The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1919-03-20
LODGE LOWELL
DEBATE HEARD
BY 5000 PEOPLE
Debaters Not Far Apart in
Their Views
GOV COOLIDGE PRESIDES
Harvard President Says League Of
Nations Is sound--Lodee Not
Opposed to League

shall be put in such shape that it will
promote peace instead of breeding
disorder, and viii work no injustice
to these United States, | will support
it, said Senator Henry Cabot Lodge
in replying to question of President
A. Lawrence Lowell of Harvard dur
ing their debate on the league of ma
tions covenant, tonight.
Il hope from my heart it will be
amended he added. Il hope that
such league will be framed some
where. In my belief. 1t will not be
done in Paris"
A demand from Dr. Lowell that
Mr. Lodge say whether he would vote
for the covenant if it were amended
according to his wishes, led to the
senator's declaration.
Addressing an audience of 5000 per.
sons in Symphony hall, the disting.
uished speakers were applauded lib
orally, frequently and apparently inn
partially.
There was no heckling, though
cries of Good" and That's right
followed telling points in the argu-
ments.
Senator Lodge outlined his attitude
briefly, as in favor OF a league of ma
tions. but not of the covenant as pre-
sented.
The whole treaty should be re
drafted he asserted. THAT is my
first constructive criticism"
The senator's reference to Theo
dore Rooseyelt's attitude as in oppos
ton to such plan as was embodied
in the covenant drew applause. Ht
said that he had discussed the ides
OF league of nations with AR. Roose
welt two weeks before his death.
Referring to the charge that the
criticisms of the covenant were no
constructive, Senator Lodge pointed
out number of ways in which HI
would amend the treaty, laying espec
ial stress on the need of protection
OF the Monroe doctrine.
THE hour is rapidly approaching,
said DR.. Lowell in summing up hi
plea for the covenant, when W,
must decide whether our countr,
shall take its place like great ant
generous nation side by side witt
others az guardians OF law, orde
and justice in the world, or whethe
it shall turn its face away from ;
world in agony"
He prefaced his argument with tn
statement that although he had al
ways been an Inconsistent republ
can" and frequently had been il
agreement with Senator Lodge. h
could not agree with his utterance
on the league of nations covenant
and still less with those OF his sena
torial colleagues.
DR.. Lowell maintained the correcI
ness of the covenant in principle
arguing that while very defective Il
its drafting" and easily misundel
stood" II should be accepted an
improved He described It as an @
pertinent in open diplomacy.
To meet certain objections raised
DR.. Lowell advocated the Insertion 9
clauses in the covenant permittin
Withdrawals from the league on res
sonable notice, stipulating that n
foreign powers shall acquire an
possessions on the American cont
nents, and making it perfectly clea
that immigration and tariff problem
are to be regarded as purely intern:
/, affairs
! The debaters approached the gel
eral topic from different angles, Sci
ator Lodge attacked the covenant "a
agreed upon by the commission
the peace conference as "a poror
instrument" on the Interpretation
, which the signers themselves wou
: be at odds within ~ months.
DR.. Lowell admitted that the "cov
p, nant" needed claridcation. but argue
y that in substance as a plan for Il
prevention of war It was sound.
Symphony hall was filled. Thr,
thousand persons had seats and 81
stood. Half of the audience was mat
4 up Of members of the Legislator
federal and state judiciary governo
OF New England states. army Al
navy officers, members of the Ha
I vard faculty, delegates of the centr
a' labor union and personal guests
y the debaters. The other half rcpl
y sented the lucky ones who had be-
Ise awarded admission by chance fro
,ee 25 times as many applications
Y Gov. Calvin Coolidge presided, int
"a ducod the speakers and held {
D. watch.