Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-07-15
HITCHCOCK TO
LEAD WILSON'S
LEAGUE FIGHT
Choice Puts End to Tale
of Split Between Sem
ator and Chief.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

] Copyright, 1919, by The Argus.)
Washington, d. c., July 14.-Pres-
ident Wilson told Senator Hitch
cock 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 of comment
upon the occasion of Mr.. Wilson's
visit to the senate last week.
Judging by the warmth and cordi-
ality of to4e in their conversation
today, the thermometer neither
went up nor down on the week
end, and, in fact, the impression
had a very fragile foundation, if
any.
The true story OF what did hap
pen seems to be this: Senator
Hitchcock has been conducting the
presidents fight in the senate, an
swering the arguments of the op
ponents of the league and gener-
ally bearing the burden of leader
ship. Once or twice Mr.. Wilson
cabled his thanks. After Mr.. Will
son delivered his address to the
senate, he stroIled into the marble
room and held an informal recep-
ton. Senator Hitchcock was one
of the Democratic senators who
happened in.
Decides TO Take Trip.
That night it became known that
the, Nebraska senator was going
away for a golf trip. Whereupon
those who were curious about the
departure of the Nebraskan at a
time like this sought information
and didn't find among Mr. Hitch
cocks friends anybody who said
Mr.. Wilson had delivered himself
of any appreciatiVe remarks when
he saw the senator or that he had
said anything one wav OF 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 on Monday Putting
two and two together the sur
misses went out that all was not
well between the senator and the
president.
Foes Grab at Story.
Opponents of the league accept
ed the division in ranks with evil
dent satisfaction and the story got
nationwide publicity. Instantly
came the denials. Secretary Tu-
multy, who was on the Jersey
coast for the weekend, telephoned
a denial that was issued promptly
to the press. Senator Hitchcock's
alert secretary denied that Mr..
Hitchcock had abandoned the fight.
The president was somewhat
concerned over the newspaper
stories. He probably locked upon
them as an attempt to make mis-
chief. Anyway. the first thing he !
did upon rising today was to in |
quire when Senator Hitchcock |
would be back. And the Nebraska |
senator hadn't been il town an
hour when the telephone bell rang |
and the presidents cheerful voice |
came over the wire.
Was All Nicely Arranged.
Mr.. Wilaon told the senator he !
hoped there hadn't been any an
noyance over the published stories. |
and the Nebraska senator answer |
ed-not the slightest. Indeed, what !
the general public didn't know, |
but which leaked ont upon the re-
turn of the senator today, is that |
on meeting the president last !
Mr.. Hitchcock observed (
that of course Mr.. Wilson would |
be busy man for a few days and |
any time he wanted anything the
senator would be at his service. |
So it was quite natural for Mr..
to get a telephone call |
from the president today and quite 1
natural for both to look upon the
published stories as wholly super
fuous.
VIII Invite Committee.
The president talked at length |
with the senator from Nebraska,
outlining what seemad best to be
done in handling the league of ma
tions fight Mr.. Wilson probably
knew of Senator Lodges pub
Iished statement that tht- president
wouldn't be invited to appear be-
fore the senate foreign relations
to explain various feat
Ires of the treaty. for he told Sen
ator Hitchcock he would be glad
TO invite the entire membership of
he foreign relations committee to
come 10 the WnIle HOuse- IL the
mountain wouldn't come to Ma
1omet, then Mahomet would go to
he Notwithstanding to offset
he notion that the president will
not consult the senate or advise
with its members.
criticism which it will be remem-
Dered has been flung at the presi-
lent repeatedly.
Ready to Do Anything. !,
The Republican ch thurman OF the
senate foreign relations commit
lGon4in..na ~, D. |