The public ledger., 1917-01-05
,atfs PRECEDENT
| IN NOTE Defense
Lewis and Lodge Continue Debate on
Endorsement Of Wilson Proposal
Works Interferes- Is De-
layed When Senator Be.
gins Four.Hour Vale.
dlctOry Speech.

Washington, January 4--The Amer
ican note to belligerent Powers sug-
gesting discussion Of peace terms
was debated again today In the Senate
but two hours of attack and defense
failed to bring to vote the Hitch
cock resolution indorsing President
Wilson's action In sending 1t. The
resolution will come up tomorrow with
the prospect Of further antagonistic
speeches by Republicans. An ef1ort
by Senator Hitchcock to secure unan-
imous consent for vote late tomor-
row failed on objection by Senator
Brandegee. During parliamentarian
maneuvering that followed the reso-
luton Senator Works gained the hoor
to make q four-hour prepared valedic-
tory speech. Before Senator Works
began, however, Senator Stone, Chair
man of the Foreign Relations Com
mittee, with whom President Wilson
consulted two days ago, spoke briefly
saying the news had gone forth to the
world that the Presidents note was
under discussion and that the Senate
should consider and act upor 1t al
once. Senator Gallinger, the Republi-
can leader, replied with 4 warning
that any attempt to force action would
not meet with approval.
Warns Against Leap In Dark
After l,tening to Senator Works
for abpdt two hours the Senate re-
cessed until tomorrow, when he will
resume. The vote on the Hitchcock
resolution cannot come at least until
he concludes.
The principal speeches today were
made by Senator Lewis, who defended
the Presidents action, and by Sena-
tor Lodge, who, concluding his attack
begun yesterday, declared adoption oi
the resolution would be a leap In the
dark into international negotiations
with which Congress had no legal con-
cern and no knowledge.
Senator Lewis answered in detail
the criticisms of the Massachusetts
Senator. Replying to the assertion
that the note had been taken as fa'
vorable move for Germany, he sale
that it was but natural that one side
or the other to such controversy
should so interpret move for peace
and declared that, after all, this was
no reason to defeat so great an end.
Lewis Raps Lodge
He dissented strongly from the view
expressed by Mr.. Lodge that the adop
ton of the resolution would mean the
dragging of the United States into Eu
ropean politics, with danger to the
Monroe Doctrine and Important do
nestle policies, and accused the Mas
sachusetts Senator of incorrectly re
citing history to put Democratic
President in bad light.
"This note," said Senator Lewis
ION its very face merely tenders thu
good offices. When good offices are
xendersd L ig~Heetss customary, though
!, permissible, first to sound out the par
ties. The contrary course of times IL
adopted lest those involved averse IL
peace would be busy to intercept it,
results
"In 1912, when there was war be-
tween the United States and England
Russia rendered her Offices as medi
atOr, and notwithstanding the fact
that Russia at that time was In al.
lance with England. England de.
clined her Offices; and the Senator
will recall that Sir James Mcintosh
announced that the reason was be-
cause Russia rendered herself as medi.
atnr and not her good offices.