Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-01-05
10, Associated Press.


was debated again to-day in the Sen
ate. but two hours of attack and de-
Tense failed IL bring to Il vote the
Hitchcock resolution indorsing PreSi-
dent Wilson'S action il sending il. The
resolution viii again come up io-mor-
row. with tho prospect of. further an
tasonis,ic speeches by Republicans.
I'm effort by Senator Hitchcock TO
secure unanimous consent for vote
late tomorrow. failed on objection by
Senator Brandcgcd. During parliament
tary muneuvcrine that followed Tho
resolution. Senator Works gained tho
floor 10 make four-hour prepared
valcdictory speech.
Before Senator Works began how
ever. Senator stone, chairman Of tho
Foreign Relations Committee. with
whom President Wilson consulted two
days ago. spoke briefly. saying the
news had gone forth to the world that
the Presidents note was under dis
cusSion. and that the Senate should
consider and act upon il at once. Sen
ator Gallneer. the Republican leader,
replied with warming that amy nj
tempt TO force action would not meet
with approved.
After listening To Senator Works for
about twu hours tine senate recessed
until tomorrow. wacn he will resume.
The vote on the Hitchcock resolul
cannot come ~ least until he concludes.
PRESIDENTS ACTION
DEFENDED BN LEWIS
The principal speeches to-day were
made by Senator Lewis, who defended
tho Presidents action. and Ivy senator
Lodge. who. concluding his attack he
gun yesterday. declared adoption ot
the resolution would he Il leap in the
dark into international negotiations
with which Congress had II" legal con
Germ and no knowledge.
senator Lewis answered in detail the
criticisms ~ the massachusetts SEN
ator
Replying to the assertion that the
move for Germany, lie said IL WAS but
natural that one side or the other
should so interpret "a move for peace,
and declared that. after ALL this Was
no reason to defeat 50 great an end.
lie strongly dissentcd from the view
expressed ny Mr.. Lodge that the adop-
tion Of the resolution would mean The
dragging Of the Uuitcd States into f.u-
ropcan politics. with danger IL the
Monroe Doctrine and important domcs-
tic policies. and accused the Massa-
chusctts Senator of Incorrectly reciting
history to put a Democratic President
in bad light.
'''rhis note" said Senator Lewis, ION
its very face merely tenders the good
Offices When good offices are rendered
/, il not customary, though permissible.
10 first sound out the parties. The
contrary course oftcntimes is adopted,
lest those involved, aversc 10 peace,
would be busy 10 intercept its result.
REVIEWS SIMILAR TENDERS
or GOOD OFFICES
senator Lewis ihcn reviewed the
tender OF good Offices %. Russia III
the War III 1872, and similar action
by the United States during the
FRANCO Mexican War Of 1888. The re-
lection by the United States Of tenders
by Great Britain and France to end
the civil War. he said. WAS i'll no wise
precedent. On account Of the previous
attitude Of those countries toward this
nation.
$50 sfar AZ ann concerned" lie
added. 81 ann not much interested
whether the President of the United
States conformed Ia precedent or
whether he did not. or all offenses
erty in america, i, has been that
idoiizinS Of precedent which has no
application To modern events. and
which Stays the spirit Of things by
TOO much adherence 10 the letter"
Senator Lewis sa i'll the President had
not asked the bclliScrents 10 submit
peace terms. nor suggested those
terms. but that he asked them to get
together among themselves OH amy
thing which TO either would be sat
isfactory as the terms OF peace"
If tho position Of the Senator be
10
can never he an hour when any man
in any place could appropriately APP
rroach the question OF peace There
would be none 10 speak for those who
have the desire. There would be no
agency in the world. Parties would
he left 20 the conflict. 10 the m
iermiuable end and until death was
! tn" inheritance OF all and the silent
voice Of civilization in destruction
would bc All that was left To man
| kind"
ANSWERS CKl1ICiSM
or PRESIDENTS >oTE
Turning 10 the criticism that the
note had been construed AZ favorable
I 10 Germany. Senator Lewis said: II
can hardly imagine any document in
= crisis Xix" this that would not re-
! ceiNe rs construction from one side
"r another. There are always those
. interests from one Viewpoint or the
other. Surely there can he no express
/ sion from the President Of III" United
states, III matter so grave as this
! hut that those interested would readily
| draw from IL a construction, and thus
| indulge the construction by making &C
| cusntions. Sut If all that he true
! shall that defeat the purpose merely
| because there might arise a conatruc-
! zion from conduct on the part of those
! who md II gratifying 10 themselves to
/ indulge III"
Senator Lodge, completing his ar
! gumeit against the Hitchcock rtSo-
\ luton, declared it's adoption would he
leap in the dark and prcciptatc Con-
/ Sress into the midst OF incomplete ed
/ negotiations concerning which ii knew
nothing. III is apparent To every one"
/ he said. that when we abandon our
| traditional policy OF separation from
! European politics. We taEo Il very
grave step. which should not be taken
+. Without thorough knowledge Of! the
distance We are invited 10 20.
Senator Lodge at the outset cor
rscted his translation Of the German
amba ssadors published statement