The sun., 1919-07-21
Nebraska Senator Wants No
White House Condolences
to Embarrass Him.
HAS STUDIED SUBJECT
On Record as Refusing TO
Vote for "Rape of China"
as Now Planned.
FOLLOWS LEAD OF BORAH
Norris Believes More Than the
Necessary Number VIII
Block Japan's Game.
FOLLOWS LEAD OF BORAH
Special Despotch to TIE sus.


Wilson has received or will receive to
morrow his second declination Of q
Senator to visit the White House.
Senator Norris (Neb.) was invited
to attend a conference with the Presi-
dent at IL o'clock tomorrow morning.
He said this evening:
"Yes, I have been invited, but
shall not CO."
Further he would not indicate his
reasons or the nature of his reply to
the President. His announcement that
he would not accept the invitation
for conference caused great inter.
est among the few who learned to-day
of his decision. The Nebraskan has
been recognized in the last few days
as occupying a very different attitude
than that formerly attributed to him.
For long time he was counted with
oil assurance by the League OF Ma
tons supporters as one Republican ON
whom they could rely. He was never
entirely given up by the opposition.
but was classed as one of their weak
est chances.
Thinks Out His Own Policy.
People from all sides and factions
talked with him and got no response
which even suggested that their ar
guments were having any possible ef-
feet. Mr.. Norris WAS thinking out his
own policy, studying the league cove
nant and the treaty in general. He
refrained from participation in the
debates except that 1t was observed he
attended them assiduously and occa-
sionally asked questions.
! These questions invariably were
asked with an obviously sincere pur-
pose to get Information as to the atti
tude of the Senators. He was espe-
| cially interested to know what the
Senate lawyers thought about thb
legal effects Of various parts Of the
i covenant, and he Quizzed the leading
debaters of both sides with entire I'M
partiality. But after weeks of this
proceeding nobody was able at all con-
fdently to guess which way his con-
sidea tion WAS moving him.
Then it became known he was ono
OF the small group of Senators making
| a careful study OF the Peace Treaty
| terms in general, aside from the cove
nant. He is in fact among the best
l,.f@
! treaty as a whole. Finally he deter
mined that the Shantung settlement
| deserved a detailed investigation and
he set about to make 1t.
Studies Subject ExhaustiveIy.
was doing. He got together a large
amount Of documentary matter. made
a thorough study of the whole history
of the United States. the European
, Powers and Japan with China The
upshot was an interview in THE Sun
several weeks ago in which he said he
| would never vote for ratification OF
the treaty while the Shantung settle
| ment stood as II Is now written.
Later this was developed further In
an interview which was printed by a
! large number of newspapers through
out the country. 1t referred to the
Shantung settlement as the rape of
China" to acquiesce in which would
be a disgrace TO this country. He has
| repeatedly said that he would die
fighting against the treaty rather than
! vote for it while this provision re-
mains
Following these expressions he made
last week his now famous speech on
Shantung. which Senator Lodge
| (Mass) and other leaders character
iezd as one OF the most effective dis
| cussions OF the subject throughout the
| entire debate. In this he presented
the documents he had gathered on the
subject and II is known that he has
still more ammunition which he is
prepared 10 use later.
Refuses to Explain Reasons.
While the Senator would not explain
his reasons for refusing to confer with
the President II is known that he feels
that no good can be accomplished by
such conferences There is a wide
spread sentiment, by no means confined
! W Depuoiicdns' tndt tne sunuen ami
ability OF the President toward the
Senate opposition merely means that the
President suddenly discovered that his
cause is in danger and is willing to
mollify the opposition II possible. hop
ing his new attitude OF counselling and
advising may win over some OF the
opposition. Mr. Norris is one OF those
who have not regarded the sudden
change of front as particularly inviting
OF confidence.
Moreover. the President has been say
ing a good many things TO Senators in
confidence about matters which took
place at Paris especially those con-
cerning the ShantunS matter. Mr..
Norris knows so much about that par