The sun., 1919-09-27
JOHNSON PLEADS
FORAN EQUAL VOTE


Continued from First Page.
mystic utterances that have been made
recently concerning It, that they will re-
spond as Americana, for America, and in
an American spirit
81 want to explain to our people that
an instrument is presented to US which
gives to one great Power six votes in an
assembly and to us but one. When 1t is
sought to explain that away by saying
1t is Of little or no consequence. the in
quiry at once rises in every Americans
mind, II Il Is not of any consequence
that Great Britain have six votes and
we one, why in the name of common
sense and Americanism did not the
President give America six votes and
Great Britain one vote? II II Is not
of any importance, why was 1t SO neces-
sary that the British Empire should
insist upon these elk votes?
"A lachrymose appeal was made the
other day by the President in regard to
tho sacrifices of Canada, Australia and
the like. He said that across the sea
Americans and Australians except by
their hats. OF course. Canada and AUS
tralia sacrificed we recognize these
sacrifices and yield to them the full
need OF praise.
But the amendment 1 propose recog-
nizes Canada, Australia, New Zealand,
South Africa and even India. gives them
their votes, enables them to be members
of the league, to vote in the assembly
a II AInN No.. "a lxn Lao
can do. It only says that America IL
big enough. powerful enough. rich
enough, good enough. to have Just as
many votes as the British Empire.
Simply Would Equslixe the Votes.
Mr.. President. It starts with one
vote for the British Empire and then q
vote for each faction of the empire
| There Is no more reason for giving
these votes to the factions than there
would be for giving a vote to the State
of New York. But II has been done and
we would not deprive them OF the power.
We simply out of our regard for our own
nation make our vote equal to theirs.
And when the President asserts that II
is a matter Of little consequence. he is
not frank. Not alone il 1t of impor-
lance in one matter, but It is important
/ IN at least a dozen matters. Not alone
does It touch the membership OF the
council-this voting power IN the as
sembly-but il touches every question
concerning the peace OF the world which
may be dealt with either by the council
or the assembly.
| at touches every important problem
within the Jurisdiction Of the League OF
Nations The voting power within the
assembly becomes of transcendent i'm
portance and Great Britain has six votes
to the United Statess one"
Sees Cuba ms United States Ally.
(, Senator Pittman (Nev,) went to the
support of Mr. williams, with the argu-
ment that, II the British domlnions tried
to get too many votes in the council, the
| single vote of the United States would
always be able to prevent.
Then Mr.. Williams pointed out that
the United States likewise might get
more than it's share OF representation.
There are Cuba. Guatemala and Hon
duras. at least" he said, all practically
under the protectorate of the United
States, as, in fact, all the Central Amer
lean States are any OF them might be
represented on the council. In any case.
have no more fear of Canada than
have of Minnesota. The johnson
amendment was RELOCATED to the bottom
OF the calendar because It was sure to
be defeated"
Here Mr.. Borah was on the floor,
IF that amendment is, in the Sena-
tors opinion. certain OF defeat, will he
agree that IL be taken up right now
VIII his side agree2 To defeat 1t would
be the greatest victory the Administra-
tlon side could win. VIII he agree that
it be taken up right now?"
There was a tensity all over the cham
bers In anticipation of answer to the
challenge, but amid jeers from the op-
position side Mr.. williams replied that
it would be impossible to get the amend
ment up now.
THE Senate, even its majority, can
not do what It wants to. 1t IS so au-
gust and 30 augustly impotent," he
said. ooh. we learned when we werf
in the majority, several times. that the
majority here can't always do what Il
wants to do"
In conclusion Mr. williams paid trib.
ute to the President, declaring that ne
could not be broken down in the public.
confidence with attacks on his character
integrity or sincerity.
Insists Canada Is Eligible.
When Mr.. Williams closed Mr. John
son took the floor again to answer him
He said: The Senator from Mississippi
errs when he says Canada Is not eligibl,
upon the council OF the League OF Ma
lions with Great Britain there as well
Under the statement by the PresIden
and the Premiers of France and Grea
Britain. Canada Is eligible to the council
and the British Empire, II Canada dit
become a member. would have two vote
there.
admit all that may be said in prais
OF the colonies Of Britain. but that is no
the point We do allow them a voice
by permitting them to be members OF tn
: league. The one great powerful natiol
is our nation; the predominatinH ngur
of this league. II we enter II. will be tn
United States. Because we are the dom
!; mating nation OF the world, at least a
present, our nation should be allowed al
equal vote with any other nation O.
earth,
take an instance where the Unite,
States and Japan may have a difference
assume that from the council into tn
assembly comes the dispute: assume tina
when II is taken into the assembl
neither side can vote. But we are con
, fronted with the fact that another ma
, ton sits there, with an offensive and de
: fensive alliance with Japan, that cast