The Washington herald., 1920-05-13
THOMAS MAKES
BITTER ATTACK
0NPRESIDENT
Colorado Senator Assails
His League Of Nations.
Stand.
DEFENDS CHAMBERLAIN
Charges Oregon Telegram
Was Sent to Block
Reelection.
DEFENDS CHAMBERLAIN

Senator Thomas. of Colorado. In
debating the Knox peace resolution
yesterday. tore the lid Of the league
Of nations dissension within the
Democratic party. With a vitriolic
attack upon President Wilson for
his "bill Of accommodation aimed
at league foes" the Senator predict
ed the certain dissolution of the
party.
The Presidents recent stand by
the league" telegram to the political
opponent Of Senator Chamberlain in
the Democratic primaries in Oregon
furnished the cue for Senator
Thomas outburst. Administration
Senator'S efforts to stave of the
break only melted the Colorado SEN
ator to greater vehemence. He de-
clared:
If the Democratic party in its
convention at San Francisco next
month declares for unconditional
ratification of this treaty it will do
SO because 1t has determined that 1t
does not care to live any longer and
accepts that means for certain dis
solution" he stated.
Assails White House.
Il resent this executive COM
mand," he said, referring to the
Presidents attitude as indicated in
the Oregon telegram. I'VE had a
Democratic President in 1896 who
became the whole party before his
term expired. He took occasion to
issue a similar bill Of excommuni-
cation which, if accepted, would
have left US worse of than at any
time in our party's history. We did
not bow to the yoke then. We stood
for a great principle. We went down
to defeat and to sixteen years of
axile. History may repeat itself"
He agreed that the Presidents
telegram to Oregon did not state
that defeat of Senator ChamberIa n
for reelection was desired, but in
sisted that such a conclusion was
justified. He lauded the Oregon SEN
ator for his service for America
the Military Affairs Committee. who
incidentally voted for the treaty
with the Lodge reservations.
Senator Jones, Of Washington, Re-
publican, Interrupted to join in the
tribute to the Senator from Ore
Son, picturIng him as the 'one moro
than any other single mar respon-
sible for our boys being at Chateau
Thicrry when they were-the cru
cial point in the war"
Defended by PheIan.
Senator Phelan. of California.
added his tribute to Senator Cham
berlain. but undertook to clear the
President of the charge of hitting
at the Oregon Senator. He called
attention to the fact that the Pres
ident's secretary. Joseph P. Tumulty,
had disavowed for the President
any such intention and insisted that
the President had the right to ex-
press his views on public Ques-
tions.
COnCeue lHdl llShA iSPll'u
Senator Thomas, but 1t is our
right, also. when reflections are
made on our official CCnduct. to say
something OF the subject. l voted
against ratification of this treaty.
If il ever comes here again viii
| am IN the S, nate, my vote VIII be
tn. same. Outside of the three Dem
ocratic maligrants who Votei
against it because they were op-
posed to it even with the LodE"
reservations, twenty Democratic
Senators voted tC ratify with
the Lodge reservations, thereby dis
honoring the nation, dctying the
hopes OF mankind. Counting the
three totally dcpraved Democrats
tbcre were twenty-three who come
under the Presidents 6ispleasure."
Hitchcock Interrupts.
Senator Hitchcock. of Nebraska,
intefrupted to call attention to the
pledges" made by the United States
to the allies. He referred to the
fourteen points" particularly the
league, of nations point.
"If that one pledge is SO binding
on the conscience of the Senator
from Nebraska, were not the other
pledges equally binding and why
did the President abandon q them?"
asked Senator Thomas.
Senator Hitchcock replied that the
President. meeting the allies in the
pea:e conference, had to obtain the
best agreement possible under the
circumstances.