The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-29
WILSON WOULD
BE AUTOCRAT,
ASSERTS KNOX
Republicans in Senate
Openly Attack Presi-
dents Policies.
FREE TRADE Is ISSUE
President Says Debated Clause
Leaves Nations Free to
Frame Policies.
spscial pe.pateA to Tns sux.


wAsHINoroN, Oct. 2s.-The appeal
Of President Wilson for Democratic
Congress induced violent reaction in
the Senate to-day. Dropping the re-
straint heretofore exercised in the dis-
cussions of national and International
affairs the Republicans brought an en-
filsding fre to bear directly on the
President. .,
For the nrst time the underlying mo-
lives of his action as President were
subjected to the criticism that he was
making the war against autocracy the
excuse for setting UP his own particular
autocracy, that he was preparing to
commit the United States TO. a policy Of
international free trade and that in
diametrical opposition to the announced
postwar policy OF the Allies he was
striving to attain the end that friend
and enemy should receive the same
treatment in the adjustments of the
period after the war.
To the Republican counter Of
fensive launched against the President
tho Democrats responded that the Presi-
dent had no autocratic ambitions, but on
the other hand that his course proved
he was entirely worthy Of trust as the
They admitted. however, that the treat
ment OF Germany and her allies after
the war would be In accordance with
that given all other nations so far as
their Interpretation Of the Presidents
statements led them to understand.
Sets Pace for Campaign.
To-days battle in the Senate was the
dominating feature in the political sit
uation here. II was virtually a concen-
tration OF the entire campaign on both
sides, fought out in the Senate with the
prospects Of It's continuance in subse-
quent sessions between now and election
day. and the certainty OF its development
along similar lines in the battle through
! out the country.
Tho Republican charge that the Presi-
dent was striving to impose his personal
will instead Of the will of the American
people In the peace programme was met
by the Democratic rejoinder that the
President had submitted his peace pro-
gramne to q Joint session OF Congress
nine months ago in the constitutional
method and that the approval had been
wellnigh unanimous. Justifying the Pres
ident In his assumption that he was rep
resenting the will Of the country.
Senator Pittman (Nev.). avowing that
the Presidents object was a peace OF
justice and humanity. made a bitter at
tack on Senator Lodge and Theodore
Roosevelt in whom he said this course
Of the President had aroused anger and
contempt He charged Col. Roosevelt
with having made the Liberty Loan cam
paign an occasion for spreading Repub-
lican propaganda Senator Pittman was
plainly acting as the White House
spokesman in the assault made on Col.
Roosevelt. whom he declared the Repub-
licans would have to take as their next
Presidential candidate whether they
wanted him or not.
,TumuIty Writes Letter.
The Capitol was not alone in politi-
cal activity, the White House contribut-
ing its daily quota Joseph p. Tumulty.
private secretary TO the President. made
public another long letter to the Cuya-
iloga County Republican Committee of
Cleveland. Ohio, giving more details of
T Republican appeals in 1899 for the cleo
ton OF a Republican majority to Con-
gress and citing them as presidents
for the action OF the President in APP
pealing for a Democratic Senate and
House.
To this and the repeated statement
that Abraham Lincoln furnished the
same precedent, the Republican Con-
detailed answer.
Republicans now are certain that the
reastion from the Presidents appeal Is
very largely in their favor Republican
Senators to-day were fairly deluged with
letters condemning the Presidents course
and promising their active support to
Republican candidates. Chairman Tess
or the Congressional Committee received
$40 letters in one mail. nearly every one
tributions.
THE sender Of one of these contribu-
TONS" said Representative Fess. Stated
that this was the first political contribu-
ton he had ever made and stated that
ths impulse to contribute was the Presi.
dents letter and nothing else"
Knox Precipitates Debate.
Senator Knox (Pa) precipitated the
debate In the Senate with a careful
speech OF warning against the tendency
in national affairs to repose too great
responsibility upon one individual He
said;
Tho separation OF the two tasks, OF
ascertaining when the prime war aim OF
this nation has been achieved and OF
accepting or rejecting one by one the
-nultifhrious coroilaries and subsidiary
war aims that have been proposed-and
many of them are adventurous and
questfonable-is heightened by the facts
first that It has been sought to make
this mass Of clustering ideas a part OF
the res gestse by linking them with
tentative discussions with the enemy
and. secondly. because the array OF idea
referred to has not been tested by any
attempt to supplement them in the form
Of concise, practicable stipulations. Upon
all these things the Senate as trustee OF
large share of the peoples authority
to make treaties has the appalling re-
sponsibility Of being prepared any day
to pass.
the excessive interningilng of IN,
problem of victorious ending OF the
war with a great variety OF nrotact. y,