Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-12-08
/. Word to the Wise

AMES r. MANN, minority leader Of ,be
= 4'o'se VI representatives. after long
illness returns TO Washington in time IN civ,
ms party colleagues in both the Uouso and
SENATE some excellent and timely advice
dissenting sharply from the tone OF bitter
paltisah comment that has come from many
OF the Republican critics anent the Presidents
uecisloh TO attend the Paris peace conference
Mr.. Mann SAYS:
II am Of the opinion that mo A,,or;o,,
people would not be in sympathy with any
"ttehpt 10 pin-prfck the President while he
IS ABROAD on so important a mission Per
aoha'iS' aui not at all III sympthy with any
oil the resolutions which have appeared in
et"ei 'he senate or the House regarding
the PRESIDENTS absence from Washington or
no 'isl. aproaa. believe he should
nave the support OF Congress in so far as
nose interests are involved, and that fac
tiohai slrlle ought not to be permitted to
interfere with his mission or to give to the
rest OF the world the impression thar ,bo
american people arc divided on issues in
volvng the peace OF the world"
II Is interesting to note in passing that
TINS dlghiileG fcproach came from the vet
eran Representative from Illinois on the same
DAY that his colleague, Sherman Of Illinois.
with customary rancor, launched in the Sen
ate a particularly viiriolc assault on tho
chief executive in effort to show that
the President was without constitutional an
'hority to perform his powers while absent
from the country Throughout Americas
participation in the war this bitterly partisan
Sherman has repeatedly raised a raspine voice
on high to accuse the Prcsden, OF usurninp
authority in his met hods OF conducting the
war. Were we to accept at their face value
all the opinions OF this legislator we could
not escape the conclusion that practically
every step taken by the President in bring
ing the war 10 a successful conclusion was
without legal Justification
While undoubtedly there was widespread
disappointment, among Democrats as well as
Republicans. over the failure of the presi-
dent TO outline IN more comprehensive fash
ion his program at the peace conference it.
is nevertheless questionable whether much
good could have come from an acceptance
b. Mr.. Wilson of what amounted to a chal-
lenge from the Republicans TO debate his
views on the more important issues to be dis
posed of at Versailles
In the first place the only features OF the
fourteen terms about which there is likely
to be any disagreement in the peace con-
ference are the provisions relating to a league
OF nations and freedom OF the seas. Concern
ing the first the questions involved are emf.
nently practical and only be dealt with
after the various nations represented at the
I conference have set forth what they scvcraliy
are prepared to contribute toward strength
| cning the authority Of such a league. Concern
| Ing the freedoms Of the seas Issue. both Eng
! land and France expressly urged that this
| matter be left open 10 discussion at the
/ peace conference and declined definitely tC
+! commit themselves In advance.
Sccrctar? 81 War Bakers failure TO men.
ton the proposed universal military training