New-York tribune., 1918-12-03
Future Opposition Shown
in Demand by Cummins
for Peace Committee
Real Enthusiasm
Entirely Lacking
Leaders Declare, After
Speech, 1t Failed to
Clear Up the Situation
By Carter Field

WASHINGTON. Dec. with more
feeling than he ever before has shown
in an address TO Congress, President
Wilson to-day pleaded with the joint
session of the two houses to give him
the added strength" at the peace table
Of their united support"
In thus making g direct appeal
against the torrent CT criticism which,
it had been predicted, Senators would
make not only of his naming himself
as one of the peace commissioners. but
of some of his fourteen points as they
are generally understood, the President
did not as many of his friends had
hoped, give any explanation of just
what he would advocate st Versailles.
There was not word of additional
information as to that. He explained
the reason why he thought he himself
should go to Europe, saying that he did
not wish his fourteen points to be given
any false or mistaken Interpretation" i"
now that they had been accepted both
by the Central Empires and the Allies.
Wait Vainly for Peace Views
Congress waited patiently through a
long address on international affairs
reconstruction, the disposition of the
railroads, the tax bill, reclamation of
arid and swamp lands and q glowing
tribute, commented upon by most of his
auditors as very excellent literary eff
fort, to the soldiers and sailors of
America who helped win the war In
teresting as most of the questions he
discussed were, there was ar evident
impatience, waiting attitude on the
part of his auditors. They wanted TO
hear what he would say about the
peace aims of the United States gov
eminent, and there was no mistaking
their attitude
When, finally, after almost every one
had concluded he would ignore his ap~
preaching visit to Paris entirely, he
said, 81 welcome this occasion to an
.nOuncc to the Congress my purpose to
join in Paris the epresentatives of the
governments with which we have been
associated in the war against the Cen
tral Empires" there was a sigh of re-
lief all over the huge, crowded cham
Der, not only on the floor, where sat
practically all of the ninety six Sen
ators and 435 members of the House,
but in the galleries, packed to their ut
most capacity by the wives of official
Washington.
But indignant comments afterward
showed that the sigh was premature.
The President actually gave Congress
no more Information than it already
possessed, which was virtually nothing.
And nothing is more clear than that
very little attention will be paid in
either House, but particularly in the
Senate, to his request for united sup
port"
Congress Is Disgruntled
The Senate adjourned Immediately
after the joint session, so the expected
fireworks did not come off, but there
~ere public statements a-plenty, and
indications ga ore Of developments, the
reporting o. which at Versailles will
aemonstrate rather forcibly that the
President lacks considerable measure
OF the united support of the branches
Of the government elected to represent
ehe American people.
Resolutions were introduced in both
houses declaring it to be the sense OF
Congress that the President had TEN.
porarily vacated his Office and that
Vice President Marshall should per-
form his duties until his return to the
United States. The Senate resolution
was introduced by Senator Sherman, OF
Illinois. and in the House Representa-
ave Rodenberg of tke same state, in.
troduced a similar proposal. They
we're referred 20 the judiciary com
mittees of the respective houses.
Just partisan Republican move.