The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-11-27
DEMAND PUBLIC
DISCUSSION Of
PEACE TREATY
Senate Faces Problem
When Congress
Reconvenes.
JOHNSON CAUSTIC
JOHNSON CAUSTIC
California Senator Raps
Administration for
Repressive and Sup
pressive Measures.

Washington. Nov. &c. - The
demand of certain senators
that the treaty of peace should
be discussed publicly in open
session OF the senate will be
one of the big problems the
senate must face when congress
e-convenes. Statements made
today by various members of
the senate show that the move
mcnt for open discussion of he
treaty has assumed no ineon
siderable proportions.
One senator, who Is unwill-
ing, at this time, to have his
name made public, announced
that he will present a formal
resolution to the next senate,
demanding that the doors be
thrown open, that the treaty be
given to the public as soon as
II is received by the senate and
that the people of the United
States be kept fully Informed
OF every step taken before il
is ratified.
Should this resolution be
adopted. all precedents of the
senate will be shattered. and
senator's will feel free to ex.
nress..th themselves opeals upon
The terms Of the great eonven-
ton.
4 statement was issued TO-
day by Senator Hiram W.
Johnson, of California, in
which protest is made against
what he terms the '.Prussian-
slziug tsf the news of the ma
ton. " He declares that the
people of the country are I'M
prepared for peace. because
they have been kept in igno-
rance Of the great events OF the
war.
We are as unprepared for the
problems OF peace AK We were fot
waging war The administration r
the war. did many things Well and
some things III.
While echoinc the loftiest senti-
ments of democracy ami ttsAaeiu foi
all other nations, Nth ar iron hand
hog ~ . ba
and freedom NJ speech at home
by repressive and suppressive
measures, the thought of the nation
was made stagnant and no loyal ex-
preston which did not yield a ready
acaniescence was permitted or toll
Grated. In a republic, arrested or
suppressed expression and stagnan,
thought are unhealthy: they are
dangerous things
THE result Of the recent election
In my opinion. was due Z, the policy
which arrogated to itself omniscies-
ence and denied to loya, Americans
the right OF free and decent express,
sion. a repressed and Suppressed
.,eople. forbidden for MANY months
interchange OF thought. found shei,
only mode of expression in the ballo,
box, and there expressed themselves
Decisions BE Momentous.
Our nation now in the peace con.
ference will make the most moment
Gus decisions in its history. No one
man within himself has all the
knowledge nor patriotism or vision OF
America. The problems of peace
and the future destiny do not find
their solution only in the east There's
a Pacific as well as AZ Atlantic, an
Orient as well as an Occident. Theirs
has never been a time when re.
! public has SO needed the best thought
and the best effort of all its citizens
That this thought may not agree
with the prevailing thought, or with
u that OF those in authority, is OF nc
consequence.
notwithstanding the repression
and suppression Of recent months
which have made of the greater 81
the eastern press the mere servils
echo of the administration: netwith,
standing that free speech has beer
practically dead among us and tha
our thought has been stagnant FOL
want Of expression: notwithstanding
Y the Prussianizing of the news OF the
only what those in authority wished
~ 10 have, this, Of all times in ouI
u history, liz the time when American,
should interchange their thought,
and express themselves
I'VE can perform no higher duty
|. and render no greater service tina:
rublfciy to discuss our problems o.
d l,eace, peace terms and the future re-
4 lations between ourselves and Other
nations. and the path the repubii'
shall follow In the years to come"
British Naval Loss.
SsS ass London, Nov. 26.--The admiralty
fxniGht gave out the following casu
SIFv MYurEs for the British navy suf
& Md during the war: Officers. 2,456
4 n cox.