The sun., 1919-03-01

faithful to the fact The outcome was
humiliation on the Democratic side and
n good deal of gayety on the Republican
side.
Mr.. williams did not look too downcast.
for that acute person had realized early
in tho colloquy between Hitchcock and
Borah that there Is nothing more stupid
than to try 10 combat truth with
falsehood which can quickly be shattered.
As the transcript of the colloquy re-
veais, Senator Hitchcock attacked the
truth Of THE SUNS account OF the Will
son dinner on other points besides the
Irish question, but since that was such
a sore point with the Administration be-
cause the President was aware that COM
mittees OF Irishmen had left Washington
in hot anger after discovering that MIR.
Wilson lad abandoned ireland to Great
Britain he concentrated his attack on
that point
Defenders Forced to Wait.
His statements were exposed swiftly
and thoroughly on that point as they
would have been on the other points had
the majority permitted Republican SEN
ators to defend THE SUN.
Senator William Alden Smith (Mich.)
was already on his feet to corroborate
the fidelity OF THE SUMS attack. Sem
ator Brandegee had hearty confederation
on tho tip OF his tongue. Senator Knox
and Senator Lodge were perfectly willing
TO state that any Senator present at the
Wilson dinner might have written THE
Sun story.
Senators New ana Cummins. satisfied
from their conversations with brother
Senators that had heard Mr.. Wilson de-
stroy the pretensions of his own scheme
and admit the league would not stop
war, would override vital points Of
American sovereignty. would take away
Americas right TO exclude Chinese and
Japanese and would compel American
boys to fight In European quarrels. that
THE SUNS story was not only truthful.
but service to the people, were eager to
smash tho hypocrisy of the Wilson atti-
tude. But the regular order OF business
was clapped down upon these Senators
and they were forced to bide their time.
That, however, was OF little conse-
Quence Not only the Senate but all
Washington knew the truth--that under
orders from Mr.. Wilson Senator Hitch
cock had essayed to save the situation
and had been caught in the act
II Mr.. Tumuity had been aware OF
Senator Hitchcock's humiliation on the
floor Of the Senate when Senator Will
Jams could not sit still under stupid
Misrepresentation and when Borah made
Hitchcock admit that the President said
Ireland is outside the pale. perhaps he
would not have written 'the President
wishes me to say that this statement
has no foundation In fact and is a de-
hberate falsehood."
Five Against One.
SO that as a matter of public interest
the controversy Is now down to this !:
Senators Hitchcock and Williams, Dem
ocratic, and Senators Lodge, Knox and
Brandeegee, Republican. all Of whom
were present at the dinner and heard
what Mr.. Wilson said. finally agreed
that the Irish question was discussed
and disposed OF precisely as THE Sun
stated this morning. Mr.. Tumulty says
II was not.
But that Is not all by a long shot.
Senators, Republican and Democratic.
who recognized that the publication OF
the truth by THE SUN was a service to
the people Of the United States. however
disagreeable the truth may have been
to thu Administration, FASTENED to con-
graduate THE SUN upon the accuracy
and faithfulness Of It's resume OF the
conversation held between the President
and his dinner guests. 1t was a remark
able spectacle to see Senators of the
Democratic side. who dislike everything
about the British Wilson League of Ma
tions plan and yet who do not dare ex-
pose themselves to the malice of the
White House. whispering their approval
OF THE Suns account In several in
stances the conversation ran thus:
THE SUN had the facts I am glad
II came out But for Heavens sake
don't quote me. You know what they
are up atthe other end OF the avenue
Here was a sample Of the terrorism
maintained by the Administration over
the present majority in Congress. It ex-
hibits itself in the most petty ways.
Yesterday when the President held audi
ence in the Presidents room he was
affable to a degree TO those Senators
and Representatives. who had consist
emily Cor inconsistently) followed him
with their eyes shut But when Senator
Chamberlain (Ore) advanced to pay his
respects it was How do you. sir?" five
monosyllables as cold as ice
May Assert Independence.
There may yet be surprise when II
comes to voting on the ratification Of the
British-Wilson scheme. for signs are Just
showing that some Senators who have
lived under this condition of things will
have the independence to break away
But the Republicans are Of different
stripe Of spirit. Any number of them
Sutherland wv. Va.), Cummins, New
and Borah-just to mention a few, were
distinctly pleased that one newspaper
had the courage to tell the truth Six
OF these Senators met at luncheon TODAY
and the whole conversation turned on
THE SUNS account of the questions and
answers at the Wilson dinner and on tho
discontinue Of Mr.. Hitchcock and Mr..
Tumulty. The six. all of whom were
perfectly familiar with what took place
at the dinner. agreed that IL any one of
them had written THE SUNS story
he would not have made an essential
change In the narrative. At this lunch
con were Senators Cummins and Borah.
They carefully canvassed the entire
statement, taking up each point
Agree on Wilson's Stand.
such Senators as were present at the
dinner and such as had got their news
second hand were In accord as to these
points:
9 1. Tho President admitted the
League Of Nations could not prevent
war.
.. The President admitted that
. the United States must surrender
vital points OF sovereignty.
q. The President said Ireland was
abandoned 10 England