New-York tribune., 1919-03-14
'Non-Partisan
BodyForned to
Oppose League
Senators Borah and Reed
Lead Men of Their
Parties i'll Publicity Move
Nesc York Tribune
Wrcf,5u ufo3, Pur,nu


Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, March 13-The fight
against the league of nations is to be
carried into every hamlet in the United
States that can gather an audience.
Speakers will be selected and financed
so far as may be necessary by nom
partisan organization which had its
inception here to-day.
Colonel Henry Watterson, veteran
editor of The Louisville Courier-J our
nal" was elected president at meet
ing held in the Senate Office building
here to-day, and George Wharton
Pepper, of Philadelphia, was elected
active manager and director.
Senators Borah, of Idaho, and Poin-
dexter, of Washington, Republicans,
and Senator Reed, of Missouri, Demo-
crat, who will be among the galaxy of
the organizations star speakers, were
present at the meeting.
Meantime Senator Lodge, who will
be chairman of the Foreign Relations
Committee wnen the Republicans or
ganize the new Senate, was in long
distance telephone communication with
Senator Brandegee, O. Connecticut,
over the situation. The Republican n
leader told Senator Brandegee that he
had also talked by telephone with Sen
ator Knox at Palm Beach, Fla.
Strictly Nonpartisan
Most OF the details of the new or
ganization will be left to Senators
Knox and Lodge. Later, it was said,
even foreign language speakers bu-
reau will be organized.
In the effort to keep the movement
divorced from partisan politics it has
been decided that no speeches will be
mailed out for it, or any contributions
received by the Republican or Demo
cratic national committees. All the
finances of the organization will be
taken care of, it was stated, by private
subscriptions.
Speaking Tours Start at Once
Local societies or clubs will be or
ganized, it was said, in every town
where supporters can be found willing
to undertake the work. To them will
be left the arrangement of meetings
and the central organization will see
to it that these meetings are supplied
with the best speakers available.
Senator Borah left for New York
City Immediately after the meeting, on
preliminary speaking tour. He will
talk at Troy tomorrow, at Rochester
Sunday, and at Buffalo Monday or
Tuesday if satisfactory arrangements
can be made. Senator Poindexter will
leave almost Immediately, speaking in
st. Louis, Los Angeles, Seattle and
Spokane.
1t was learned here to-day that
there will be a joint debate between
Senator Knox and Senator Hitchcock,
chairman of the Foreign Relations
Committee and the most ardent de-
fender of the present draft of the
league constitution the President had
uled for Newark, N. j., on April 8,
under auspices of the Newark Board
of Education.
Senator Hitchcock also will speak
in favor of the league at Chicago,
March 26, at Philadelphia March 2S,
and at Boston April 3.
Will Get Views TO Farley
The new organization, it is stated.
will make determined efforts to get
its views before the members of the
peace conference at Paris and ways
and means of doing this will be con-
sidered. The trouble lies, it is admit
ted, in the censorship restrictions,
which are asserted to be almost as bad
as during the war, despite the prom
ises made by President Wilson in his
address to Congress just before leav-
ing on his first trip TO Paris. 1t is
said that practically nothing has been
printed abroad with regard to the
signing, by thirtysnine members of the
next Senate, of declaration that they
would not support the league consti-
tuition as reported. KS
At the discussion of plans to-day
the suggestion was even made of send
ing one or two Senators to aPris,
with view TO acquainting the dele
gates personally with what the action
taken BY this group Of thirty-nipe
Senators signified, and with view
also to- tfadicting the statement
Prcsislenk Wilson said in his New York
speech hc would make as soon as he
got abroad. ia the erect that the over
whelming majority ef the people OF
This country favored the league of
ratinus rlan