Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-05-20
SAYS LEAGUE PLAN
MUST BE CHANGED
Senator Lodge Declares Covenant
Unacceptable to Majority
of Senators.
DIVORCE IT FROM TREATY
Republican Leader States His
Party Does Not Desire to
Block Ratification
RY JAMES II. NoUnsI:.


WASiIINGTON. May l?.-Aftcr the
Republican organization Of the senate
had been successfully launched today.
Senator Lodge, tho Republican leader.
Issued statement claiming that a
clear majority Of the Senate is opposed
t" the league of nations proposal in
it's present form.
/; viii be impossible for the admin
lSt!2tion 10 force the ratification OF the
league plan by the Senate unless radl-
cal changes arc made IN the document,
IN senator Lodges opinion. He has
been assured Of the votes of mum bc,
nf Democratic Senator'S to support the
isepublicans IN their opposition.
No ,orSanized clsmor." Senator
jorlty from this policy
VIII Not Block treaty Proper.
50 far as the treaty itself is con-
cerned Senator Lodge made 1t plain
ma; the Republican majority will not
attempt in any manner to block it's
ratification. They will line up soiidiy
behind resolution TO separate the
league covenant from the treaty and
IN this move they will have the sup
port OF some Democrats. If the sep
aration l. accomplished. the Republi-
cans then Will unite upon ratification
Of the treaty proper.
senator sherman, Of Illinois. intends
20 present tomorrow resolution OF
separation and 10 make some remarks
upon II.
In this statement. Senator Lodge as
serted that none of the changes in the
league constitution. which were suS-
Sested ny Elihu Root Senator Knox or
himself have been Incorporated in the
new draft. This statement is in Nat
contradiction Of claims made by pro-
poncnts OF the league TO the effect that
All the objections made by Root, Lodge
knox and other league critics have
Ieen met in the revised draft. which
is ncw in the treaty.
Text nf Lodges Statement.
Senator Lodges statement is as fol-
lows:
Il am very glad tina, the organiza-
tlon OF the Senate has been effected so
quickly, and. OF course. TO the majority,
which is charged with the responsi,
bility' IT is also satisfactory The Con-
grcss. ought to have been called two
months ago, because there is an inn
mcnsc amount of legislation Of the
niiGhest iiG Importance pressing for ac-
;,,o,n, ,ion, lnsre are eight appropriation
bills involving vast sums of money
which ought 10 be passed before the
lst OF July There is also the rail-
road legislation; which is of enormous
Importance 10 the stability of business
IN this country. and which ought to
be taken up and dealt with as soon as
possible.
'As TO the league of nations. so far
as can judge-and ! have had con-
versations with many Senators. includ
ing members OF both parties-I am sat
.shed that q majority Of the Senate
tee!s very strongly that the league as
now presented must receive amend
ncn; that in its present form. withou,
any change, il is unacceptable and
would not be, accepted To say that
the amendments put forward in the
senate and those proposed and formu
lated by Mr.. Root on the suggestion of
the state Department have been met
is without any foundation.
Declares Suggestions Not Needed
IL
senate. not one Of the amendments nro
posed by Mr.. Root has been carried
and where there is an appearances Of
their having been adopted, examination
shows that the new form is distinctly
worse than the old. and more dangerous
10 the peace of the world and TO Smeri
can rights and interests
Is impossiblc now TO enter upon
We may suppose that the draft Of tho
iea sue sent over in the press dispatc
rs nd1a Iair,E accurate: ;, We have no knowl-
OF lis relations to the league The
summary which was sent out was not
o..x nr,.i- i,heomp'ete but vague and in
ScCurate, and II is impossible TO gather
rom II what the terms imposed upon
.!1aE rnanE IN many respects really are.
mere Is no desire anywhere TO de-
Ia INC treaty OF peace with Germany
ono moment beyond tho time necessary
10 understand II but wc must have i,
before us Ill Official form
AS TO tho league Of nations tho
American people must know Just what
they arc 10 he asked TO agree to- nv
that league they are invited TO take
United states. and 40 organized ciamor
no manufactured pressure of any kind
VIII swerve the Scnxtc from its high
people exactly what the league involves
and what IL means to the United states
ana TO the future peace OF the world"
s., Senator JohnSon. of California. will
iution calling upon the State Depart
mcnt TO furnish tho full text of the
peace peace treaty y to the Senate: Cable mes
the President is unwilling to permit
the Senate TO have the complete treaty
Hntii nni after Germany has acted upon it.
SSo5Mi,natanIinG Snaor Iohnsn tnis information.
resolution to vote and il looks as if
he cnn,;,It might get a ina, majoriiy for it.
the treaty text, Senator Borah said to-
day that 1t was very unfortunate that
sIontcd sIon I1c po'isXi ssid should have been
IF Germany accepts tho treaty we
ought 10 nave 1t as soon as they do:
do no harm to let us have it, The
treaty undoubtedly contains things
they DON. want us TO know about a
day sooner than possible"
Names Committee on Committees
otlldlC lsCducr l.OQSC TO-
day appointed the committee on com
mittces to make majority committee
assignments With Senator Brandcgcc
of Connecticut, AS chairman. he named
the following: Senator'S Borah, Idaho:
Sterling, South Dakota: Curtis. Kansas;
Watson. Indiana; Harding. Ohio;
Calder, New York: johnson, California
and Knox. Pennsylvania.
senator Lodge also named the fol-
lowing Republican steering committees:
McCumber, North Dakota chairman;
La Toilette. Wisconsin,; Wadsworth
New York: tcrnald. Maine: France,
Maryiand; l'relinghuysen, New Jersey;
Kellogg, Minnesota; Mccormick, IlIi-
nois. and Lodge Eek oficio).
The following committee on patron
age was named:
Senator's New. Indiana. chairman:
Sutherland. West Virginia, and Len
root, Wisconsin.
The woman suffrage constitutional
amendment got top place today on tho
House calendar. by general agree
mcnt, Representative Mann's Joint
resolution. similar 10 the nleasurn