The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-28
ATTACKS WILSON
Senator Knox, Pennsylvania,
Opens the Debate.
And the Battle Was On in
Senate Halls.

Washington, Oct. 2s.-General de-
bate on peace and partisan politics
broke out toGay in the senate. Sena-
tor Knox, OF Pennsylvania. Republic
can and former secretary of state, at
tackled President Wilson's appeal for
the return of a Democratic congress
declaring it raised the question wheth-
er the will of the president or the will
of the American people is to determine
the policy of the United~States in end
ing the war and founding peace. He
said the spirit of "partisarship and Sc
crecy" had marked the condition of
the administration.
when there is talk of abdication of
the kaiser" said the Pennsylvania
senator. cit is a peculiar moment to
propose that the American people
should abdicate their right to have
opinions or that the senate and house
should abdicate their sworn and indie
pendent duties"
Senator Hitchcock, of Nebra ska,
chairman of the foreign relations COM
mittee, Immediately replied to Sena-
tor Knox and the discussion became
general with questions and statements
fired at the speaker from the Repub-
lican side. Senator Hitchcock said
the president had pursued the logical
course. citing how he had called con-
gress into joint session to tell in four
teen principles the terms which he be-
lieved were the essentials upon which
the United States should insist as a
basis of peace. These principles, he
said, were accepted then by all par
ties as being in keeping with American
ideals.
Referring to Republican conten-
tons that in his third principle
against economic barriers tho presi-
dent was endeavoring to write free
trade into the peace treaty, Senator
HjfNhCnck rad
ident saying he did not consider it
worth while to answer the .Republi-
can criticisms: that it would be impos-
sible to follow up "all of the perver-
sions and Misrepresentation that
some of the Republicans are now in
duiging, in" The president said his
words loft every nation free to deter
mine its own economic policy, except
that its policy must be the same to-
ward all other nations. and that, in
his judgment. the matter could be left
safely in the hands of "our fellow
In his criticism Of the president Senator
- few days ago the country was
executive calling for the election of Demo-
cratic senators and representatives pre-
cisely in order. that his individual au-
Of th he ses do og1
ment of partisan politics.
when there is talk of abdieation of the
kaiser it is a peculiar moment to propose
that the American people should abdicate
| senate and the house should abdicate their
sworn and independent duties.
y ask senators whether it Is the will
of the American people or the will of
Woodrow Wilson that is to determine the
policy of the United States in matter OF
ending the war and of founding a future
peace. l ask them whether they propose
| to be the mere registers of the will of one
| man. This is the issue before Us.
THE abdication Of the constitutional
duty Of Independent judgment by the
| senate or house spells autocracy. II
Democratic members are for such abdi.
for the American people a transcendent
| Importance"