New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-01-03
Lewis Charges
Senate PlO t to
Block Wilson
Accuses Republicans of
False Pretence Aimed to
Discredit the President
Assails Lodge and Knox
Deceiying Country, He De-
clares, With Political Prop
uganda to Defeat Peace

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2.-Republican
critics of President Wilson and his
peace terms were attacked in the SEN
ate to-day by Senator Lewis, of Hi
nois, the Democratic whip. Replying
to recent addresses of Senator Lodgs,
of Massachusetts, and Knox, of Penn
sylvania, Senator Lewis charged that
certain leaders Of the Republican
side" had conspired for political pur-
poses 30 Giscredit the President in the
eyes of European negotiators and to
defeat his plans.
The Illinois Senator was unable to
conclude his speech to-day, but will
finish tomorrow, after which Senator
Borah, Of Idaho, Republican, an OPP
ponent. Of league of nations, plans
to reply. Senators Thomas, Of Col
crGdo, Democrat. and Senator Cum
pect to discuss peace and related ques
TORS tomorrow
Charges False Pretense
Senator Lewis said he aid not object
to Senators Lodge and Knox Equality
ing for the support of Colonel Roose
welt and his following for the nomina-
tiVH lOI ItSIQcHt, DuI LHdl Ut ulu
object ''to the country being deceived
as to the design, and the President Of
the United States dishonored by false
political prctenses to accomplish the
purpose."'
Declaring that the Presidents Re
publican critics in the Senate had
failed to utter one word Of satisfaction
at the safe arrival of the President
overseas or of the great honors being
shown him by European rulers and
peoples, Senator Lewis said it was not
too much to believe that they would
not have been displeased to find the
Presidents name in the casualty lists
Nothing he has attempted but is
condemned" declared Senator Lewis,
referring to President Wilson; moth
ing he has spoken or accomplished has
been praised or indorsed"
Sees Inconsistent Attitude
Senator Lewis read from speeches
and statements by Senators Lodge and
Knox IN an effort to show that their
present attitude is inconsistent with
chat which they assumed in regard to
President McKinley's action relative to
a peace protocol with Spain in 1898
and President Roosevelt's course as to
the peace arrangement growing out of
the uprising in China in 1901. The
policy pursued by President Wilson, he
said, is identical with that of Presi-
dents Mckinley and Roosevelt.
During the debate precipitatcd by
Senator Lewis speech, Senator Borah
referred to statements of a leading
Japanese statesmen declaring that
Japan would not enter any league
which did not place the people of that
country on an equal basis with those
OF other countries. Senator Borah
said the United States could hardly
Chairman Hitchcock of the Senate For
eign Relations Committee declared
this was a domestic and not an inter
national question and would not come
within the scope of the league of ma
tons.
Expects China to Follow Japan
Senator Borah said he believed China
would take the same attitude as Japan
on the citizenship question, and that
if it did an. "Oriental League" might
result, bringing about circumstances
more calculated TO bring war than pre-
vent it,"
In the course of his speech Senator
Lewis said:
"The concurring assaults by certain
leaders of the Republican side upon
everything that President Wilson has
attempted in Europe, disclose. as
charge, conspiracy to dscredit him
and to defeat any design he enters
upon by giving the European nego-
tlatOrs to understand that the Senate
is opposed to the President; that it
objects to his measures and that it is
speaking with the power to revise, re-
verse and repudiate him"
ociHort vXr;tb;, D:ol.+
Senator Lewis declared the Senate
had nothing whatever to do with what
the President is now doing sin pre-
senting the protocol for peace and the
adjustment of the disposition of the
armies"
President Within Rights
II inform the European negotiators
and the world" he said, "that there is
no law of America, by Constitution,
statute or custom, by which the Presi-
dent is undo env obligation to submit
hat he is now doing to the Senate or
to any otn-i y-a-cn OF the islative
or executive body.
Il inform the negotiators, as | 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 fun treaty or compact
Of peace has been finally accepted and
peace declared and the armies with
drawn as a result OF that acceptance. .
Drawing distinction between treat
les made by the President as head of
the civil government after the war has
ended and the making Of peace by pro-
toco OR agreements, the Senator said
under the latter condition the Presi
dent serves as commander in chief in
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 wholly apart
from the interference, the opposition
the approval or reputation of the
Senate
Charges Inconsistency
Senators Lodge and. Knox were
! CHI rood Wit \ hniror incnnrirtan+ l.,