The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-29

policies OF their country Or are we
merely a compliment people, intellec-
tually indolent, lazily acquiescent, look
ing for masters and not for leaders?
Which Is the true American Which
type Is the Senate to reflect in its action
and thought on behalf OF tho nation?"
Senator Hitchcock CNeb.). chairman
Of the Foreign Relations Committee, at
once plunged into the debate on the side
OF the President. The anxiety OF the
Senator from Pennsylvania seems to be
that the President will take In his own
hands the decision Of the settlement OF
this war" said Senator Hitchcock. 1T
seems to me the course Of recent history
indicates that the President has pursued
the natural and logical course. January
8 the President came before the joint
session Of Congress and delivered mes
sage in which he boiled down into four
teen propositions what he deemed to be
the minimum essentials OF peace terms
which the United States should insist
upon. Almost as with one voice Ben-
ators and Representatives. Republicans
and Democrats, here and tffo ughout the
country. newspapers of both parties ana
Of all parties, acclaimed that declaration
Of the terms OF American peace as n
correct statement OF the attitude OF the
United States
Now I want to refer TO the present
partisan EFFORT on the part Of the Re-
publican party and Its responsible lead
ers TO make political capital of Article
III. OF the Presidents declaration OF
peace terms"
Quotes Campaign Document.
From a document issued by the Ma
| tional Republic an Compression Campaign
Committee October 81 Senator HITCH
cock then read the statement that the
Democratic party Is committed TO a free
trade policy" He quoted Article III. OF
the Presidents proposals relating 10 the
removal as far as possible Of all eco
nomic barriers and the Establishment OK
an equality of trade conditions among a'l
nations consenting to the peace and as
sociating themselves for its means"
That was a Misrepresentation OF Ar
ticle ILL.," said Senator Hitchcock.
That was an attempt to make political
capital by the statement that the Presi-
dent was endeavoring TO put into
treaty permanent commitment OF the
United States for free trade"
II want TO say TO the Senator from
Nebraska that ] was restrained by sew
eral OF my colleagues from criticising
that part of the message" retorted Sen
| ator Penrose.
Senator Hitchcock then quoted Repre-
sentative Cannon (Ill). Representative
Tess (Ohio), Senator Lodge (Mass.)
and other Republicans In Congress- as
having commended the Presidents ad-
dress in newspaper interviews.
| Senator Lodge interpolated q refer
epce to President Wilson's note to Aus
trta with which he said he was in full
sympathy. He added:
In that note the President said. refer
ring to one OF the fourteen points. that
times had changed since that was writ
| ten, that we had recognized the CZecho-
Slovaks, &c. and he was quite right.
Times have changed. Is the President
the only person to whom times have
changed? Is he alone to have the right
to change his mindf He exercises II
freely. I never Endorsed the message.
said Il was an able message"
Wilson Opposea Argument.
| Senator Hitchcock explained that he
had written a letter to the President
asking II he did not think It might be
wise for him to pay attention to mis-
representations as to Article III. OF his
fourteen points. and ne read into the
record the following answer from the
President:
ut seems to mo really not worth
while TO answer the Republican attack
on Article III. of the peace terms
suggested in my address of January s
The words l used are perfectly clear to
any honest mind. They leave every ma
ton free to determine its own economic
policy, except In the particular thai
Its policy must be the same for al
other nations and not be compounded
or hostile Determinations between on,
nation and another, such weapons Of
discrimination being left to the Join,
action of the nations for the purpose
OF disciplining those who will mo-
submit to the general programme o.
Justice and equality"
Senators need not assume" Senato,
Hitchcock continued that the Presiden
is going to negotiate a treaty and fore,
1t through the Senate. They know yer,
well that treaty before II can go into
effect must have the approval OF two
thirds OF the Senate"
Senator Hitchcock then read into tn,
record letters between the President anC
Chairman Simmons OF the Finance Com
mittee In which the President stated II
other words the same idea he expressed
In his letter TO Senator Hitchcock
Problem OF German Trade.
Would that letter not prevent n dis
elimination by the United States agains
goods produced in Germany p asked Sen
ator Brandegee Comm.
1T would said Senator Hitchcock
TT leaves that to the League of Ma
lions with which we are associated nov
in war and with which we will be asso
ciated afterward. The President woul,
feel that that Is an international matte
involving the peace OF the world an,
should be left to the League Of Nations,
} answered Mr.. Hitchcock
"Of course II Is an international mat
ter" said Senator Brandegee, land a
the Senate will be called upon to ratif,
the treaty by which the war Is settled 1
becomes pertinent that the Senate shoult
understand what is meant by those vari
GUS theories on these various points"
This cornering OF Senator Hitchoocl
} In this colloouy and his pinioning to tn,