Evening journal., 1918-10-28
KNOX ASKS, IS
NATIONT0ABD|CATE?
Penn. Senator Doubts That
Wilson's Peace Ideas
Are Infallable
WIND" HE SAYS HAS
CHANGED MANY TIMES
BY the United Press.

by the United Press.
WASHINGTON. oct. 2s.- Asking
whether III ls The will Of the Ameri-
can people or the viii Of Woodrow
Wilson that - 10 determine the policy
n the Inlied States in the two matters
% ending this war and founding a fu-
mre peace" Senator Knox. Pennsyl-
vanla. began the Republican reply IN
The senate TO President Wilson's bid
for a Democratic Congress.
when there is talk OF the ahdieq-
tion OF the Kaiser Il Is a peculiar mo-
meni TO propose that the American peo-
pie shou,l abdicate their right 10 have
opinions or that the Senate and House
should abdlcate their sworn and indie
pendent cui'es," said Knox. II ask
whether the American people propose
30 subject their vital interests 10 their
own independent judgment or whether
they are content 20 lose them 10 the
mere registrars OF the VIII OF one man.
This is the issue before US.
"The abdicatlon Of their constitu-
uonal duty OF independent Judgment
by the Senate or by the House. spells
autOcracy. n Democratic members are
for such abdication, II they are reluc-
tsnt 10 join their Republican colleagues
In non-psrtlsan. independent scrutiny OF
tho subject. somothi ing must be done TO
remedy the situation.
During the period from 1914 until 10
day Senators viii remember the presi-
dent has expressed, and always with the
same solemn emphasis. The greatest pos
slble variety OF Ideas and attitudes
upon Americas relation 10 the war and
what is now most in point-upon the
terms upon which America Is willing
30 live pt peace with Germany and the
world I need not weary You with re-
cital OF how The winds Of admlnlstra-
tion opinion has veered all Ground The
compass from exaggerated neutrality
even OF thought: through a pride too
great 10 be provoked 30 flght; through
readiness. after tho Lusitanla 10 com
promise tho U-boat barbarity a. a
breach OF world law IN return for a
half-hearted promise 20 try 10 spare
our ships: through the idea OF peace
without victory and so forth. and 50
forth, the long way around the force
without stint
u ask then This question: With what
reason can The Senate. can the American
people. be asked 10 assume for the lat
est ideas. scattered through the address
OF January 3. 1918. and ell the later ad-
dresses. an immediate wisdom evidently
lacking in the earlier ones?
Yet these latest ideas, still in In
definite form. having actually been o.
lcially referred to--some as terms
others rs principles Of settlement B'
they wise and safe or be they foolisl
and dangerous, that Is not the ques
| tion.
Are the American people a free peo
pie Of high spirit and Of an intellectual
ability equal 10 the obligation Of dc
mocraoy. the obligation 10 form and ts
assert through their chosen representa-.
tiyes their judgment upon the policies
OF their country. or are we merely a
complacent people intellectually indol-
ent. lazlly acquioscent. looking for mas
ters. and not for. leaders7
''The still more dlhlcult questions Of
reconstruction after The war are 10 be
met by that Congress. DO the American
people by their action In the next cleo
tion wish 10 make both the terms OF
peace and the reconstruction after the
war depend upon the uncontrolled win
Of Woodrow Wilson? That is the issue
which he puts 10 them in his appeal"
Knox contrasted what he called the
"partisanship and secrecy OF the pres
ent administration" with LincOln's at
titude.
"Of this partisanship." he said, RE
publicans are the peculiar victims.