Gilpin observer., 1916-03-16
Ma. aoor,s STRANGE SILENCE

Elihu Root was secretary Of state
in 1897 when the Hague convention
adopted the declaration that
1. The territory Of neutral pow
ers IL inviolable-
2. Belligerents are forbidden
to move troops or convoys OF eth
er munitions Of war or supplies
across the territory OF a neutral
power.
Elihu Root was a senator In the
congress Of the United States Aug
2, 1914, when German troops invaded
Belgium.
Mr.. Root in his war speech before
the Republican, Stale Convention Feb
| Is, 1915, declared without qualifica-
ton that "the invasion Of Belgium
was breach OF contract with US for
the maintenance Of a laIw Of nations
which was the protection OF our
peace" and that the American gov
ernment "shrank from speaking ss.e
truth"
What was Elihu Root doing when
1.-THE American government failed to
rise to the demands Of great oc-
casion?"
He was not only a United States
senator but lie was the most COM
manding figure in the Senate Conn
mittee on Foreign Relations, COM
mittee which shares with the presi-
dent of the United States the respon-
sibility for conducting the foreign af-
fairs Of the United States. Mr.. Root
himself was a part of the American
government he "shIank from speak
ing the truth at the time Belgium
was invaded.
Congress was in session when the
German troops crossed the Belgium
frontier. Did Mr.. Root protest? Did
he rise in his seat and declare this
invasion to be "a breach of contract
g., 1914, to Feb. Is, 1916, Elihu Root
never uttered in public or for publi-
ton one single word on that subject.
He served in the United States SEN
ate until March 4, 1915, and took a
leading part in all the activities of
that body. He was in fact the Repub-
hcan leader, with a commanding in
fluence over his Republican col
leagues and over many Democrats:
yet never syllable from Elihu Root
about the invasion CT Belgium.
1t was within his province and his
power to introduce a resolution de-
claring 1t to be the sense of the SEN
ate the invasion of Belgium was a
breach of contract with u.s." The ad-
option OF such a resolution would have
been legitimate exercise CT the
senates preorgatives II the senate be
lieved a breach OF contract had been
committed No such resolution was
introduced, nor did Mr.. Root in amy
speech ever raise the question.
He has been continuously active in
New York politics since his retire
ment from the senate; yet newer un-
til he delivered this war speech be-
Gore the Republican State Conven-
ton did he refer to the invasion of
Belgium as a matt;r to which the
United States was hound to give Of
ficial recognition, or against which
1t was bound to protest by the Terms
Of the Hague convention.
It took Elihu Root exactly one
year six months and thirteen days
to discover that the invasion OF Bel
gium was "a breach Of contract with
u.s." and that in our failure to declare
1t breach Of contract we showed
only "solicitude for trade and profit
and posterity and wealth." He might
not have discovered 1t th,n but for
the fortuitous fact that a. Republican
State convention had convened to
recommend delegates-at-hrge to a
Republican National Convention at
which his name will be presented
as a candidate for president.
We have too much respect for
Mr.. Roots great intellect. great tai,
ents and great learning in the law
to ipsinuhte that he is guilty of pol.
itical insincerity in his belatedl charg
es against President Wilson in res
pect to Belgium neutrality. Umdoubt
edly the long delay resulted from
the slow, conservative functions OF
his mind by which conclusions are
reached only through patient and
protracted processes Of reasoning
Upon this hypothesis alone can we
explain his strange silence during
that period Of one year six months
and thirteen days. Upon this hy'
pothesis alone can We account fol-