, I
wish to expose the fact.
H. on the othcr hanu the purpose
is that war Shall be declared against
Germany. and that the issue shall be
war without regard to its merits or 10
the justice OF the declarations they
should come forth and declare 1t. and
the country shall judge them by their
uttcranCes.
DECLINES TO TOLERATE
HYPOCRISY OF STtTESMAN
For myself. | will not tolerate in
silence hypocrisy OF statesmanship
coming from any source however high.
The ex-senator indicts the Presi-
dent of the United States as a weak
and supinc victim or surroundings
whose tendency IS 10 address a note.
What else can he do?
Since the Lusitania incident aud
the Outright incident the able Senator
was Il member Of this body represent
ing the imperial State of New York
There was no power ir the world To
paralyzc his arm from introducing a
resolution for action here in the Sem
ate Of the United States
Since the Senator from New York
himself never rendered such, why will
no be found In high place so abusing
it's common sense by attempting 10
"0i""' '"' american people oy ar
raigning the President OF the United
states. merely because he Is Demo-
cart. as unworthy OF their confidence for
not doing that which he knows we'll. in
power. he could not do and where the
circumstances never could justify itr"I
Dealing with the Mexican situation.
Senator Lewis pointed cut thar The
position taken by Mr.. Root now is
the reverse OF what II was under pre-.
cisely similar conditions when the Re-
publican party WAS In power.