New-York tribune., 1918-11-01

might nave done IN thIee lineo' s"e'
which the American people demand,
an unconditional surrender. HIS
exchange of notes with Germany has
caused deep concern among our peo-
pie lest he may by his psrleying with
her, concede her peace around
council table instead of sentence
from a court. The fourteen points
which the President and Germany
assume that they have already
agreed upon are so general and
vague that such peace would be no
treaty at ALL but only protocol to
an interminable discussion. The
President is without final power to
bind the United States to those four
teen points, although his language
does not suggest it. Still less has
he the power to bind our noble al
lies. We do not know that thesc
points include all that our allies
may justly demand, or do not con-
cede something they may Justly
withhold. For what they have done
Tor US we owe our allies the high
est good faith. 1t is Of capital I'M
portance. therefore. that we should
now elect a Senate which shall be
independent enough to interpret and
enforce the will Of the American
people in the matter OF this world
peace, and not merely submit to the
uncontrolled will Of Mr. Wilson.
Congress Must Act
"Nor can the attitude Of the House
of representative be ignored in
this peace. Every affirmative obli-
cation binding the United States in
that treaty must be performed by
the House as part of the Congress.
Tire present Democratic majority in
the House has been subservient to
the will of the President in every
respect except when critical issues
in the conduct of the war have been
involved The President has not
hesitated publicly to discipline those
of his party who have disagreed
with him, and the lesson had had
its effect A new Democratic Con-
gress, with its old leaders thus
chastened, will offer no opposi
tion to his will. They will not
be consulted in the future more
than in the past. In 4 Demo-
cratic Congress the American peo-
pie will not have the service of
an Independent, courageous, coor-
dinate branch Of the government to
moderate his uncontrolled will. 1t
is not safe to intrust to one man
such unlimited power 1t is not in
accord with the traditions of the
Republic.
"Third-Thc Republicans voted
without objection billions to be ex-
pended by this Administration. Six
hundred and forty millions for avia-
tion were given to the Executive to
build aeroplanes, without a single
limitation as to the manner or
method of it's expenditure. A Senate
committee has deplored the waste
and failure in the use Of that money
The debts which have been created
by this war the people. will be pay
ing to the third and fourth genera
tion. They have right to know
how these enormous sums have been
expended. Only Republican Con-
gress will have the courage to exact
q detailed and accurate story Of that
stewardship.
Elected as Peace President
"Fourth-The work Of RECONSTRUCT
tion must not be done by one man,
or finally formulated according to
his academic theories and ideals.
The President was not elected when
such issues were before the people.
His mandate Of power was not given
in the light of the momentous qucs-
tions which will soon force them
selves for solution He was elected
as peace President, and because
he had kept us out of war; The
American people should, therefore,
place in the branch Of the govern
ment charged constitutionally with
adopting policies of reconstruction
u Congress which will not register
the will Of one man, but, fresh from
the people, will enact the will of the
people.
I'VE earnestly deprecatc extending
the unified uncontrolled leadership
of commander in chief to the max
ing of permanent treaty of peace
or to the framing Of those measures
of reconstruction which must seri-
ously affect the happiness and pros
perlty of the American people for
century. We urge all Americans
who are Americans first to vote for
a Republican Congress-"