Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-10-29

SaFy tney would prevent any fuftner
peace and political debate by parliament
tary resorts.
Washington. Oct. 2s-A protest
against any peace terms dictated by
President Wilson alone, and not rep
resentative of American public
opinion through Senate consideration
of the peace treaty. was made in
the Senate today by Senator Knox
of Pennsylvania, Republican. for
mer secretary Of state, in an address
charging the President with political
partisanshp.
Democratic senators prepared to
reply to Senator Knox, forecasting 4
general discussion of peace and war
combined with the partisan political
questions.
The Presidents peace terms were
referred to by Senator Knox as
ideas scattered through" various
addresses.
BE they wise, be they foolish"
he said. that is not the question.
The question is, shall the conditions
upon which the Senate and the Amer :
lean people believe they can safely
live at peace with Germany and the
world-shall these conditions be de-
cided by the fiat Of one man or shall
they be tested by the unbiased. sober
judgment of the nations representa-
tives?
Are the American people equal to
the obligation of democracy, or are
they merely a complacent people, in
tellectuaily indolent, lazily acquies-
cent, looking for masters and not
leaders?'
In his criticism of the President,
Senator Knox said:
"a few days aso the country was
astounded and shocked to find the
Chief Executive calling for the cleo
ton of Democratic senators and rep
resentatives precisely in order that
his individual authority should be
untrammeled by counsel.
l pass by the unjust, not to say
outrageous. implications of that
unique document of partisan politics.
when there is talk of abdication
of the Kaiser it is peculiar moment
to propose that the American people
should adbicate their right to have
opinions, or that the Senate and the
House should abdicate their sworn
independent duties.
Il 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 the matter of ending this
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 u.s.
The abdication of the constitu-
tional duty of Independent judgment
by the Senate or 4the House spells
autocracy. If Democratic members
are for such abdication, then truly
the coming elections have for the
American people a transcendent inn
portance."
During the war, Senator Knox said,
the President had spoken with the
greatest possible variety of ideas
and attitudes" on various questions.
He referred to the Presidents peace
without victory" address and what
he termed readiness after the Lusi-
tania incident to compromise the U
boat barbarity in return for a half
hearted promise to try to spare our
ships" "A spirit of partisanship
and secrecy was charged against
the administration by the senator who
said the Democrats and Republicans
apparently suffered equally in this re-
spect, except for one conspicuous case
which he did not name. The Presi-
dent, he said, had held himself "aloof
in isolation" from the peoples repre-
sentatives and repealed counsel.
Senator Pittman read from speech
es by Col. Roosevelt. Senator Lodge
and Former Senator Beverage of In
diana, in 1898. urging the reelection
Of a Republican Congress so that for
eign nations and especially Spain
would not draw the conclusion that
President McKinley's administration
had been repudiated.
Senator Watson, Republican of In
diana. asked if there was no differ
ence between appeals made by pri-
vate citizens and that made by the
President, especially at a time when
the President had practically the
united support Of the opposition
party.
Senator Pittman said he saw no
difference as to who made the appeal.
Senator Poindexter of Washington,
Republican, declared President Will
son assumed more authority than is
given under the constitution in fix
ing peace terms.
There is q widespread feeling" he