The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-01-24
SENATE DELAYS
DISCUSSION OF )
WILSON SPEECH
Cummins Pays Eloquent
Tribute to Purposes Of
The President.

Washington, Jan. 24-Action on
vide for exclusive consideration Of
President Wilson's peace address un-
til all senators have expressed their
views was deferred today, and it was
sent to the calendar after it had been
debated two hours.
When Senator Cummins called up
his resolution Senator Brandegee of
Connecticut insisted on a quorum, say
ing:
''This matter touches upon one of
the most important subjects that has
ever been before the United States
senate"
T When a call brought the required
quorum of members, Senator Cum
minis resumed.
II have no disposition to speak at
length on the resolution" Mr.. Cum
minis said. II hope to reach a vote
on it befoe the morning hour closes.
It will be observed that the resolution
does not invite no even properly per-
NIT a discussion at this time of the
soundness of unsoundness of the pur-
poses in the Presidents address. I
will do ALL I can to hold the debate
to the point at issue. What IS it:
It is this:' Ought the Senate, some
day in the near future, do the country
the Justice of informing the people
and advising the President of our
views concerning a policy of the most
vital Importance to which he has told
us he is about ito commit his Govern
ment.
sTI~o 1,n nf
resolution it matters not whether the
President is right or wrong. In either
case his communication is the most
important ever made by a Chief Ex-
ecutive of the United States. He so
regards it. The whole country so
looks upon it and foreign nations SO
accept it. He has come to the Senate
frankly and boldly and, 1 assume, with
al sincerity, saying that he owed it to
us to disclose to us the purpose in his
mind Why did he owe it to us to
disclose without reserve the thought
and purposes in his mind"
Senator Cummins said the presi-
dent himself had answered that ques-
ton when he referred to the senate
as "a council associated with me" in
international affairs.
"Are we to sit dumb at this ap-
peal?" asked the senator.
s"The time to vote, it is true, has not
arrived, but is the council to remain
silent while public opinion is forming
and public judgment is entered
"I have no auth ority to speak for
the president, but I am bound to be-
lieve those who oppose this resolu-
ton are not his true friends. 1t
must be he desires and expects the
freest and fullest debate on the tre-
mendous issue he has raised. What
value are we as council IT we lock
our lips and allow him to go his way.
do not know whether any senator
here intends to vote in opposition to
this resolution hope there be not.
But if there be one I want him to re-
fleet a moment, FOR it seems to me
that opposition means Il doubt re-
specting either the sincerity or cour-
age of the president.
eff we are not to render an opinion
in response to his investigation it
means that he chose the senate as a
conduit through which to pass the
new doctrine to the ministers of for
eign affairs of the world and the news
papers, or as a. setting for a beautiful
picture skillfully painted. 1 hardly
believe any one will put the presi-
dent in the position of having so
flagranfly misused the privileges CT
the senate. Or else it means that he
is one of those unhappy persons who
feel safer in a company where he
alone is armed and can fear no shot
save his alone. I am not challenging
either the sincerity or the courage OF
the chief executive
eff there ever was time when that
duty commanded-to give to the
world and to the country the honest
of the senate on proposals
that affect the integrity of the nation,
the peace of the world and the happi-
ness of mankind-it is now, The pro-
posal and the time require conscien-
tious speech.
'"This is not a partisan subject" he
said, 1.-The president is, not the only
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