Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-04
G,O.P.SENATORS SEEK
TO HARASS WILSON
Knox and Sherman Make First
Moves; House Leader Mann
Denounces War on Wilson.

Washington. Dec. tOn the eve OF
President Wilson's departure for France
To attend the Paris Peace Conference
the United States Senate, rs part OF
the treaty-making power of the nation,
Yesterday displayed un mistakahlc signs
of its determination 90 have hand IN
the winding up of the war
Senator Knox of Pcnnsvivania, who
served both as secretary of State and
as attorney general under Republican
administrations and Is q member OF the
committee on Foreign Relations, Offered
!. resolution the passage Of which would
place the senate on record as iavorlng
the winding IN of the war at the car
hest possible moment
WOULD cuETAIL PRESIDENTS POWERS.
| ndcT the knox resolution. u adopted
the soldiers and sailors, except those m
the permanent army and navy, would
hc sent AS quickly their to as possible
homes. the project Tor a league Of ma
tons and sweeping changes IN the laws
of the sen would he postponed for sep
aratc consideration, the purposes OF
the American government IN the peace
conference would he confined To matters
rcrnane to the reasons that led the
nited States into the War. and the
President would be relieved OF the cx-
traordinarv war powers conferred upon
him by congress.
C,oincidental with the introduction o
the Knox resolution Senator Sherman
OF Illinois, who introduced a resolution
calling on the senate To declare Mr..
Wilson out Of office and place Vice Presi-
dent Marshall III the presidential char,
launched an attack against the PrcSi-
dent for leaving the country.
WILLIAMS pEFE>DS PRESIDENT.
senate Williams Of Mississippi rallied
10 the defense OF the President. praislng
his decision TO 60 abroad and arguing
that personal contact with the repre-
sentatiyes of other nations at the peace
table could be counted upon 70 clear IN
errors and misconstructIons which might
result from lmpersonal communlca-
ton.
While criticism of the President 5
plans was heard in the senate, ~ the
other end of the Capitol. Representative
Mann Of Illinois Republican floor leader.
issued statement III which he caInc
out fatty against tho resolution 20 IN
stall Nire President Marshall in the
White House during the absence q
President Wilson abroad Mr. Mann
announced on behalf Of the Republican
side OF the House that il would under
take no concerted movement TO embar
rass the President during his absence
MANN pENoUNcEs WAR on WILSON
The Republl can floor leader i strongly
opposed 20 any attempt 10 deprive tho
President Of his constitutional power 70
pass upon bills or perform other functions
of his Office while abroad Mr.. Mann
was emphatic in denouncing both the
Kodenberg and Sherman resolutions.
which were introduced respectively in
Senate and House. and arc designed To
take away the President power during
his absence.
There viii he no concerted effort on
the part OF the Republicans Of the House
10 embarra>s the President IN any way
while he is abroad SAID Mr.. Mann.
Il am OF the opinion hat the American
people would not be in sympathy with
anv attempt to prln-prick the President
while he is abroad on 50 important ms
SION. Persona lly am not at all in sym
pathv with am Of the resolutions which
have appeared in the Senate or House
regarding the Presidents absence from
Washington or his visit abroad
MANN URGES CONGRESS SUPPORT.
Il cannot help what individuals may
do in the House but the Republican
members Of the House as body will
embarrass or hamper tho President in
any way while he Is engaged abroad on
mission that affects so vitality he interests
of the American people believe he
should have the support of Congress in