New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-03
President Demands
Action to Help Him
Out of Tangle
FIGHT PLANNED
BY REPUBLICANS
Will Oppose Hitchcock
Resolution and Repudiate
Mann Endorsement
lFrom The Tribune Bureau ]

from me Inplne bhreall
Washington, Jan. president
Wilson has demanded that the SEN
ate pass resolution indorsing his
peace note. The Democratic major
ity has decided to bow TO his will,
and the Hitchcock resolution, ex-
pressing broad approval Of the terms
of the note and time Of its dispatch,
will be forced through the Senate,
possibly tomorrow, certainly within
a day or two.
The action Of the Senate, however,
will not be unanimous, and the
blanket Endorsement Of the Presi-
dents timely reinforcement Of the
German peace drive will meet the
kind of opposition which at least
will go far toward injecting lit
tie sanity into state of affairs de-
scribed here as Sentimental and
whimpering."
Real Battle on To-day
The discussion of the Hitchcock
resolution in the. Senate this after
noon was only a skirmish TO the main
battle, which will be started soon
after noon tomorrow.
Although the subject is not being
treated from the partisan standpoint.
the attack will come entirely from
the Republican Senator's The heavy
guns will be fired by Lodge and
Borah. Senator Smoot purposes to
offer a substitute which would ex-.
press the earnest wish Of the Senate
for righteous peace, but which
would not indorse the Wilson policy.
President Wilson will get the in
dorsement he demands by practically
party vote, although not all Of the Re
Dublicsns will go to the length Of
.eening to take a position opposing
peace. Therein lines the sophistry OF
.he state Of affairs which suddenly has
arisen in the Senate.
In opposing the Presidents note il
is difficult to make clear that one is not
opposing peace. Nobody asked Mr..
Hitchcock, of Nebrsska-who is the
only strong pro-German in the Senate
and not especially friendly TO Wilson
TO introduce his resolution.
Didn't Expect II to Pass
When Tribune reporters talked 70
Kim Monday night he had no idea thst
his resolution would be passed. II
would present an opportunity for him
and others to talk. lie was as much
surprised as any one TO find himself
backed up by Chairman Stone Of the
Foreign Relations Committee and the
Wilson machine in the Senate.
The change in plans followed Presi-
dent Wilson's visit to Senator Stone on
New Years afternoon. An interesting
story lies back Of the Presidents sud
den demand 10 have the Senate take
official action indorsing his peace note.
But Washington has not completely
fathomed his reasons.
His friends say that he wants 20
show the belligerent and neutral world,
as represented in the embassies snd
legations here, that he has the country
behind him in his peace move. Those
who are not particularly friendly say
that the President, convinced Of the
blunder in appearing before the world
as Germany's willing tool, now seeks
support wherever he can find II.
As Senators Lodge, Borsh and Smoot
who will lead to-morrow's fight against
| the Hitchcock resolution, are Repub-
licans. their action will make it clear
that the party is not supporting Will
sons note. Up to this time the only
expression of Republican opposition
has come from the lips Of James r.
Mann, the minority leader in the
/ House.
Mann's Statement Unpopular
Mr.. Mann, giving his words the
I weight of Republican leader in the
popular branch, has indorsed the Pres
/ ident's policy Those words have not
been popular. Republican Senators and
Representatives have received letters
and kilograms By the score from prom.
inent party men all over the country
praying them 70 do something 20
eountersct the idea that Mann spoke
| for the party.
In his speech tomorrow Senator
Lodge is expected to make it clear that
Mr.. Mann spoke only for hims,l,
There are no Republican members o.
the Senate who support Mr.. Mann. II
is said that he has followers in the
lower house, as ne had when he voted
/ for the McLemore resolution warning
Americans of Atlantic liners lest they
| be killed by German submarines.
The debate in the Senate tomorrow
} - sure &c % something toward elsri-
flying a situation which has become az