The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-01-02
LEWIS CHARGES
COP. WANTS TO
THWART WILSON
Says Party Leaders Are Con-
spring to Discredit Presi-
dent for Political Purposes.
tBy Associated Press,

II
| WASHINGTON, Jan 2.-Senator
Lewis, Democrat, Of Illinois, speaking
| today In the senate. charged Republi-
can leaders with conspiring for politi-
cal purposes to discreiit President
Wilson abroad. to thwart his purposes
by giving European negotiators the
! impression that the senate opposes
his plans and by deceiving the Ameri
can public. Their object he declared,
SIS to prevent the President from ac-
com mplishing anything"
The speech was in opposition to re-
cent utterances of Senators Lodge. of
Massachusetts,, and Knox, of Pennsyl-
varia. both Republicans, criticizing
tain of the Presidents fourteen
principles of peace and urging that
considerationof a league of nations.
freedom of the seas and other Ques-
tions be deferred until after the peace
conference.
"The concurring assaults by certain
! leaders OF the Republican side upon
everything that President Wilson has
attempted in Europe" said Senator
Lewis, "discloses, as I charge, con-
spiracy to discredit him and to de-
feat any design he enters upon by
giving the European negotiators to un-
derstand that the senate Is opposed to
the President; that it objects to his
measures, and that 1t speaking with
the power to revise, reverse and re-
pudiate him"
Under No Obligations.
Senator Lewis declared the senate
had nothing whatever to do with what
the President Is now doing Gin pre-
oenting the protocol for peace and the
adjustment of the disposition of the
armies"
II inform the European negotiators
and the world. !" he said, that there is
no law of American by constitution,
statute or custom by which the Presi-
dent Is under. any obligation to sub
NIT what he is now doing to the sen
ate OF to any other branch Of the legis-
lative or executive body.
II inform the negotiators as I do
all those interested, that the present
undertakings of the president of the
United States are as commander In
chief Of the armies. That he remains
such with full power as commander In
chief until the full treaty or compact
of peace has been finally accepted and
peace declared and the armies with
drawn as result of that acceptance"
Exercising Authority.
Drawing a distinction between treat
les 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
said under the latter condition the
president serves as commander In
chief agreeing upon terms OF peace
for the purpose of withdrawing the
armies, and in so doing executes the
authority of the law and of the people
vested in him as executive and who'll
ly apart from the interference, the op-
position. the approval or reputation
Of the senate"
Senators Lodge and Knox were
charged with being inconsistent in
their views. The Illinois senator said
postponement Of the proposals for q
league of nations and freedom of seas
would mean that the war had been
fought in vain aud would bring about
a repetition of the struggle.
Charge Of Failure.
Each nation with claims and prin-
ciples at stake. as 1t believes them"
he continued, seeing no method ex
listing through which it can secure
peace and obtain its rights will turn !
to the only method left and which has
just been adopted-war.
'In justice to the distinguished SEN |
ators, they do not mean that America |
should enter upon such a cowardly |
course. They are only anxious to Sc
cure the abandonment OF the demand |
for the present, that it might be
charged against wilson that he failed |
In securing the only thing of material |
worth for which the nation fought |
and her children died. Then as po-
litical cry to come forth proclaiming |
that the republican senate to be con-
etituted after the December session.
will undertake the remedying OF the
wrong, and make the presidential
issue upon the charge OF perfdy
against our party"
In closing, Senator Lewis said the
country must see THE emptiness OF
these protests, the want Of substances
in the criticisms" and urged united
support for the president while he is
on foreign soil. "contesting for the
OF the United States"
Man RelieDed f0 Re .Ienn