Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-03-15
ORGANIZE FIGHT
UPON LEAGUE OF
NATIONS PLAN
Henry WatterSOn, Veteran
Louisville (Ky.) Editor,
Accepts Presidency Of
New Organization.
(Rv Universal serviee.l

Washington, March 14.-Prelimi-
nary organization of a nationwide
organization to combat the league OF
nations as now proposed was effect
ed following a conference held in
the offices of Senator James A. Reed,
of Missouri, late yesterday. Within
a few weeks the organization will
begin sending out speakers and lit
erature to every section of the Unit
ed States to tell voters just what
the league means.
Henry Watterson, the veteran
editor of Louisville, KY, has accept
ed the presidency of the organiza-
ton. He telegraphed his acceptance
to the senators who participated in
the conference. George Wharton
Pepper, a distinguished lawyer of
Philadelphia and president of the
Pennsylvania council of defense, will
be the active manager. Other officers
are yet to be selected.
Want Popular Movement.
Among those who participated in
the conference, in addition to Sena-
tor Reed. were Senator Borah, of
Idaho; Senator Poindexter, OF
Washington. and Mr.. Pepper. A list
of names of prominent persons in
various cities of the country who
have indicated their willingness to
cooperate in the movement was pre-
sented.
1t was decided at the conference
first of all, that the association
should be supported entirely by vol
untary contributions. An effort will
be made to make the organization
distinctly a popular movement as
contrasted with the League to En-
force Peace, which has been charged
with having received its chief sup
port from the Carnegie foundation
Seek to Coordinate.
In the second place, it was agreed
that the organization should seek
to coordinate all the local associa-
tons now existing in many of the
states to oppose the league of ma
tions plan. In Oklahoma, Wash,
ing and Oregon, there are a num-
Der of local associations. All will
be brought together into a mass
movement to oppose the league con-
stitution.
Several names for the new organi,
cation has been suggested. The one
most strongly favored in "ThC
League for American Independ'
ence." An organization of this name
now exists, but has ceased to be
active. Those who attended the con.
/ ference feel that it might be well
to revive that organization with the
new purpose of combating the
league of nations proposal.
Headquarters in New York.
Under the voluntary plan of or
ganization adopted, it is not believed
that very large sums of money will
be required to carry on the work
Headquarters are to be opened in
| New York from which speakers
dates will be arranged and literature
will be mailed. A large part of the
literature will consist of the speech
es which have been delivered in the
senate against the league. Thou
sands of copies of these speeches al
ready have been distributed by the
individual senators.
/ Although the main purpose of the
new organization is to concentrate
upon opposition to the proposed
league, it is stated by participants in
the conference that its work will be
directed against all activities within
the United States which are inimicaI
to the law and constitution of the
United States. This includes the
propaganda of bolshevism, anarchy
and I. w. w. agitators and all those
who advocated the overthrow of the
present form of government.
Oppose Bolshevisn.
The new organization will oppose
these activities by sending out speak.
ers and literature to spread Ameri-
canism and loyalty to American in
stitutions.
Another purpose which the or
ganizerS have in mind is that of TAX
ing some steps to make the Paris
peace conference fully understand
what the American sentiment re
garding the league of nations pro
posal is. The organization will I'm
dertake in the first place to get tht
facts as to how the league plan was
drafted and agreed to and a com,
plete history of the secret conclavC
at which it was considered.
Under the direction of the publici
ty agents of the new organization
matter compiled from American
publications will be sent abroad 81
that a full understanding of thu
| American sentiment may be had.
/ 1t was also decided that the or
ganization would be entirely non
partisan. Republicans and demo
Gratis alike will be asked to join anC
the national committees of the two
! parties will not be used to promul
gate the organizations publicity
matter.
| Senator Borah will start on thu
second lap of his tour against tn
league with a speech tonight ii
Troy, N. Y. On Sunday night h
will address an audience at Roches
ter and will then return to Washing
ton to arrange for the meeting
to be held in Chicago, probabl,
March 18.
Senator Borah probably will JON
Senator Reed at the mass meeting
in Kansas City on the night O.
speW Su!oq S! lIoB9 NV So qoIeR
to have Senator Poindexter speal
at the same meeting.
Senator Poindexter has mappet
out an itinerary for the Pacific coast
although the dates have not beef
fixed. He will speak first in Spo
4 kane then in SEATTLE and next Il