The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-01-31
Senator Cummins Opens the
Debate on the Speech of
the President
LEAGUE TO ENFORCE
PEACE A SNARE
america at Beck and Call of
Europe-Right of Re-
dress Taken Away

Washington, Jan. Ex-senator Cum
Minis OF Iowa moved that the Senate yes
terday take up his resolution providing
for q discussion of the presidents peace
league address and giving each senator
an opportunity to speak for not more
than an hour. Addressing himself to the
resolution, Senator Cummins said that
foreign powers are taking it for granted
that the government of the United
States is not only ready but anxious to
become part of new world sovereign
ty. One branch of the treaty making
power has spoken. The president has
told the Senate and the world in explicit
terms that it is the deliberate purpose
to make these treaties. rs it possible"
asked Senator Cummins, that when it is
proposed that we shall revolutionize our
institutions, abandon all our traditions,
surrender our sovereignty, transfer to
new nation or league our army, our
navy, and with them our treasury, TO
put at the disposal of power higher
than our own the lives and the fortunes
of our men and women, to make the
former fight and the latter suffer when
commanded by an alien authority, we
win be met with the objection that the
time spent in the Senate in discussion
would be time wasted?"
He was not proving or condemning the
course of the president, he said, he was
merely making clear that there is no
other subject so vital as this"
The senator would say no more, he
said if he believed his Democratic as
toe xrf,,IJ Dammit ion, ,nf
the resolution on its merits and appoint
time for serious thought and express
sion. But they propose to bury it in the
committee on foreign relations,
''The message over0ows with just and
beautiful sentiments so eternally right
that they instantly command the APP
proval OF all lovers of humanity" said
Senator Cummins. at is sad spec
tacle, however, to see flag raised in
devotion of the heaven of peace leading a
march straight to the hell of war. 1t |
is because | have a deep desire to be OF |
some help to my fellow countrymen that |
] devote myself to the task of separat /
ing in the presidents message the uni
versally accepted generslities which
mean nothing but pleasure to the ear |
iiOul tIit WIN !
respect to the formation of new and |
supreme government which is to COM
mand our resources in both blood and
treasure.
IF this country shall do what the
president proposes, we will be involved
either in almost continuous war waged
MI over the world or in almost constant
rebellion against the authority which he
proposes to set up over us. If / did
not think he was honest and sincere in
his delusion | would not be interested in
.he discussion, or if he stood alone. But
.he proposal has been before the world
Tor centuries and in our own country
was being urged by men of the highest
prominence long before it attracted the
attention of the president The sugges-
ion calls upon those of us who believe
hat the plan can end in nothing but 4
disaster, to utter a note of warning" I
The president was right in PROFOUND
ng his question to the warning powers in
he note of Dec. Is. While we ought to !
ave nothing to do with the terms of
'eace in so far as they relate to either |
erritory or reparation, we ought to {
ave seat at the council table when !
he prevention of future wars is under
consideration. Our influence ought to be
cit when the future ornaments of ma !
ions is being determined. But none of
hese things in which he agreed with the
residents position, the senator said,
ouch that isolation of our sovereignty
0 wisely taught by Washington, Jeffer- /
on and Munroe That, however, is not
Al. l.. L. L.
he United States to sit down with the
ther powers of the earth and seriously
tempt to agree upon division of the
arth and its peoples into sovereignty, !
guided by the principles of justice he so = =
ersuasively states" The plan involves g
nc denial to any such nation of the =
ght to redress its own wrongs or to
aintain its own honor. It eontemplates a
,mplete capitalization, eternal fixity. :
]