The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-01-05
SENATE FAILS To
ENDORSE WILSON
PEACE RESOLUTION
AGAIN GOES OVER
Sen. Hitchcock Fails to Get
Unanimous Consent-May
Reach a Vote Today.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. -
The American note to belligerent pow
ers suggesting discussion OF peace
terms was debated again today in the
Senate, but two hours Of attack and
defense failed to bring to vote the
Hitchcock resolution endorsing Pres
ident Wilson's action in sending 1t.
The resolution will come up to-mor.
row, with the prospect of further an.
tagonistic speeches. by Republicans.
An effort by Senator Hitchcock to se-
cure unanimous consent for vote late
tomorrow failed on objection by Sena-
tor Brandegee During parliamentary
maneuvering that followed the reso-
luton Senator Works gained the floor
to make a four-hour prepared valedic.
tory speech.
Before Senator Works began, how
ever, Senator Stone, chairman Of the
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 it at once.
Senator Gallinger, the Republican
leader, replied with warning that
any attempt to force action would not
meet Will dpplOFdl.
After listening to Senator Works
for about two hours the Senate re.
, cessed until tomorrow, when he will
resume The vote on the Hitchcock
resolution cannot come at least until
| he concludes.
The principal speeches to-day were
made by Senator Lewis, who defend
ed the Presidents action, and by Sen
ator Lodge. who, concluding his at,
tack begun yesterday, declared adop-
tion of the resolution would be leap
in the dark into international negotia.
tions with which Congress had no le.
gal concern, and no knowledge.
Lewis Answers Criticisms.
Senator Lewis answered in detail
, the criticisms of the Massachusetts
Senator. Replying to the assertion
that the note had been taken as IA
vorable move for Germany, he said it
was but natural that one side or the
other TO such a controversy should SO
interpret move for peace. and de.
clared that, after all. this was no rea-
son to defeat SO great an end. HI.
strongly dissented from the view eX-
pressed by Mr.. Lodge that the adop-
ton of the resolution would mean the
; dragging of the United States into
European pOllIlCS, WILL udl6Sl " lIC
Monroe Doctrine and important do
mestic policies, and accused the Mas
sachusetts Senator of incorrectly re-
citing history to put Democratic
! President in bad light
! This note" said Senator Lewis, "on
/ its very face merely tenders the good
offices. When good offices are ten
/ dered it is not customary, though per.
missibe. to first sound out the par
ties. The contrary course oftentimeS
! is adopted. lest those involved averse
10 peace prepare to intercept its re.
suit.
so far as I am concerned" he add:
| ed, II am not much interested whether
ithe President of the United States con.
! formed to precedent or whether he
i did not. OF all offenses that have
! been committed against liberty IN
! America it has been that idolizing OF
precedent which has no application to
modern events and which Stays the
spirit of things by too much adher:
! ence to the latter: but il the President
| of the United States is to be adjudged
| by precedents, then there must be
truth TO the historical facts that men
may Judge truthfully and JUSTLY
Reviewed Forces :.
| Reviewing the vast forces arrayeo
! in the present conflict ready to fight
"to the death" the Senator. continued:
Surely the scholar OF the day, the