The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-12-03
Resolutions Offered on Presi'
dents Actions Up i'm the Air.
Another In Today Making Mar
shall the President.
THIS BY SENATOR SHERMAN
Some Feel 1t Unwise To Send
Abroad a Committee.
Hitchcock Advocates "Barring"
Wilson From Acting President.

washington, Dec. Ex-senator Hitch
cock. chairman of the senate foreign
relations committee today advocated
passage of a resolution declaring Pres
ident Wilson unable" to perform the
duties of his office while abroad.
Hitchcock's attitude was a surprise
to other Democrats. He explained it
''My personal opinion is that the
senate should DO something to settle
the matter definitely. to say who IS
president. L believe the supreme
court, If called on to rule on u reso-
Tuition declaring President Wilson I'M
able. by reason of his absence. to per-
form the functions OF his office. would
hold that congress is the best judge
of the executives ability or inability
to function. In my opinio.. on the
matter L am at variance with most of
THE Democrats
Discuss Resolution.
Hitchcock announced that the for
cign relations committee will meet
this week to discuss the Cummins
resolution creating a senate committee
to attend the peace conference. The
Sherman resolution to be introduced
today, declaring the office of president
vacant and seating Vice President
Marshall for the remainder of the
term, probably will go to the judiciary
committee. Hitchcock today called
the Sherman resolution absurd
81 think it not probable that the
Cummins restitution will be favor
ably. reported by the foreign relations
dn1nmittee, said Hitchcock. 81 do
mt believe it will pass the senate.
have no disposition. however. to
smother it in committee. 1t should
be given its fair chance in the senate.
It is likely, therefore, that this COM
fnittee will report it without recon-
Dendation.
s1"Some senator's feel that it would be
unwise to send abroad a committee
that. because of it's unofficial position,
would be subject to snubs and which
might embarrass our peace delegates
and the senate. Others think that the
supreme Importance of having the
sanate take part thru discussions here,
Of peace terms contemporaneously
With the peace7sconference, warrants
the sending of the committee"
The Whole Senate.
Senator Pittman's amendment to
send the whole senate to Paris will not
receive serious consideration.
O. The house judiciary committee
probably will be in no hurry to meet
on the Rodenburg resolution substi-
tuting the vice president for the presi-
dPnt during the latters absence, Chair
Qlnn webb indicated today.
Hitchcock said that neither he nor
other Democratic leaders had devised
any plan as substitute for the Cum
Minis resolution as a means of keeping
the senate informed of developments.
~ believe the senate will have full
hformation,' he said. The discus
Aons/ here, 1 feel. will have consider
able influence abroad. as rejecting
American public opinion on the ques-
tons under discussion"
~ Must Keep Head.
.,Republican opposition to the Cum
p1ins plan grew today. Senator Wat
Son. leading Republican, declared the
senate must keep its head and do
nothing to ALLEVIATE the country"
fOther Republicans said they will
vote against the Cummins resolution.
The generally expressed Republican
view of President Wilson's message
was that it was disappointing with re-
spect to filling the demand for further
light on certain of the fourteen prin-
cfples of peace terms. Republicans
said they expected some definition of
freedom of the seas, amplification OF
the league of nations plan. and state
Iaent of just how the president eX-
poets to impress his views abroad.
Replying to expressions, Senator
Lewis, Democratic whip. said:
Already Explained Them.
s"President Wilson already has ex-
planned his peace terms, ii seems to