Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-11-23
Saturday, November %, 1918.
Congress Alarmed.

covenants Of peace. openly arrived
at" IL disappearing in the political
haze of things said for effect and mot
TO he taken seriously" at home or
abroad
With President Wilson at the peace
congress. taking charge Of negotia-
tions as ranking delegate. Alfred
Sidney Eurlcson. the Texas politici-
clan, in command of all cable COM
munication at this end Of the wires,
and the celebrating" George Creel
as official reporter. American conf
donce in Official reports Of pro-
cecdings will be sadly shaken.
Last September Senator Weeks
urged the appointment of a COM
mittee Of senators to consider the
problem of reconstruction. He fore
saw the end of war and the need OF
preparation for conditions the nation
must face with the dawn of peace.
Both executive and legislative
branches OF our government knew,
months ago, that every country ex-
cept America was preparing for
peace, and yet we have slipped along
under the guidance of politics. play
ing southerners, without apparent
thought of the days now here. AS
we drifted into war without prepara-
ton. so we have drifted into peace.
The last blunder is even more disas-
trous in possibilities than the first.
At a time when we should have
Just remedial legislation for the bet
.erment Of the great mass of our
population. the executive branch
serves notice that it's duties 70 for
eign peoples so far transcend it's du-
ties at home that it is going to Eu-
rope-AND CUT THE CABLES, ex-
cept for such news" as this trio
sees At to hand out in America.
1t is the Wilson Burleson Creel
feel sure that 1t will spread through.
out the land.
When we need closer cooperation
between the executive and legislative
branches than at any period of his
tory, not forgetting even the demands
OF war. one branch steps out of the
country on a mission that seems to
some OF us, at least violative of pro-
pricty and good taste If nothing
worse. Another faction fears an at
tempt. unregulated by American
sentiment. to soften the terms to the
Prussian beast. We do not as yet
share that fear.
Our fear il OF the effect of unre-
liable and distrusted reports of the
actual peace proceedings and utter
ances upon a people forced to smoth-
or in uncertainties while every other
nation is making long strides in re-
adjustment and economic welfare.
We object to the removal of the
White House TO Versailles or Paris
at this critical period, ard those
words convey only a shadow of pub
lie sentiment on this issue
The New York Times, strong
administration supporter as a rule,
bluntly voices it's disapproval in a
column and half of such express
sions as:
Commissioners sent to attend peace
conference receive instructions and
what are called full powers from the
Governments they represent. Commits
sioners or delegates sent by the United
states to the coming peace conference
AT faris Will receive instructions from
the President. But President Wilson,
outranking all appointed delegates, will
himself attend the conference. There
Is no one to instruct him. His own
opinions will he his instructions. 1t
VIII not be denied, however that lie
goes to the conference as a representa-
i've OF the Government and the people
OF the United states. His actions
should be guided, his decisions con-
resents.
II, reconsidering his unfortunate
purpose to take personal part in tie
conference. the President should re-
main at Washington he would be in
way to inform himself of the state Of
public opinion concerning the terms of
the nnal treaty. He could ascertain
what the people thought, as Presidents
DO, by consultation with members OF
the Foreign Affairs Committee OF the
Senate and with other Senators and
representatives, by the speech of neo-
pie. from the public press and from
the multitude of individual communica-
lions that nc into the White House.
away. md out what the people think
about the treaty? He will be in daily
conference with his own subordinates.
all extraordinarily deferential to his
opinions. He Is likely to learn little
Gent sources of information as to the
public view In the United States he vii
De completely cut of. The seizure of
the cables and the alarming informa-
ton given out at Washington as to the
dissemination OF news Of the confer
ence Use doubts whether our people
VIII not also be pretty effectually cut
on from Paris"
The Times recalls that the Presi-
dent in his address Of Sept. q in
New York city, said: This is a peo-
pies war. not n statesmen's. States
men must follow the clarified COM
mon thought or be broken" and con-
cludes:
We dc not think we have
need to pursue this subject further to
much to be done before the President
pf the United States sets out for Paris