The sun., 1918-10-25
WILSON FREE TRADE COMPTROLLER HITS
IDEAS STIR SENATE AT SABN FOR DENIAL
Republicans Fear Article III.
Means an Intent to Fasten
Policy on Nation.
COULD BE DONE BYTREATY
Hitchcock TO Ask President for
Explanation Which He
Can Make Public.
spsesal psspaseA % II. syr.


Special DssposcA 70 TIE Sur.
WASHINGTON, Dot 2t.-An evident
disposition to make a campaign issue OF
the Presidents procurement In favor
Of the removal Of economic trade bar
riers embodied In his fourteen conditions
Of peace was disclosed In Congress to-
day.
In the Senate the Republicans were
charged by Senator Thomas tCoL).
Democrat with failure to stand by the
war policies Of the Presiden, because
they had sought to criuclse the Presi-
dent's apparent declaration In favor Of
international free trade Senator Thomas
was opposed in his position by Senator
Watson (Ind.) and other Republ cana
who said that establishing . tariff policy
through International agreement was
against American policy.
From the House Chairman Tess OF the
Republican Congressional Campaign
Committee issued a statement In which.
taking Article Ill. for his text. he de-
clared that from surface indications the
Presidents demand for election OF q
Democratic Congress this autumn was
predlcated on the intention perpetually
to fasten upon the country policy Of
free trade
II developed In the debate that Chair
man Hitchcock Of the Foreign Relations
Committee had received from ths Presi-
dent Q letter In which the precise views
Of the Chief Executive and his own in
depreciation Of Article Ill had been set
forth.
Senator Hitchcock had the letter in his
pocket Thrice he withdrew IL and as
many times returned it At the end Of
the session he wrote a letter TO the
President for permission TO make the
letter public. or II that were not salts
factory to the President, asking for o
new letter which might be read to the
Senate.
Doubts Free Trade Intention.
The discussion was started by Senator
Thomas, who said he did not believe the
President meant by Article Ill. OF the
peace terms. as set forth In his address
of January 8. to obligate the United
States to a policy OF free trade by inter-
national agreement.
This statement aroused the Republ.
licans. Senator Watson asserted that
such was the only logical conclusion
which could be put on the expressions
OF President Wilson. He held that the
Republicans, believing in protective
tariff policy. were justified In advancing
criticism Of a policy 80 exclusively one
Of domestic affairs as one involving i'm
posts. He demanded to know what the
following phrases could mean II they did
not mean just that:
ARTICLE III. The removal so far as
M n NJ n tr har ~ ~
establishment OF an equality OF trade
conditions among all the nations con
senting 10 the peace and associating
themselves for its maintenance"
Senator Thomas took issue with the
Republicans Just here. by the third
article" said he, II believe the President
designs the retention OF tariffs, but such
as will not be considered prohibitive or
irritating. The Republicans are array
Ing themselves In opposition 20 this
clause in the Presidents doctrine, and
this demonstrates, in this respect at
least. that they have placed themselves
in opposition to the Presidents pro-
gramme."
THE Republicans" retorted Senator
Watson, object to the inclusion in a
peace treaty OF a declaration setting
forth limits to a domestic policy for the
United States and admitting foreign ma
lions in the participation in the formula
ton of plainly internal programme"
Would Not Adjourn Politics.
Senator Thomas then diverted from
the main topic, the Presidents alleged
free trade announcement, to politics In
general.
II regret the necessity Of holding any
elections at all IN the midst OF war
said he, "and / do not question the 10y
atty OF the masses Of the Democratic and
Republican parties In supporting the
war. do not regard politics as ad-
vantageous. Politics should never be
adjourned In a republic. Politics is es-
sentiai to the life and vigor OF a re-
public But the Republican opposition
TO one OF the Presidents terms OF peace
1ustiiies the statement that the Republl-
cans are d!savowng the Administration
and are at least In partial opposition TO
the Administration II not inimcal to It."
Senator McCumber IN. d., RepublI-
can. demanded 10 know II the allegations
that Republican victories BROUGHT ioy 10
the herman Government were borne out
by the Republican success in Wisconsin
In April and in Maine In September.
Senator Williams (Mss) defended
Henry Ford by citing that Ford's
pacifism was no worse than that OF a
certain Republican Senator who had as
serted when America entered the present
war that the starry Banner was be.
smirched with dollar marks"
Chairman Fess's Point OF View.
The statement OF Chairman Tess re-
garding the Presidents alleged free
tr'd' announcement says:
The President In the third of his
fourteen points PROPOSES by treaty neSo-
tiat.ons TO determine legislation touching
tariff schedules by the removal OF all
trade oarrierE--'the removal SO far as
pos !ble of all economic barriers and the
establishment of an equality OF trade
conditions among all the nations con-
sentlng to the peace and associatinr
themselves for tts maintenance
THE farreaching significance OF this
proposal may not have been detected by
the average citizen. President Wilson
views the tar!ft question from the ansle
Of an academician and quite naturally
is free trader. with but little respect
for the opinion OF those who hold TO the
protection idea. His tariff commission
is made up OF men whose anti-protective
views are we'll known.
"A treaty removing trade barriers IA
not law that can be repealed as in the
case OF a legislative enactment. II mus
stand until mutually abrogated BY the
parties to the treaty, II goes without
saying that the European countries
which have always resisted our tariff
mill pnt