The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-24
SENATE In TWO
fContinued From Page One. /,


hold the debate to the point at issue.
What is it, 1t is this: Ought the sem
ate on some day in the near future
do the country the justice of inform
ing the people and advising the pres
ident of our views concerning a policy
of the most vital importance to which
he has told us he is about to commit
his government?
For the proper discussion, it mat
tiers notw neither the president is right
or wrong. In either case his COM
munication is the most important ever
made by chief executive of the Uni
ted 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 bold
ly and l assume with all sincerity, say
ing 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 re-
serve the thought and purposes in his
mind"
President Expects Discussion?
Senator Cummins said the president
himself had answered that question
when he referred to the senate as
council associated with me" in inter-
national affairs.
Are we to sit dumb under this APP
pearl? asked the Iowa senator The
time to vote, it is true. has not arrived,
tut is the council to remain silent
while public opinion is forming and
public Judgment is being entered?
L have no authority to speak for
the president but 1 am bound to be-
lieve those who oppose this resolution
are not his true friends. 1t must be
ne desires and expects the freest and
fullest debate on the tremendous issue
ne has raised. What value are we as
council If We lock our lips and allow
him to so his way?
IF there ever WAS a time 1yba,, tho.
duty communicable give to the world
ana TO the country the honest convic-
tlons OF the senate upon proposals that
AFFECT the integrity of the nation, the
peace OF the world and the happiness
of manlind-it is now. The proposal
and the time require conscientious
speech.
rms IS not partisan subject" he
SAID The president is not the only
person charged with the duty of
Speech upon such a subject"
Whats the Use?"-Stone.
Senator Stone. chairman of the for
elgn relations committee, opened dis
cussion in opposition to the resolution
arguing that it would take more than
two weeks of the senate's time if every
senator took the proposed hour to
discuss the subject. He urged that the
resolution be referred to the foreign
relations committee.
Il am against this resolution" he
said 1T has been introduced by tie
senator from Iowa, without due de-
liberation and with great haste as f
he were apprehansive that some one
else might precede him on the stage.
What is to be accomplished by this
resolution if adopted? The resolution
declares it is impossible for the SEN
ate to take official action at this time
On these grave matters. But the sen
ator has written into the resolution
| that it was the obvious object to in
vite free and frank expression from
the members of the senate for the
| guidance of the president. There is
no official cognizance to be taken, but
there should be individual expressions
of opinions among members of the
senate.
"If three or four or half dozen
speeches should be made criticisine
/ and Sisapproving the address in whole
or in part and another half dozen
speeches be made endorsing and ap-
proving it how would the president If
/ the United States be enlightened -
asked Senator Stone.
Uses Senate as a Megaphone.
| Senator Weeks said the president
FUSED the senate as a megaphone thru
which he addressed the world"
| COR did he want action by the SEN
/ ete?" asked Weeks. And what is
peace without victory Are we to sit
| in an extra session and watch Europe
ard decide what our course should be
in case European hostiHties are
ended?"
On this question Lodge said ironi-
cally:
1T would take even the foreign re-