Evening star., 1919-07-14

President Assigns Nebraska
Senator to Task, Ending
Goodness Said to Exist.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

President Wilson told Senator
Hitchcock today he wants him to take
charge of the fight in the Senate on
behalf of the league Of nations and
peace treaty. Thus ends an interval
of alleged frigidity which became the
subject 9f comment upon the occasion
OF Mr.. Wilson's visit to the Senate
last week. Judging by the warmth
and and. eordiaa,:s ,'ad VA 20 aa ~ eaasissscaz
neither eal vent up n nor do down on the
grows that the. story Of coolness had
"a very fragile foundation. IL any.
The true story of what did happen
seems to be this: Senator Hitchcock
has been conducting the Presidents
arguments of the opponents Of the
league and generally bearing the
burden OF leadership. Once or twice
Mr.. Wilson cabied his thanks. After
Mr.. Wilson delivered his address to
room and held an informal reception.
Senator Hitchcock was one Of the
democratic senators who happened in.
Planned Golf Trip.
That night it became known that
the Nebraska senator was going
away for golf trip. Whereupon
those who were curious about the de-
parture of the Nebraskan at a time
like this sought information and
didn't find among Mr.. Hitchcock's
friends anybody who said Mr.. Wilson
had delivered himself of any appre-
ciative remarks when he saw the SEN
ator or that he had said anything one
way or another about conducting the
fight in the Senate
Also it became known that Senator
Swanson Of Virginia would deliver the
first speech on the league today. Put
ting two and two together the sur
misses went out that all was not well
between the senator and the Presi-
ed the division in ranks with evident
satisfaction, and the story got nation
wide publicity. Instantly came the
denials. Secretary Tumulty, who was
on the Jersey coast for the week end.
telephoned a denial which was is
sued promptly to the press. Senator
Hitchcock's alert secretary denied
that Mr.. Hitchcock had abandoned the
fight
Called on Telephone.
The President was somewhat con-
cerned over the newspaper stories.
He probably looked upon them as an
attempt to make mischief ANYWAY.
the first thing he did upon rising to-
day was to inquire when Senator
Hitchcock would be back, and the Ne
braska senator hadn't been in town
an hour when the. telephone bell rang
and the Presidents cheerful voice
came over the wire.
Mr.. Wilson told the senator he hoped
there hadn't been any annoyance over
the published stories. and the Ne
braskan senator answered, Not the
slightest" Indeed. what the general
public didn't know, but which leaked
out upon the return of the senator to-
day, is that on meeting the President
last Thursday Mr.. Hitchcock observed
that of course Mr.. Wilson would be a
busy man for few days. and any
time he wanted anything the senator
would be at his service So it was
quite natural for Mr.. Hitchcock to get
telephone call from the President
look upon the published stories as
wholly superfluous.
Talked With Senator.
The President talked at length with
the senator from Nebraska outlining
what seemed best to be done in ham
ding the league Of nations fight Mr..
Wilson probably knew Of Senator Lodges
published statement that the President
WOulun De invited TO appear before
the Senate foreign relations committee
to explain various features of the treaty,
for he told Senator Hitchcock he would
be glad to invite the entire membership
of the foreign relations committee to
come to the White House.
If the mountain wouln't come to Ma
homet. then Mahomet would go to the
mourtain-anything to Offset the notion
that the President will not consult the
Senate or advise intimately with it's
members, criticism which it will be
remembered has been flung at the
President repeatedly.
The republican chairman of the Sem
ate foreign relations committee, Mr..
Lodge. has held that il Mr. Wilson has
anything to say. precedent says he
shall say it to the whole Senate and
not to a committee thereof. Mr.. Wilson
has made it clear that he wouldn't stand
on precedent, but would attend COM
mittee meetings. if invited. and be sub
jected to Interrogation.
Really. Mr.. Wilson is laying the
for his appeal to the coun-
try. He is leaving no stone unturned
~ -Ontiu,Ied on CovoDtI d. ~ :