The Washington herald., 1919-12-05
MEXICAN ISSUE
TO BE PLACED
BEFORE WILSON
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

Fletcher were witnesses before the
committee. Senator Fall produced
proof Of his charges that the Mex
lean government had deliberately
aided in spreading Bolshevist prop
aganda In the United States with
the avowed intent of overthrowing
the American government. Ambassa-
dor Fletcher told the Senators how
Mexican officials had obtained per-
jured evidence against william o.
Jenkins, American consular agent,
who Is now imprisoned in a peni-
tentiary at Puebla, Mexico.
Yesterday afternoon Secretary Ian
sing went before the committee and
not only substantiated the charges
made by Senator Fall, but produced
a wealth Of new material Of as sur
prising a character.
jenkins stIn Held.
At the State Department mean
time, no reply had been received
from the Carranza government and
the latest information was that
Jenkins was still a prisoner.
The House, It was made plain by
Republican leaders. will support
whatever action the Senate may
ultimately take in the Mexican sit
uation.
Senator Fall expects to make pub
lie today a digest of the charges,
together with the proofs, that he
made before the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee yesterday. He
believes the public should be in
formed Immediately of the gravity
of the entire situation. which is
Al0 hNy f0nnTanCR nf
the Presidents exact state of
health.
No attempt will be made until today
by Senator Hitchcock to seek an ap-
poIntment with the President. While
Senator Fall is really chairman Of the
subcommittee he has permitted Sena-
tor Hitchcock, because of his standing
in the administration and his rela-
tions with the President, to obtain
the appointment. II Senator Hitchcock
does not report to the Senator from
New Mexico by 10 o'clock this morn
ing, however. Senator Fall will then
proceed to attempt to negotiate the
appointment himself.
Action n Surprise.
The decision of the Foreign Rela-
tions Committee to seek an audience
with the President was a tremendous
surprise to the Democrats. Long after
both the committee and the Senate
had adjourned, Senator Hitchcock. to-
gether with Senators Swanson, Hoke
smith and King. all Democrats. sat
in the otherwise empty Senate cham
Der discussing the situation.
The way was paved for Senator
Falls resolution by the testimony
given by Secretary Lansing. He was
asked if he had seen the President and
he replied in the negative.
Senator Hitchcock interposed at this
point with the intent to show that the
Secretary meant that he had not seen
the President on the Jenkins case
This drew the following question from
Senator Fall directed at the secre-
tary:
Have YOU seen the President on
the Mexican situation since his re-
turn from his Western trip?"
mo, 1 have not" was the Secre-
tary's reply.
Senator Fall thereupon made his
motion for the appointment of sub
to ask the President his
opinion of the resolution he had In
troduced.
For a moment there was silence
from the Democratic Senators. Then
Senator Shields spoke.
President 'sToo ILL.,
The President has been a sick man
and any man who has been as sick
as he is reported to be-" he asserted.
II was said, could not take a matter
of this Importance under considera-
ton in a short interview. l don't
think We should act on 1t"
The roll call on Senator Falls
motion. though. was as follows:
CYeas): Lodge. Johnson, New. Borah,
Moses and Fall. CNays): Hitchcock.
Shields, Pittman, Swanson and. VIII
liams.
Senator Fall first proposed that Sen
ators Lodge and Hitchcock compose
the subcommittee to wait upon the
President, but Senator Lodge asked
permission to name the subcommittee
and chose Fall and Hitchcock.
The subcommittee was instructed
to see the President. II granted an
audience. it will be the first time
any Republican Senator has seen the
President since he was taken i'll.
The subcommittee was also instruct
ed to report back the Presidents
views to the full committee.
II it is impossible to obtain an
audience the report will contain
n statement along these lines. and
II the Senators see the President and
his condition is such that they feel
he should not be burdened with an
extended presentation of the Mexican
case, no effort will be made to ex-