Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-01-24
the sincerity of the president.

the sincerity of the president.
Each senator should express his
views on the proper relation the
United States must maintain with the
world
This is the time and proposal which
requires conscientious speech
Cummins then expressed apprecia-
ton of the pressure being brought to
bear on the members of the house and
senate to close up business. He said
avoidance of any extra session was no
! answer, however, in favor of putting
off discussion of the presidents pro-
posal.
Cummins declared the question a
non-partisan one.
II do know, however," he said,
that the president is the only one
charged with the duty of speech on
such a subject"
He expressed belief that two days
would be sufficient to make heard
the voice of the senate"
Regular business could then be re-
sumed.
Senator Sherman, Illinois, in a bit
ter denunciation of the presidents IS ad-
dress, declared it to be q "stump
speech from the throne, a forestalling
of public opinion, and an attempt to
make the senate accept any treaty he
might make.''
After Senator Stone had urged the
Cummins motion be referred to the
foreign relations committee, Senator
Shafroth approved the Stone move and
introduced resolution advocating an
international court with power to en-.
force the decrees.
The Shafroth resolution provides
each nation be represented by two to
five Judges and that each contribute
from its naval and military forces to
back up the courts decrees.
Senator Stone, chairman of the
foreign relations committee, was on his
feet Immediately when Cummins con
cluded.
LAS I understand it, this would pro
woke a situation where we might have
to 90 to war in order to get peace, -
Gallinger said.
Shaforth proceeded in lengthy dis
cussion on his views on peace enforce
ment.
sherman urged the advisability of
something concrete being presented to
the senate for action before general
debate on the presidents speech was
launched
The Illinois senator then criticised
the president S visits to the capitol in
the interest of legislation:
Senator Norris offered an amend
mont TO stones resolution, providing
the Cummins resolution be referred to
the foreign relations committee, shall
be reported back to the senate with
such recommendation as the commit
tee may deem proper within ten days.
Senator Weeks said the president
FUSED the senate as a megaphone
through which he addressed the
world. ~
"Or did he want action by the sem
ate?" asked Weeks. "And what is
peace without victory9' Are we to
sit in an extra session to watch Eu.
rope and decide what our course should
be in case European hostillties are
ended2' :,
On this question Lodge said ironical-
ly:
HIt would take even the foreign re-
lations committee more than ten days
to determine adequate means OF set
Ting the present war, and, after that,
decide how to avoid all future con-
flicts."
Lodge approved the Cummins resolu-
tion.
Senator Lewis questioned advis.
ability Of general discussion OF world
peace now on grounds that it might
seriously emDarrass any foreign gov
ernments in any reply they might wish
to make the president address"
II doubt that the president IS 50
obsessed with the senator's (Cummlns)
affection as to be willing to place his
fortunes in his (CumminsO hands,
stone said sareastieally to the progress
sive-republican.
Stone declared he was opposed to
the resolution as being unwlse,. intro
duced hastily and without due deilner'
alton. ,,
"If this talkfest proposed should
continue seven hours per day with eaea
senator speaking an hour, 70 hours q q
tark would be launched and it would
consume more than two weeks.
oIf Wa should have three or four OF
half dozen speeches disapproving
the president S address in wnole or
mart and another half dozen endorsing
ana approving the address, how would
tbe nresident be enlightened. How
would his steps be guidedi It is an
nnwarranted assumption to say that
snnechcs bv senators talking two cI
tbree davs would unfold and lay bare
before the president and the country
and the world the Judgment Of the