Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-01-03
LEWIS DEN0UNCES
LODGE AND KNOX
Charges Republican Conspiracy
to Discredit President
in Europe.
WOULD DECEIVE NEGOTlATORS
Declares Opposition Impressing
View Wilson Peace Will Be
Repudiated at Home.
DECEIVE NEGOTIATORs
fBy Associated Press.1

N.NSflNIiON, January 2.-Scnator
Lewis. Of Illinois, speaking to-day in
the Senate. charged Republican lead
ers with conspiring for political pur-
poses, to discredit President Wilson
abroad. TO thwart his purposes by CIV
ing European negotiators the impress
sion the Senate opposes his plans and
by deceiving the American public.
Their object. he declared, is to pre-
vent the President from accomplishing
anything"
The speech was in reply to recent
utterances Of Senator'S Lodge and Knox.
both Republicans. criticizing certain OF
the Presidents fourteen principles Of
peace and urging consideration of a
league OF nations. freedom OF the seas
and other questions be deferred until
after the peace conference.
Il do not object to Senator Lodge
or Senator Knox qualifying for the
support Of Colonel Roosevelt and his
ident by catching the expression OF
opposition OF the Colonel and then
echoing SO say we an of u.s." said
country being deceived as TO the de-
sign and the President OF the United
lenses TO accomplish the purpose"
DISCLoSES CONSPIRACY
TO DISCREDIT PRESIDENT
The concurring assaults by certain
leaders Of the kepaiblican spuin. SIDE upon
Lewis. "discloses, as charge. con
spiracy TO discredit him and TO de-
feat any design he enters upon by Civ
ing the European negotiatorS TO un-
derstand that the Senate is opposed to
the President; that ii objects to his
measures. and that it is speaking with
the power to revise, reverse and re-
pudiate him..
Senator Lewis declared the Senate
the President is now doing in pre-
senting the protocol for peace and the
adjustment Of the disposition of the
armies"
and the world" he said, That there
is no Law of America. by Constitu
PFesdeat 1n is 1nder o amy 'he 1e
submit what he Is now doing TO the
Senate or, to any other branch of the
II inform the negotiators, as do
undertakings OF the President 'oF the
ehief. of NE armies. That he remains
such with full power as commander
fin'chicf until the fun treaty or com
and peace declared and the armies
withdrawn as a result OF that accept
ance."
Drawing a distinction between trca-
ties made by the President as head OF
the civil government and after the war
has ended and the making OF peace
by. protocol or agreements. the Senator
President serves as commander-in-
"hief, agreeing upon terms OF peace for
the purpose of withdrawing the armies.
OF the Law and of the power vested
IN him as executive. and wholly apart
from the interference. the opposition,
CHARGES LODGE AND KNOX
WITH INCONSiSTENCIEs
Senator's Lodge and Knox were
Their Views. The illinois Senator said
postponement of the proposals for a
league of nations and freedom OF the
ceas, would mean the war had been
fought in vain, and would bring about
Il repetition OF the struggle.
Each nation with claims and prin-'
ciples at stake, as it believes them"
listing through which 1t can secure
neace and obtain it's rights, will turn to
the only method left and which has
just been adopted-war.
I'm justice to the distinguished. Sen
ators they do not mean that. America
should should enter enter upon such eowardly
cure the abandonment of the demand
FOR the present. that it might be
charged against Wilson that he failed
and her children died. Then is a po-
litical CRY TO come forth proclaiminE
that the Republican Senate to be con-
stituted after the December session will
undertake the remedying OF this wrong,
and make the presidential issue upon
the charge of perfidy against our Pres
ident and infamy against our party"
In closing, Senator Lewis said the
country must see the emptiness of
these protests. the want of substance
in the criticisms" and urged united
support for the President while he is
on foreign soil "contestinE for the SUI
premacy of the United States"
SENATOR WEEKS ATTACKS
WAR DEPARTMENT
The War Department was sharply
criticized in the Senate to-day by Sena-
tor Weeks, of Massachusetts, Republic
can. for delays and errors in compil-
ing casualties among the expedition
ary forces and for failure to cooper
ate with the Red Cross in the matter
or forwarding letters from wounded
soldiers TO relatives in this country.
Criticism was directed especially at
the office of the Acknowledgement of
the army, Senator Weeks saying that
Major General Mccain. the adjutant-
general, who retired last SUMMER to
command division. and who was sue
ceeded by Major-General Harris. should
have been retained He could not be-
lleve he said. that a change in the
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