The daily times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1902-1936, 1918-11-22
PRESIDENT WILSON
CRITICISED
BY Republicans for Federal
Control Telephone and
Telegraph Lines
SAYS MAY BE PERMANENT

Washington, Nov. 22.-Presiden
Wilson's action in taking over con
lrol and operation of marine cable
systems and express agencies Wer2
vigorously criticised yesterday H.
the Senate by Republican Senators
who said it was part Of plan to es.
tablish permanent government own
ership.
The speakers were Senators Wat
son of Indiana, kellogg of Minneso-
ia, and Sherman of Illinois, and Ill
the course of the debate the Presl
dent was criticised for his decisloA
to go to Europe, and George Creel
chairman of the Committee on Pub
lie Information, WHO !. is said had
been rejorted is co accompany tht
President, also was attacked.
Senator Watson denounced The
Presidents action III taking over ca
Bile lines as breach of faith anO
charged that their control was IN
spired by desire for government.
consorhhip of dispatches during the
peace conference so that the repre-
sentatives of the European nations
at the peace table may not know
what is being said in the American
Congress about the conference.
In the midst of the debate, Sena
tor Lewis, of Illinois, the Democrat
is whip, sought to reply to the Re
| publican Senators but did not ge
recognition. He did however, offe
a resolution which would put Con
gress on record as favoring govern
ment ownership of railroads an;
telegraph and telephone lines.
In declaring his belief that tn,
Presidents action was breach o
laith, Senator Watson said Congress
voted this extraordinary power TO
war purposes only.
why is that step taken?' asket
the Senator. In my belief it is TAX
en- simply because of the fact tha
the President is loath to give up an
of the power that we have clothe'
him with, and that these subordinat
es about him, including those of tn
cabinet, do not intend to relinquisl
that power unless compelled to d
SO.
I'VE are left to the wide field o
conjecture as to why the Presiden
saw fit at this particular time t
take over the cables
Certainly no one will claim tha
he is taking them over as nec9ssi
ty of war. | take it for granted tha
when the President leaves thes
shores to all intents and purpose
the cable lines will be cut.
Il take it for granted that he doe
not intend that any man at tn
peace table shall know what is be
ing said in the House of Represen
tatives and on the floor of this body
and | take 1t for granted that W
are not to know on this side wha
they are doing.
with George Creel at that en-
controlling all of the messages an
information, and with Albert Burle
son at this end controlling all of tn
sources of inforation, is very verb
age in fact, the country may well b
warned that 1t may take at leas
| with a grain Of salt whatever is pub
| lished as to what happens on tn
other side"
Senator Sherman said there nigh
be some necessity for the Presiden
going abroad, but that he could no
see it, and added that no provision
is made in the Constitution for tn
absence Of the President from tn
territorial limits of the Unite,
States. The White House. he said
will be moved to Paris, and added
1--WE are left to thetender mercie
| of censored cable; passports de
MED, cables controlled and Cree
sits as imperial dictator at tn
source of action.
Senator Kellogg said there was n
war necessity for taking over cabl
lines and express agencies as the al
mistice had been signed, and adde
that in his opinion the action al
part of plan to fasten government
ownership to telegraph, telephon
and cable lines on the country"