The sun., 1919-07-07
Senator'S Expected to Question
Him When He Addresses
Them on Thursday.
PRECEDENTS ARE CITED
French Alliance Gives Oppo-
nents of League Covenant
a Powerful Argument.
Special Despdtch 10 TIE srS.


on Thursday to give an account Of
what he has been ioiDg in Paris for
such a long time and TO plead for the
ratification of the several pacts and
agreements to which he has committed
the country. Il Is possible that he Will
be questioned
This procedure was threatened once
before when the President was about
to address joint session of the Senate
and House in the last Congress. The
member of the House who was deter
! mined upon questioning the President
concerning certain portions OF his ad-
dress on that occasion was called OF
by Senator Lodge (Mass) only an hour
or two before the President appeared.
There is precedent for questioning the
President in the history Of the early
days OF executive addresses to Congress.
| according to some members OF the
Senate. The practice fell into disuse
when Presidents ceased to address Con-
gress, a practice revived by Mr.. Wilson
himself. With the exception Of the
| message delivered at the opening OF the
Sixty-sixth Congress In May last all the
Presidents communications have been in
addresses. On that occasion the Presi-
dent was absent from his post here
preparing the League Of Nations con-
yenant In Paris.
The present situation Is such a seri-
Gus one that it Is understood that even
the more conservative Republicans are
not strongly opposed to questioning the
President. The President Is not ex-
pected to encourage this procedure. His
friends hero say 1t would be unprece-
den.ed and an insult to the dignity OF
the Office he holds, but the prospective
| questioners are armed with precedents
| in Washington's dealings with Congress
| to answer this.
Complete details Of tho plan OF oppo-
nents OF the League OF Nations to onset
| the effect of President Wilson's intended
tour OF the country will be perfected
! within a few hours after the President
announces the scope OF his campaign
| trip. Only one slight difference of opin-
| ion remains in the ranks Of the opponents
| of the scheme-whether to precede or
follow Mr.. Wilson on his Journeys BY
going ahead of the President some Sena-
| tors believe his anticipated arguments
could be punctured in advance, while
others are strongly urging the wisdom OF
| a follow up campaign. By trailing the
President they believe his arguments day
by day could be taken to pieces before
| practically the same audiences and their
! true value shown.
| In the promulsation OF the proposed
alliance between France and the United
| States in conjunction with similar pro-
posal designed to unite France and Great
Britain IN a defensive alliance the Sena-
tors and organizations nshting the
league see the greatest weapon yet
| placed in their hands. Instead OF the
necessity OF undertaking long and Ia
borious arguments to demonstrate to the
country that the proposed league departs
| Numerically from tho course OF national
| procedure OF the American Government
| the proposed formation OF this alliance
will be used to prove that the proposed
league is little more than SO many loose
| words.
The Presidents opponents are conn
dent that in his tour of the country the
greatest stress will be placed by him OF
the coined phrase 1.-THE League OF Ma
tons will prevent war" Time after
time It has been demonstrated by
speeches in the Senate that this is a
rash assumption. 1t Is realized by these
| same Senators that the Presidents al
nrmation to the unthnking portion OF
the population that the league will put
an end to all sorts OF war cannot be
met successfully by the long and care
full arguments which would appeal &c
and be convincing TO trained and ana
jlytical minds. II is fully realized at the
Capitol that the force of this expected
argument OF the proponents OF the league
must be Offset In much the same fashion
to prevent the spread OF a general mis-
conception of what the league would &C
lcomplish.
This long sought and much desired
means OF checking the effect OF the pro
league slogan. these Senators are conn
dent. has been placed in their hands bS
the formulation OF the Franco American
alliance, which the Senate will be asked
20 ratify along with the peace pact with
the league covenant woven into II.
| II is believed that It will be apparent
instantly when presented TO the country
that either the league proposal or the
proposed alliance is utterly futile, II
remarkably few words the Senatorial
orators who will combat the President,
efforts TO arouse sentiment for the leagu,
believe that they can show that tn,
league is totally unnecessary II the pro
posed alliance means anything at all
on the other hand the alliance, Will,
apparently indicating an extreme lacl
Of faith in the Vaccinations OF tn
league by its authors and hackers. the.
will point out, is quite as superfiuou
II the league is to have the force nee
essary to make II OF any account.