Grand Forks herald., 1917-01-24
ACTION
ON RESOLUTION
TO DEBATE THE.
PEACE MESSAGE
Senator Culrnnins Declares
That Upper House Can
Remain Quiet.
STONE DECLARES 1T
IS NOT TIME TO ACT
Waste of Time, He Says, to
Devote Week or More to
Such discussion.
STONE DECLARES 1T
IS NOT TIME TO ACT

Washington. Jan. 24-Action on
Senator Cumninas resolution to pro-
vide for exclusiXas consideration of
President WilsonH peace address un-
til all senators had expressed their
view was deferred today and it was
sent to the calendar after it had been
debated two houra.
Opening debata on his resolution.
Senator Cumming said the presidents 8
suggestions were; the most important
ever made by q. chief executive of the
United States. and. right or wrong.
the senate owed X to the country to
set aside time for q full discussion
OF the issues involved.
OughtSto Act.
IT have no disposition to speak at
length on this resolution" he said.
''It will be observed that the resolu-
ton does not invite or even properly
permit a discussion at this time of
the soundness or Sunsoundness of the
purposes announced in the president s.
address. will do all l can do to
hold the debate to the point at issue.
What is it? 1t is this: Ought the
senate on some day in the near flu
ture do the country Justice by inform
ing the people and advising the pres
ident of our views concerning a pol
ASy VI IAo 1hO0S tiNol tduSc "
which he has. told us he is about to
commit to istgovernme
For the present discussion it mat
ters not whether the president is right
or wrong. In either case his COM
munication is the most important
ever made by a chief executive of the
United Statee." ~.
Senator Cummlns recalled that the
president had referred to the senate
iii
ternational affairs.
Must Not Remain Idle.
Are we to sit dumb under this
appeal?" asked the Iowa senator.
"The time to vote. y is tEne. has not
arrived, but is RE councif@to remain
silent while publi,k opinion is form
tered" d.
II have no authority to speak for
the president. but l am bound to be-
lieve those who oppose this resolu-
tion' are not his true friends. 1t must
be he desires and expects the freest
and fullest debate on the tremendous
issue he has raised. What value as
we as council if we lock our lips and
allow him to go his way?"
) Stone objects.
Senator Stone, chairman of the
foreign relations committee, opened
discussion in opposition to the reso-
luton, arguing that it would take
more than two weeks of the senate's
ttime IL every senator took the pro-
posed hour to discuss the subject. He
urged that the resolution be referred
to the foreign relations committee.
II am against this resolution" he
said. ut has been introduced by the
senator from Iowa without due de-
liberation and with great haste as il
he were apprehensive that some one
else might precede him on the stage.
What is to be accomplished by this
resolution If adopted?
Waste OF Time.
There is no desire on the part Of
the presidents friends to prevent the
fullest expression on the subject. Let
the country discuss it; let the world
discuss it. But for the senate to set
aside such an amount of time as this
resolution proposes. while no official
action can be taken. seems to me to
be a melancholy waste Of time
Before a vote could be ordered
Senator Shafroth. Democrat, urged a
public hearing by the foreign relations
committee and debate in the senate
special session to confirm appoint
mentS after March T.