The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-06-25

COMMITTEE STACKED
AGAINST LEAGUE
In Reply Republicans Make
Counter Charges and Criticise
President Wilson.

Washington, June 19.-Debate on
the league of nations shifted to polltl-
cal ground again today in the senate
with a resulting furry Of party feel.
ing which ended in an adnlonitlon by
the chair that senate rules must be
observed.
The flare up started when Senator
Williams of Mississippi, a Democrat
member of the foreign relations COM
mittee, charged that the Republicans
had stacked" the committee against
the league. Senator Moses OF New
Hampshire, Republican member,
made a spirited denial and Senator
Mccormick, Republican, of Illinois, de-
clared the Paris peace mission had
been stacked with Democrats.
Other senators quickly got into the
discussion and still others were ask
ing recognition when Vice President
Marshall called a halt ruling that the
discussion which had interrupted
speech by Senator Thomas, Democrat,
of Colorado was out Of order.
The Colorado senator then resumed
his address declaring against the
! Knox resolution by which the senate
would ask an opportunity to accept
the peace treaty without the league
Of nations covenant Incorporated.
Senator Williams charge followed
one by Senator Thomas that the Re-
pubIicans first had put the league into
politics by the celebrated rounc robin
Of the last session, and now were
condemning Democratic support of the
league as partisan.
Mr.. Thomas is one of the Demo-
cratic senators who have no definite
stand regarding the league, but in his
speech today he head many extracts
from historical worlds to show that
in the past beneficial proposals often
had met the same arguments as now
confront the league covenant.
The Knox resolution he opposed as
improper, in that it would overstep
the power of the senate in treaty
making and would be interpreted as
a presunlptivc effort to dictate to the
peace conference, Answering the plea
that the people should have more
time to consider the league proposal.
he asserted there already had been
wide discussion Of the subject for sew
eral years.
eff there IS a man between the two
oceans who has not discussed 1t and
reached some conclusion regarding
it." he said, "tlle fact argues for his
ignorance and for the impossibility of
his ever reaching any conclusion"
After Senator Thomas had con-
cluded, the senate resumed work on
other legislative matters but the de-
bate will be resumed tomorrow when
Senator Sheppard, Democrat. of Texas
will speak in support of the league,
and Senator Sherman, Republican, Il
linois. a league opponent, will address
the senate on the influence of the
vatican in the league.
There was no effort during the day
to bring the Knox resolution up for a
vote and there were predictions in
some quarters tonight that it would
be permitted to die on the calendar
It's supporters apparently have lost
hope of forcing roll call before
Monday when the German delegates
must submit their decision on the
peace terms. To pass the measure
after the treaty has been signed
would be idle, senator's say, because
the request it contains could not then
be granted.
1t is possible. however, that the
resolution may be called Up tomorrow
or Saturday and all effort made to
take test vote revealing the exact di-
vision of senate opinion. Leaders
said tonight their pans were indet-
mite
Various proposals for coordinating
the speaking tours Of senator's who
are to reply to President Wilson were
much discussed during the day. There
is considerable sentiment favoring a
special car to follow th> president on
his speaking trip, but Sc >ral leaders
arc opposed to it and the general pre-
diction was tonight that the senators
would go out separately.
Discussion of the league broke out
in the house today also, Representa-
tive Temple, Republican. of Pennsyl- |
vania criticising President Wilson's
refusal to send the treaty text to the
senate until completed. The presi- |
dent, Mr. Temple said, ,shad declared he
found no precedent for sending al
treaty still in negotiation. whereas
such q precedent was established by
Washington and followed by Polk,
Lincoln, Johnson and Grant.