The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-27

and sheer ideaiism II had siven to suf-
fering humanity, and finally that fall
ure to constitute the League of Ma
lions as outlined by him would mean
the downfall of Governments, perhaps
renewal OF war, certainly the renewal
OF armed camps and untold future hor-
rors. Then II was that the President
departed from his habit. He asked for
tho views OF others--invited questions.
The responses may have astonished
him. For an hour and three-uuarters
he was literally bombarded by queries.
They came from all sides, from Demo-
Gratis and his own devoted partisans as
well as from Republicans that have dis
played no sympathy toward his plans.
Anxiety About Sovereignty.
Throughout all the questioning. how
ever, there ran one thread, a very anx-
ious inquiry as to what the President
thought about tho implied surrender Of
the sovereignty of the American ma
ton to the league made UP of nations
holding different Ideals and aims from
those of the United States. This query
was put to him again and again In diff
ferent forms.
THE SUN gathers that his responses
were not as direct as some Of the ques-
were indeed then the disappointed ones
were thinking in lower attitudes and
could not function their intellects In the
rarifed atmosphere OF the Presidents
mind. His replies circled about one
idea-that there Is nothing in the con-
stitution OF the League of Nations which
compels the surrender OF American ma
tionality or the abandonment of historic
American traditions; but II there hap
pens to be anything after all in the con-
stttution Of the league which should
compel such surrender and such aban-
donment then nobody need take alarm
because after all the Constitution Of the
United States cannot be abrogated by
any instrument
Opinions Apparently Unchanged.
1t is perhaps too early to state posi-
lively that the dinner made no converts
or antagonists. It may take q day or
two for that very important point to
reveal itself. but at this hour so far as
could re Cleaned from men who have
got into the habit of holding their
tongues when Mr.. Wilson looks hard
at them It produced no change Of opin-
lon. Men who went to the dinner con-
WINGED that the League OF Nations is a
device Of the devil came away with
that rotion. Men who went to the din
ner convinced that It Is the front door
OF the millennium heard nothing to dis
courags them.
From this all important angle the
dinner Tin the opinion of some guests at
least who whispered to THE SUN about
its course and progress) was. II not a
failure, at least no contribution to sucl,
information az the Senate must have.
As has been anticipated and surmised.
| the dinner was held with the utmost Sc
crecy and privacy. Mr Wilson's re-
strtctive invitation was not modified at
the last minute. Those Senators and Rep
| resentatives that accepted were bound.
he considered, to remain silent about
| what was said. The utmost precautions
were taken TO preserve secrecy. The
whole affair was the exact opposite OF
what many persons had hoped for. 1t
! was. however, some Senators said
laughingly tonight, wholly in the spiri;
! OF a covenant that was discussed. framed
and adopted almost furtively.
Only Two Absentees.
The entire membership of the two
foreign committees attended with the
exception OF Senator Borah and Sena-
| tor Fall. These gentlemen, as 10 well
known. declined as a point OF honor.
! feeling some indignation at the terms OF
the invitation extended to members OF a
| committee OF a body equally responsible
in international matters and theoreti-
cally as powerful as the President HIM
self. Those that attended were:
Senators Hitchcock (Neb,). John
Sharp Williams .(Miss). Claude A.
Swanson (va.). Pomerene (Ohio). Mar.
Gus A. Smith (Ariz). Willard Salisbury
tDel.). defeated; Key Pittman (Nev)
John X. Shields. (Tenn.). Charles 8
Thomas tCol). and Joseph T. Robinson
| (Ark). Democrats. and Henry Cabot
Lodge (Mass.), William Alden Smith
| tMich.). retiring: Porter ]. McCumber
IN. d.. Frank b. Brandegee (Conn.)
and Philander C. Knox (Pa.), Republi.
| cans.
or the House Foreign Affairs Commit
tee there were Flood (Va.). chairman
Llnthicum (Md.). Goodwin (Ark.), Sted.
man IN. c.. Harrison (Miss). Smith
| On. ". Shacklcford (Mo), SABBATH
| Gl). Ragsdale ts. c.. Huddiestons
| tAla.). ConnaIly (Tex.) and Thomas F.
| Smith On. ", Democrats, and Cooper
| (Wis). Porter (Pa). Rogers (Mass.)
Temple tPa), Foss (nl). Miller
| (Minn.). Mott IN. " and Kennedy OR.
| H., Republicans
Senator Lodge (Mass) saw II hi:
duty to attend the dinner. though It may
| Oo lUdl ne an nOHOTdD!e TebeTVa'
! ton or two as TO how completely hi,
duty TO the people could be harnessed
Senator Brandegee Comm said early
In the evening that he would bow him.
self out OF the dining room II the Presi-
dent attempted to impose upon him re-
strictions that would not correspond tc
his sense OF duty to his constituents.
Some question was in the minds Of
the Presidents questioners as to whether
he intended TO carry further his advo
cacy of his league plan by trying to wiz
Congress generally to II by an appea
to both houses in joint session. How
ever the President did not touch upor
| this voluntarily and no one OF his hear
ers asked the question directly. The
general impression gathered backing W
to the information generally received II
| Washington yesterday was that thu
President would return TO France with
out talking to Congress directly.