Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1918-11-22
FEAR Of CRITICISM
HURLED At WILSON
Takes Over Cable Lines to Prevent
Council From Knowing Attitude of
Congress, Is Charged Creel Pictured
at One End, Burleson at Other Plan
to Stifle Facts, Believed.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2l.-President
Wilson's action in taking over control
and operation of marine cable systems
and express agencies were vigorously
criticised today in the senate by re-
publican senator's, who said it was a
part of a plan 10 establish permanent
government ownership.
The speakers We're Senators Watson
of Indiana. Kellogg of Minnesota and
Sherman of Illinois, and in the debate
the president was criticised for his de-
cision to go TO Europe and George
-Creel. chairman of the committee on
public information, who it has been
reported, is to accompany the presi-
dent, also was attacked.
Senator Watson denounced the presi-
dents action in taking over cable lines
as a breach of faith, and charged that
their control was inspired by a desire
for government censorship of dispatches
during the peace conference. so that
the representative of the European
nations at the peace table may not
know what is being said in the Ameri
can congress about the conference.
Ham" Is Choked Off
In the midst of the debate, Senator
Lewis of Illinois. the democratic whip,
sought to reply TO the republican sena-
+. tors, but did not get recognition. He
did, however, offer a resolution which
would put congress on record as IA
voring government ownership of rail
roads and telegraph and telephone
lines.
In declaring his belief that the presi-
dents action was d breach of faith.
Senator Watson said congress voted
this extraordinary power for war pur-
poses only.
Why is that step taken?" asked the
senator. In my belief, it is taken sim
ply because of the fact that the presi-
dent is loath to give up any of the
power that we have clothed him with.
and that those subordinates about him.
including those of the cabinet, do not
intend to relinquish that power unless
compelled to do so by legislative ac-
ton.
We are left to the wide field of CON
lecture as to why the president saw fit
at this particular time to take over
the cables. Certainly no one will claim
that he is taking them over as a ne
cessity of war. [ take it for granted
that when the president leaves these
shores, tc all i7tents and purposes. the
cable lines WI be cut. l take it for
granted tha; he does not intend that
any man at the peace table shall know
what is being said in the house of rep
resentatives and on the floor of this
body and | take it for granted that we
are not to know on this side what they
are doing
With George Creel at that end, con-
trolling all of the messages and infor-
matiCn, and with Albert Burleson at
this end controlling all the sources of
information. its very verbiage. in fact
the country may well be warned that il
may take, at least with a grain of salt
whatever is published as to what hap
pens on the other side"
Senator Sherman said there might
be some necessity for the president go
ing abroad. but that he could not see
it, and added that no provision is made
/ IN the constitution for the absence OF
the president from the territorial limits
of the United States. The White House
be said, will be moved to Paris, and
added:
= we are left to the tender mereies
of censored cable; passports denied
u cables controlled and Creel sits as i'm
d perial dictator at the source of ac-
;. tion.''
d Senator Kellogg said there was nc
IS war necessity for taking over cable
r lines and express agencies as the az
u mlstice has been signed and added tha
in his opinion the action lis part of :
s plan to foster government OWNERSHIP
d of telegraph, telephone and cable line.
n on the country"