The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-10-08
HOT DEBATE
ENDSSENATE
SESSION
La F0llette's Defense of
War Attitude Fea-
ture of Close


WORKS @ commentator from Presi
deEt Wilson and ne words Of ,h'
wars greatest loyalty debate siil
lnains in their ears congress al
Jouuel saturday afternoon a.
O'cicck subject 10 che call 81 The
IRE ldent
Thr closing hours % the senate
were featured by senator R0bcr III
laFoNcttc's Iymaf KaDle defense oi
fls var attitude, iu reply to The
widespread demand for las eXpll
fiun from the senate.
senator Robinson. of Arkansas.
made bitter reply % tie Nl-con-
sin solon In which be declared La
Toilette belonged IN The German
Gundesrath
Senator kellcCg also arraigned ne
Wisconsin senator FOR what Do CALI
"a untrue statements In speeches
concerning the war,
"sinco ne declaration Of WAT. the
triumphant war party has pursued
those senator, and representative
uh0 voted against war Wltn t
4m,. ialsohood and rcckie-siy
l!beious attacks going 30 fle tA-
IRENE limit OF charging them w.ih
Treason" I.aFclletie said y have
before re newspaper clippings.
ecine % rem iitcls against me
: aIGnC, TOfnC directed as Well esaInsi
Other senators One of hese news
raper REPORTS, most yideiy circulat
Gu represents "a ieoerH judge E
saying IN charge OF grand -rorr
that certain distinguished senators,
amnn. whom ] have the honor 70
le included should b, stood up
against q wall and given what thel
oeTerTc implying. OF course, iha'
We should be shot II This were
singl, or exceptional instance oi
defamation. I should not trouble the
senate with a reference 10 o.
~ und other senators. accused OF
The highest crimes OF which ans
MI. -, -. .l.-lt.-=. .a-gn-. Ind = -
loyalty, accused not only with no
evidence 20 support the accusation
but without the suggestion that such
evidence anywhere exists.
"Buf n Is not alone members OF
congress the war party In this coun'
try has sought 70 intimidate. The
mandate has gone forth 20 the SOW
ereign people that they must oe
silent while those things are being
done by their government which
most vitality concern their well De
ing, their happiness and their liVes
II think all men recognize that IN
time ~ war the citizen must sur
render some rights for the pubic
good But the right 20 control their
own government according 20 consti-
futional forms Is not one ~ The
rights that the citizens % this coun-
try are called upon 20 surreneer in
time OF war.
Rather in time Of war the citizen
must be more alert 70 the pr"ser a
ton Of his right 10 control his gov
eminent lie must be watchful ~
the encroachment OF the military up-
on civil power. lie must beware ot
those presidents IN support ~ ar
trary action hy Administrative ON
ciais. which excused on the plea ~
necessity IN war time. become the
fixed rule whsn the necessity has
Nor. than all the ci.izen ~ war
time must retain his right - free
speech. 1 believe ! am now touching
upon the most important qucstiou IN
the country--the right ~ the cite
zrns 10 discuss 81 an orderly way,
publicly and frankly and without
fear from the platform and thru their
publications every important phasN
~ this war: its causes. the manner
in which IL should be conducted. ana
the terms upon which peace should
be made The belief becoming B de
spread IN this land that this most
Fundamental right ls being denied
citizens Of this country. ~ fact.
ne tremendous sirnihcancs OF witch
those IN authority have not yet APP
lie cited the paris economy. confer
ence as evidence OF what war fever
The Allies entered into a compact
Of commercial vengeance 20 he cNecn-
ted against ne Central powers after
peace shall be declared he said ~
believe no single act has done So
much 20 solidify the resistance ~
the Central powers and secure the
dorcfmiLed support OF their peoples
as this one act. The people OF the
Central powers reason that II they
ere 70 face commercial slavery after
the war, they may as well die ngnt-
iirp.F
lie quoted from the speeches and
writings Of Lincoln. Clay. Webster
and sumner 20 show their vigorous
public opposition % the Mexican war,
and 20 President Folks attitude and
policies.
said TaFoilette. What a galaxy -
names in American history They
oil believed and asserted and advo-
Gated IN the midst OF war that 10
was the constitutional right ana the
patriotic duty o. American ciizens
after the declaration % war. and
while the war was in progress. ~
hiFcuas tho issues ~ the war and Co
criticize the policies opposed g. pro-
longing the war
''Thr right ~ these men "a exactly
the same az possessed by every AM
crlcan citizen today IN respect 70 the
war in which We are now engaged
Quoting Lloyd-GeorRe. IaFoilette
showed DE had opposed the Roer war
both before and after its beginning
he showed how Chatham and Burke
opposed the war on the American
colonies. quoting. he said. TO show
that the principle of free speech wa
no new doctrine born n the constitu.
ton - the United states
TaFoilette then launched Into
criticism If congress Tor failing n
"eNarfiAe SIS power 60 declare fh,
purpose and objects 81 the war"
fI believe that had congress efcr
cised This power We would hav
atoidcd the present war. continue
IaHulletfe 70 believe that ~ w
aro 60 cNtricatc ourselves from Tbs
war. and restore this country tn al
honorable and iastinE peace conErcs
riNsf eNcrtisr in fuN Tho war power
entrusted 20 30 hy the constitution.
1tc asserted that congress mas al
zyyN