Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-03-11

member Of the league Of nations still
retain her right to interfere with thi
arrangement? Apply that argumen
to any other Latin American countr!
which in times past.was under Spanish
domination and which might through
peculiar turn of circumstances be lee
to resume the ancient arrangement
Would the United States still have the
authority to prevent an extension o!
European authority in this hemi
sphere?"
THAT is inconceivable," said the
, president.
1T might happen" persisted Bran
degee.
"Well, then, it would be very dis
tressing," declared the president.
Most distressing" said Brandegee
dryly.
Could Withdraw From League.
The conversation shifted and twist
ed in accordance with the questions
that occurred to various senators. II
was Brandegee again who requested
the president to make clear whether
the United States was privileged tc
withdraw from the league if it saw fit
The president said that was his inter.
probation.
"You will recall" said the senator
that a similar proposition arose in
this country some years ago after the
states had entered a league without
specifying the right Of any to with
draw and that it took four years OF
bitter warfare to settle the point that
no state could withdraw"
The president replies that the cases
were not the same at all; that this ar
rangement was wholly voluntary; that
it was based upon mutual understand
ing and good will; that it was in the
interests Of humanity; that in all prob
ability it would hold together indefin-
itely. He would not deny, however
that the possibility Of the United States
desiring to withdraw might arise. In
could exercise that right.
But" said Brandegee, I'VE would
60 into this league as the sponsor and
guarantors and protectors Of Poland,
Armenia and perhaps other small, and
helpless nations. Could we then with
draw and leave them helpless and un-
defended, deserted by the very nation
that had promised to defend them?"
Mr.. Wilson's reply was so generally
couched that not all Of the senators
who sought to recall it this evening
could agree on its phraseology. He re-
peated, though, that such an event
would be- very distressing, and again
Brandegee agreed that it would be
most interesting.
League Ignores Irish Question.
Representative Ragsdale, IS. CO.,
fired the Irish shot.
"Mr. President" he inquired, what
does the league Of nations purpose to
do as regards Ireland?"
"It was decided" said the president,
ito leave the case Of Ireland to Great
Britain as a domestic matter. outside
the provihce'o of the league OF nations.
The topic was not pressed.
Representative Temple (Penn.), re-
turned to the topic Of how and why
the British draft for constitution OF
a league of nations was adopted. Here
as reported by various senators the
president became elusive, though very
suave. All they extracted from him
in the renewal of the topic was that
the British made draft was virtually
the idea put forward by Gen. Smuts of
South Africa.
Senator Knox pressed home the
question Of probable surrender OF
American sovereignty. The president
agreed that surrender on some points
Che did not specify them) was to be
expected, asserting that no gain could
be had unless something was given up
Mr.. Knox, one Of the great constitu-
tional lawyers Of America, wanted to
know what would happen If the consti-
tuition of the United States conflicted
at some vital point with the constitu-
ton of the league of nations. 1t was
then that the president made the posi-
lively startling rejoinder that the
American constitution would override
the league constitution.
Even some Of the Democrats who
had remained silent, glanced at each
other doubtfully or perhaps amazedly
Here was the president saying with one
voice that the constitution Of the su-
perstate must be final and In the next
breath asserting that whenever pinch
came an article which conflicted with
the constitution Of the United States
could be disregarded. Senator Bran
degee was reminded of that saying OF
Macaulay's about John Stewart Mill
that often he essayed to prove thing
was because the facts were against It
The foregoing embodies the princi-
pal facts Of the celebrated dinner. They
are offered directly from the fresh rec
objection of half dozen most eminent
senators, all Of whom agree on the es-
sentials. 1t may be guesses, therefore
what turmoil of opinion Washington
is now in.
Wilson Opposes Amendments.
This afternoon when he visited the
presidents room in the senate wing oi
the Capitol Mr. Wilson was at pains
further to expound certain ideas con-
cerning the league. One OF his mos'
emphatic conclusions was that nc
amendments should be made. 1t was
his idea that after one had spent nights
and days with the representatives OF Ia
governments it would not be easy tc
start the machinery up again, and
that it would be very difficult to OBJ
tain amendments unless they dealt
with matters Of the utmost import.
ance.
Delegates with different points Of
view, he said, had already agreed or
oopn;ctinp natters and to omen the