Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-01-30
Senator Cun1n1ins' Resolution
to Debate Peace Speech Lost

ate purpose to make these treaties, Il
purpose modified, | assume, by the inn
Piled provision, unless otherwise ad-
vised by the senate, or unless charged
by public opinion"
Cummins emphasized that the pres
ident has asked for any assistance the
senate could give him.
rs it possible that under these cir
cumstances we can refuse this call to
the highest duty which has ever fallen
upon this department of the govern
mentl' he asked.
Cummins declared that President
Wilson IS plan would revolutionize
our institutions, cause us to abandon
all our traditions, surrender our SOW
ereignty, transfer to o new nation or
league, our navy, army and our treas
ury and make our men fight and our
women suffer when commanded by an
alien authority"
Are we to be told time spent in
discussion OF this proposal would be
time wastedP' Cummins shouted.
The senate was not impressed with
the "reasons given" for motion to
refer his resolution to the foreign re-
lations committee.
Cummins declared that democratic
members of the senate not wishing for
open discussion of the message would
bury his resolution in the "dust-cov-
cred archives of the foreign relations
committee were it referred to that
committee.
He said he "intended to analyze the
proposal and ascertain just what the
president intends to do if foreign ma
tions are willing to do it with him.
The message <overflows with just
and beautiful sentiments said Cum
mins. "Millions of our men and wo-
men hearing or reading these senti'
ments assume the president is about to
bring Justice to the world, abolish war
and maintain permanent peace"
He referred to parts of the message
as universally accepted generalities,
which mean nothing but pleasure to
the ear.'
Cummins stated he did not question
the sincerity of the president or the
honesty of his convictions He stated
that he felt il his duty to issue note
Of warning to ga plan that that can
end in nothing bat disaster"
Cummins favored amy movement to
organize a world court.
NIt is only when it is attempted to
confer upon such tribunal the powers
TO use armies and navies to enforce its
deerees or to make contracts to fight
in a quarrel not our own that my OPP
position begins,' he added.
"The message opens with a reference
TO the note of December Is to belliger'
cnt nations asking terms upon which
peace might be discussed. / think
the president was wholly right in pro
pounding these questions
Cummins stated that, while the
United States should have nothing to
do with the terms upon which Euro
pean peace would be established, in SO
far as the terms relate to territory or
reparation, "we ought to have a seat
at the council table when the subject
of prevention of future wars is con
cerned.
Cummins declared that none OF
these things touch that isolation of our
sovereignty taught by Washington, Jet'
ferson and Monroe
After quoting the president as "pro.
posing government by the consent OF
the governed Cummins said:
"The president wants to sit down
with the other powers of the earth and
seriously attempt to agree upon a
division of the earth and its people, in
to sovcreignties and having so appo,r,,
toned the population Of the world
among distinct governments, he pro.
poses that the universal council shall
create a supreme power which VIII
maintain the status thus established,
but suppressing instructions, repeliing
inyasions and overcoming every effoft
Of any single government or combine
ton Of the governments to change inc
existing conditions. -
This plan, Cummins said, would deny
TO any nation the right of redress or 10
maintain its own honor.
mThe president failed to make
clear.'' Cummins said, IF this league,
Of nations could change the territorial
limits of governments or transfer Q
people with their consent from one u
another.
nThere is but one conclusion that
can be drawn from the president 's ut
terances,D said Cummins. 1T is that
Continued on Page Seven.)