Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-24
LEAGUE CRITICS
DEFIED BY LEWIS
Senator Says Plan Answers
Washington Injunction
and Monroe Doctrine
ASKS IDEA
Declares European Balance of
Power Is Offset by East
and Americas

Washington, Feb. 24-Speaking in the
Senate today IN support of the proposed
league OF nations, Senator J. Hamilton
Lewis, of Illinois, Democratic whip, de-
clared the league would not c~ontravene
the advice Of Washington or the Monroe
Doctrine, and broadly intimated that
personal and political a~ntagonism to
President Wilson lay ehind the oppose
ton in Congress.
Senator Lewis replied specifically TO
recent speeches by Senators Borah, OF
Idaho, Republican, and Reed, or missouri
Democrat. His address, which. because
of attacks on the league, was not with
held in accordance with the President
request that debate be postponed.
marked resumption Of Senate discussion
cf the league, with prospects OF daily
speeches until adjournment OF Congress
a week from tomorrow.
Attacks upon the league, Senator
Lewis asserted. we're based on false
fears and designed to awaken prejudice.
Demanding that opponents present their
plan for world peace, he asked:
Have YOU any? Is there only the
voice of veto from you all on whatever
plan-merely that it Is proposed by
Wilson?
Nation Is Not Deceived
The country is not deceived. 1t will
understand-and when II does know
that, for party politics or personal pref
udices, their representatives would con-
tinue to consign the nations children TO
the misery Of cripples-to the agony OF
sightless eyes-and order the destruc-
ton of their young lives forever, these
Christian mothers and patriot fathers
will cry down on the heads OF them all
the curse of heaven.
"If Woodrow Wilson were a Roman
Catalina, charged by a Cicero with con-
spiracy to surrender his land TO the
enemy of his country, and Taft n mod
ern Aaron Burr, they could not have
been more violently impugned thar each
has been by the leaders of the opposi-
ton to the league of nations" a Mr.
Lewis.
Nothing so proved the animosity TO
wilson's success in my design as the
refusal to grant him his request caoIed
as he sailed for America, to postpon
discussions of the constitution of the
league until he could arrive and Explain
the circumstances OF its formation. The
fact that there would be months after
Wilson returns to Paris for the conclu-
sion of his work. in which discussion of
every nature could be had. was of no in
fuence on those who preferred TO cx-
hibit everywhere their defiance Of any
request he might make.
upport Washington Ideal
The reasons urged as a justification
for the assault have. l declare, no
grounds in the contents OF the docu-
ment.
ut is said that the document violates
our policy against alliances with foreign
government as opposed by Washington
l answer that the document prevents
.xyhat Washington opposed-parttal all
ances by America with any foreign
country, even were her statesmen in
clined.
at requires ~tvo-thirds OF all 10 per
NIT any war or peace action with one
Would two-thirds ever allow such dis
advantage to them in favor of any one
against them all?
"The constitution OF the league pro
hibits the possibility of a political ALI
ance with any European power by bal
ancing against the European the Ash
attic, Japan and all South America"
THE army and navy of the Cnite'
States is provided for" Senator Levi
added, "in the charter by words as o
a kind that she shall, by her situate
and peculiar geography. PERSONAL
adopt and personally control"
Comedies with Monroe Doctrine
OF the charge that the league woul,
violate the Monroe Doctrine, Senate
Lewis said:
1T was to prevent this very assump
tion that section 10 of tho charte
pledges all of the governments In tn
league to resist aggression by any on
state or the government of any state.
I'VE ask why this false fear is her
aided by Senators? The cry Is to awake
prejudice not to convince by the trut
of a situation"
In reply to assertions BY Senator
Borah and Reed that the United State
would be %outvoted, particularly by Ems
land with her colonies included, Senate
Lewis said:
such is not In the possibilities. Their
are eleven republics of America, wit
eleven votes. Then, IL all Britain's col
onies . each have a vote tn
United States, with Central an
South America, ~outvotes the European
on any American policy, min to five
assuming only the larger republics ar
admitted to the council"
No Danger from Powers
In this connection Senator Lewis de
plored the suggestion that there wa
danger OF dishonorable consolidate
of the European nations
Every action OF the Allies he as
serted, had proven the falsIty OF thi
fear.
Tho document. on Its face, refute
every attack" Mr.. Lewis continued.
II protest against our opponents a.
suming 10 create the political issue b
crying '~nationalism' against the obJe,
of the league. 1 oppose their design
trying to convince the American poop
that the spirit OF democracy was Il
nternationa lism of the world"