New-York tribune., 1918-05-10
Leadership of Important
Body Goes to Him by
Seniority
Has Been Wilson Critic
Two Members Added to Mill
tary Committee; Smith, of
Georgia, for Democrats
Especial Dispatch to The Tribune)

WASHINGTON, May o. Senator
Gilbert M. Hitchcock, of Nebraska,
one of the sharpest critics of the War
Department on the Democratic side
In the Senate, was to-day chosen chair
man of the powerful Foreign Relations
Committee, succeeding the late Sena-
tor William ]. Stone, of Missouri.
While Senator Hitchcock has been a
decided critic of the Administration,
his elevation to-day was not through
any desire on the part either of the
Steering Committee or of tho Senate
as whole to reward independence or
"carping critics." as either side might
view the case. The election followed
the sacred Senate law of seniority, from
which there is seldom a deviation.
There was manifested no opposition
whatever to Mr.. Hitchcock's election,
though there has been some quiet NUT
terng among a few of the very rigid
followers of the Administration, who
pointed to the fact that Mr.. Hitchcock
was favorable to an embargo on arms
early in the war and that he favored
the Gore resolution warning Americans
off armed ships later.
Senator Hitchcock, however, led the
fight for the armed neutrality bill,
which was talked to death by the evil
ful twelve" and had charge of that
bill because of the refusal of Senator
Stone, who as chairman of the COM
mittce at that time would normally
have had charge of the measure. He
olcn 1o6 in ho .oca1,,Aiov oil r.,
on Germany, which Mr.. Stone refused
to support.
Mr.. Hitchcock becomes technically the
fourth, and actually the fifth, chairman
of the Foreign Relations Committee
during the Wilson Administration.
Senator Bacon, of Georgia, was elect
cd chairman when the Democrats OBJ
tanned control, in 1918. He was sue
ceeded by Senator Stone. Then Sem
ator Shively, of Indiana, was acting
chairman during the entire period of
the strained relations with Huerta
Senator Stone being i'll and absent dur
ing most of the hot discussion over
Mexico.
Senator Robinson, Of Arkansas, was
named member of the Foreign Rela-
tions Committee to fill the vacancy,
as Mr. Hitchcock's elevation was
merely the promotion from ranking
Democratic member for chairman. On
assuming the Craftsmanship of For
eign Relations, Mr.. Hitchcock gave up
his craftsmanship Of the Philippines
Committee, in which capacity he had
charge, two years ago, of the measure
changing the form of government in
those islands, and promising them
eventual independence. This commit
tee is now rather unimportant, since
the passage of the Jones Philippines
bill, SO that the post seems to be
going begging. Senator'S Fletcher
Reed and Ransdcll, ranking Democrats
in the order named, have declined it,
as they do not wish to give up other
chairmanships which they regard as
more important.
The Senate Steering Committee to-
day also enlarged the military COM
mittee by one Senator of each party.
Senator Smith, of Georgia, was chosen
as the Democratic addition. The Re-
publican Steering Committee will
choose Republican Senator for this
post.
Senator Smith recently introduced a
resolution asking the military COM
mittee to prepare bill providing for
the immediate calling out Of 100000
additional men under the selectve
draft.