Evening journal., 1919-10-24
A STRANGE LEADER.

HET LE the Senate is analy yzmg the League OF Nao"'
wv and deciding upon reservations, IL is Illuminating
to review portion Of the past record Of the man VINO
is leading The opposed to The Republican ranks.
reinforced 10y a few Democrats arayed on the side oil
American sovereignty.
The war record Of Senator Gilbert NJ Hitchcock is
susceptible to little criticism.
once we had entered the conflict # behooyed every
member OF the senate to place in The hands of the gov
emment every aid to the winning Of the war
Mr.. Hitchcock Joined with his colleagues in voting
necessary appropriations and other emergency lessa-
lion.
mt while the Germans were engaged in the spola-
tion OF Belgium and France held back from Paris by
the desperate French English soldiers, Mr. Hitchcock
gave utlle thought 10 what would happen TO this coun-
lry should that line give way and Germany succeed in
overwhelming her adyersares.
ON December Z, 1911, he introduced bill prohDluns
The export from Tie United states Of all arms and munl-
lions Of war to any country with which we were az
peace.
Regardless Of the fact that such embargo would
work only against England and France, by reason OF the
fact that The English ncct controlled The seas ana couI
prevent shipments 60 Germany senator llIccock spoke
several times IN favor Of his bill, but, fortunately failed
10 get any apprecabe support for IT,
What would have resulted TO the allied cause had
Mr. HtchcocKs proposal been adopted was set forth
by senator Lodge in a speech on January ., 1916.
"I think" said he III this country placed an em-
barge now on the expectations OF munitions of war 10
would De guilty Of a grossly unneutral act because IL
would change a condition created by the war ana DE
changing condition created boy The War-tha Is, created
by ono Of the beligercntsit would make itself TO lha
extent the ally Of The other begeren The day puts
an embargo on all The world knows that would be worth
more to Germany Than million men,
on MAY e. 1918 the Lusitania sunk, carrying down
with her more than 500 innocent passengers, including
scores Of American citizens
During that year The world made aware in nurler-
Gus official reports Of the atrocities committed by the
Germans and that the democracy OF the United states
and Of the whole world in danger and shrewd minds
knew that oure entrance into the war but a matter
of time
Set ON December 1915 senator Hitchcock again in
roduced his bill It having previously apsed due to the
adjournment of Congress
lie stnl clung Ia the belief that should become in
effect the ally OF Germany and present her with the
equivalent Of a million men, to the estimate of Senator
Lodge
Even at this late day with the war over and with
the fun extent Of Germany's crimes laid bare to the
world Senator Hitchcock gores in the fact that he in
iroduced the bin.
81 want TO say" he unequlvocay declares, THAT /
never apologized for the introduction Of that bil and
never expect to do So"
Mr. Hitchcock as well as the other proponents of the
League OF Nations have nt TO charge the fepuphc'u
critics OF that fatal instrument with pro-Gernansm
n has been repeated again and again that delay In rat
0caton of the treaty especially If 10 should be amended
tended TO create dissatisfaction the Allies and make
il easier for Germany in her attempt to foster such dis
cord.
.oboiy conycrsant with the facts viii dispute thc
assertion that had Senator Hitchcock had his way Ger
many would have speedily won the war.
It I'M becomes man with such record TO cast asper-
sions on those who stood together America and ciy
gaon while he was playing into tho hands OF the enemies
who would accomplish their overthrow.