The Washington herald., 1919-10-10
WALSH PUTSu. S.
BEFORE LEACUE;.
PLEADS FOR ERIN
Constitution or Covenant,
Says Senator in Long
Looked for Speech.
Is FOR AMENDMENTS
Pledges Vote to Changes
Which Safeguard Sow
ereignty. Of America.

An impassioned plea for the re-
lection Of every provision in the
league Of nations covenant which
would defeat the aspirations of the
Irish race for freedom was made
in the Senate yesterday by Senator
David I. Walsh. Democrat. of Mas
saehusetts-
Senator Walsh declared that he
would vote for the Shantung amend
ment, for the johnson amendment to
give the United States the same
number of votes as the British En-
pire in the League. and for reserva-
Itions which will strip the covenant
OF every power to crush the enslaved
and struggling nationalities OF the
earth.
Shantung Award q Crime.
The Shantung provision was de-
nounced by Senator Walsh as a
crime and Article Ten OF the cove
nant was characterised as an instru-
ment curningly devised by the
forces which have always been re-
sponsible for repression and tyranny
to continue their rule over the op-
pressed peoples. such as Ireland.
Throughout the delivery OF his
- eloquent speech, Senator Walsh held
the close attention of every Senator
on the floor and of a densely crowd
ed gallery. When he had concluded
applause was started in the gallery
and Vice President Marshall ordered
the guards to remove from the gal
leries those who had made the DEM
onstration- Nobody was put out.
however. for the applause was so
general that none of the guards was
willing to assume the responsibility
of picking out those who did it.
The speech of Senator Walsh has
long been looked forward to as one
Of the most important to be deliv-
cred in the treaty debate. His high
standing as a Democrat and the
many honors he has received at the
hands Of the party made his depart
ure from the settled policy OF the
party on the treaty question all the
more significant
Not Renouncing Party.
1t was a speech which required a
considerable degree Of courage for the
Senator to make. But he explained
this by saying:
"It Is not pleasant to differ from my
colleagues on this side of the cham
Der. Because of my high regard for
their views, l have steadily fought
against the constantly growing con-
Victions that could not, without
violence to my conscience, by voice
or vote support some OF the features
Of this covenant In parting from
them by supporting some reservations
which I deem necessary, 1 believe ]
am not parting from my party prin-
ctples- As I have understood its tra-
didonal policies. domestic and for
eign. the Democratic party has con-
sistently stood for the redress OF the
gievances of the week and oppressed.
To vote for, this covenant without pro-
tecting reservations. is, in my opinion.
to legalize international wrongs. to en-.
danger the sovereignty Of America. TO
deny the downtrodden and sub
merged races OF the world the right
to enjoy some day the blessing OF lib.
erty-the love OF which the Almighty
has placed in every human heart"
Loves Party.
Senator Walsh declared that he
loved the Democratic party. that he
had served it for twenty-five years
and had enjoyed high honors at its
hands, but that he was an American
first and II the choice must be made
between the Constitution OF the Unit
I'd States and the league of nations,
he was compelled to stand by the
Constitution.