New-York tribune., 1919-06-19
Senator Awaits ''Propitious''
Time to Ask for Action;
Larger Majority Sought
by Foes of Covenant
McCumber for League
North Dakotan Says That 1t
Cannot Involve America
in Entangling Alliances

WASHINGTON, June 1S.-With both
sides unwilling to vote so long as there
is chance Of any Senators being won
over, the prospect tonight is that a
vote on the Knox resolution by the
Senate will not be taken until after
the peace treaty is signed. The resolu-
ton demands that the treaty and the
league OF nations covenant be sonar
ated.
Senator Knox SAID to-day that he
would not call up his resolution until
the time was 'propitious." Apparently
q majority for the resolution is not
assured.
The Administration forces are lust
as much averse to a test as are the
anti-league leaders, because they fear
the Knox resolution vculd muster con-
siderably more than a one-third vote,
and would therefore serve notice on
Paris, if voted upon, tha. more Sem
ators than would be required to reject
treaty desired to consider the league
after, and hot along with, the peace
treaty.
Object Gained, Lodge Believes
Senator Lodge, he Republican
leader, VINO is spending this week in
Boston, is said by friends to believe
that everything already has been ac-
comp..shed BY the Knox resolution
that couid be accompanied By a
vote. He thinks the favorable report
Of the resolution by the Foreign Re-
lations Committee was a demonstra-
ton Of the Senate's desire to post
pone action on the league until after
peace had been concluded
Senators Borah. of Idaho; Lenroot.
OF Wisconsin, and Fall, of New Mexico,
Republicans, are drafting resolutions
which simply declare peace with a
view to fighting the ratification of a
treaty including the league
Some Republican leaders think the
maximum of what might be called
"ant-.eague strength will be mus
tered on an amendment or reserva-
tion multiplying Article X of the league
covenant
Senator McCumber to-day addressed
the Senate in favor of the league of ma
ticns covenant He declared it was
entirely consistent with the American
Constitution and devoid of any power
to entangle or curtai American in
terests.
Senator Defends Treaty
"1n twenty years of service in the
Senate said the North Dakota SEN
ator, 81 have known but one instrument
whose terms nave been so wilfully mis-
interpreted and so grossly misrepre-
sented as the covenant of the league OF
nations. That some of it is vague,
know, and some portions Objectionable
from particular viewpoints. But that
IT dlscrlmlnates against US, is unfair
IN its treatmen. of our country, or
that 1t imposes on us any obligation
or burden that is not equally borne
by every other nation. l most empnat-
lcally deny It Is regrettable tha. the
mighty power OF eloquence is used to
defame and distort the true meaning
OF an instrument. the most important
that ever appealed 10 the heart or the
soul of man.
Suppose we now refuse to join with
the rest of the world in some scheme
70 prevent war, what will happen? AS
surely as the sun shall rise. every great
nation VIII proceed to devise means for
the wholesale destruction Of nations.
So desperate viii be the next war that
ali the hate and all the venom created
by this struggle will be infinitesimal
compared with the next And against
what race will all these weapors of
death be used? Against the white
race
Quoting the declaration of Senator
Johnson, Republican. OF California,
that America by virtue of her isola-
ton does no. need the European pow
e-s as partners" Mr.. McCumber said
Isolation had long since broken down,
European quarrel having cost this
country in the last FIVE years $4,000
lives and $4,000 ,00o, 900
There IS no moral duty incumbent
upon any man in his relation to his
fellow man" he continued. chat is
not equally ircum bert upon a nation
IN It's relation to every other nation
WHAT would you say of the strong,
vigorous man who would stand on the
saore and see woman struggling in
ire waves while he, folding his muscu-
lar arms, announces Oh, that is NJ
concern of mine She is not my wifi,
or daughter
Dr. say opponents of the league
o. nations, we can make up cur minds
wnat to do when the occasion arises
what | want US 70 do is t, De right
tnere on the spot when the occasion
srises. Had the United States been
Tsht on the spot with an agreement