Evening journal., 1918-12-09
coNcnEss AND TIE pEAoEl

0,HE Republican publicity Association through It's
President Hon. Jonathan Bourne, Jr, has given cut
tho following statement from rs Washington head
quarters
"whon q Senator enters upon his term Of enlee he
subscrbos TO oath follows
AZ do solcmny swear that VIII support and defend
the Constitution OF The United States against all enemies
foreign and domestc that VIII bear true faith and al
legianco 10 the same that take this obligation freely
without any mental reservation or purpose OF evasion
and that Will well faithfully discharge the duties
Of tho once on which ! about to enter; So help mo
Cod
zone Of the most sacred duties Of the Senate is TO
oollaborate with the President In the making and rat
ncaon treaties In assigning that power to tho Senate
the Constitution provides follows:
""The President shall have power by and
with the advice and consent OF tho Senate, TO make
treaties provided twohlrds OF tho Senators present
concur
"It Is evident that the President cannot bind the
United States any treaty action Nothing that he may
do Is OF any effect until II has received the consent Of
the Senate 1t the endorsement Of the Senate that
valzes treaty Evidently the Senate possesses power
under the Constitution superior to that Of the President
the making OF treaties and II the President Is In need
OF all available information In order that his actions may
be ntelllgeny directed how much greater Is the neces
sty Of the accurate data which To base
It's discussion OF treaty terms.
the President has ft to deny place on the
peace commission to any OF the Senate, and in
tends TO go u alone far that body Is concerned
IL true he has promised to supply Congress with in
formation TO what takes place at the conference. but
Il Is Of course quite impossible that Senator'S. 1900
miles away the OF action sense The atti-
tude Of the commissioners what takes place at the
peace table as thoroughly as II they were the spot
and in intimate touch with events they transpire.
That being the fact becomes the duty OF the Senate
under the oath Of office Of individual Senator's to take
such steps may be necessary TO acqualnt themselves
as fully as may be with information that will guide them
when the treaty laid before them for ratification.
Senator Cummins Of Iowa, has grasped the situation
and introduced resolution providing for the appoint
ment Of a committee Of esht-four Republicans and four
Democrats-o proceed TO Paris the representatives Of
the Senate and to diligently inquire with respect to all
the facts pertaining to or material for the future con-
sderaton the proposed treaties by the Senate The
Cummns resolution Is the only means that the Senate
viii have inform itself Of the proceedings IL Is GER
tain that the country will have far greater degree OF
confidence in treaty ratified under those conditions than
one approved only upon data furnished by the President
"Thero can be ground for the fear that such Sena
oria Committee would bo denied information regarding
proceedings the peace conference. Courtesy alone
would forbid that but the other nations fully aware
that the Of their treaty depends on the approval
Of the Senate and for that reason, other every
facility would be placed at the disposal Of the committee
for acquiring information. It Is duty which the Sem
ators owe not only 10 themselves. but TO their constt
uents TO secure every bit OF data that is possible to
collect that viii aid them in intelligent consideration
Of the treaties"
Mr.. Bourne has uncanny way Of telling truths
which are unpleasant reading for Democrats but pleasing
reading TO Republicans and Independents Deawareans
who have read the above cannot fail to appreciate what
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