Omaha daily bee., 1919-10-20
Reed Reminds Hitchcock
Special Dispatch to the N. Y. Sun.

Washington, Oct l4-Charges and proof
of prevarication on the part of league OF nations
opponents have become matters OF daily occur
renee in the senate debate. Today it was Sena-
tor Hitchcock, administration leader, who was
caught with the goods and forced by Senator
Reed (Mo) to admit misstatement under con-
ditions of the greatest embarrassment not only
to Senator Hitchcock, but to all proponents OF
the unamended covenant who have been taking
a lead from President Wilson's own book and
charging the opposition with pro-Germanism.
The incident arose in the midst of Senator
Reeds discussion of the practical application
of some of the proposed functions of the league.
Senator Hitchcock charged that the statements
of the senator from Missouri were loose and
reckless. Senator Reed turned upon his adj
versary and. leveing bony forenger at. the
leaders nose, snarled:
II am just as capable OF reading document
Understandings as the senator from Nebraska.
am just as capable as he is of forming cor
rect conclusion of its meaning | want to say
that senator who introduced such bill as
did the senator from Nebraska when the Huns
were battling at the gates OF Paris, when the
Lusitania had been sunk to prevent the ship
ment of arms and munitions-when German
atrocity after atrocty had made clear to the
world the German intent to prevent the ship
ment of arms--any senator introducing such a
bill. at such time as that has little right to
criticise any other senator on this floor"
"The senator is making the same reckless
misstatements that he has made here and
throughout the country" replied Mr. Hitchcock
springing to his feet Il did not introduce the
bill to which he refers after the sinking of the
Lusitania. | introduced it in December follow
ing the beginning of the war; in 1914. The
Lusitana was not sunk for several months
afterward The senator entirely misrepresents
in the statement he has just made"
II will accept the senator's statement" re
piled Mr. Reed. IF he says he did not intro
A.. IT, A. e,s,fy. of
/ will cut out the Lusitania from my statement
and | will say that when the iron heel of the
Hun was already on the bosom of PROSTATE
Belgium, when victorious German armies were
knocking at the gates of Paris. the senator in
troduced bill to prevent the shipment of arms
which he and the whole world knew would if
it became law lay Europe PROSTATE before Ger
many, force Britain and France to capituate on
whatever terms the Germans would grant"
To this Mr.. Hitchcock made no reply Mr.
Reed went on with his discussion. Meanwhile,
however he had sent for a copy of the Hitch
cock embargo bill. and in a few minutes. hold
ing it in his hand, he addressed Mr.. Hitchcock
again.
Il have here" said he. "a copy of the bill
introduced by the senator in December, 1914.
will ask him if this is not the measure that has
bee, under discussion"
Mr.. Hitchcock identified the bill. Mr.. Reed
vert on:
II find that the senator introduced this bill
again in December, 1915, seven months after
the sinking of the usitania"
That" said Mr. Hitchcock, evidently
abashed twas a reintroduction"
"Oh," replied Mr. Reed, IF the senator
wishes to make distinction of that kind am
perfectly willing that it shall stand in the Rec
ord. The senator had not changed his mind
about the necessity of legislation that would
have won the war for Germany, and my state
ment that he had introduced this bill after the
sinking of the Lusitanla is vindicated"