The sun., 1919-02-27
CUMMINS SEES
PERIL IN LEAGUE
Tells Senate Proposed Plan
Subverts Constitution, Sac
rificing Sovereignty.
PEOPLES AIMS EXCEEDED
Senator Owen Defends Tenta-
tive Covenant. but Urges
Amendments.
PEOPLES AIMS EXCEEDED


Amendments.
Special Despatch TO TIE Sun,
WAsHINGToN, Feb. &c. - Notwith-
standing the imminence of the Presi-
dents promised disclosures Of the real
| reasons for the presentation OF a
League Of Nations constitution two
Senators to-day addressed themselves
to ella borate and exhaustive arguments
for and against the Wilson programme.
Senator Cummins Ua.), Republican,
assailed the proposed league constitu-
ton from the point Of view Of an ear
nest advocate of universal peace
through international agreement, to
whom the proposed constitution Of
fered an impossible solution. Senator
owen (Okla.), Democrat, defended in
mild terms the course which President
Wilson had pursued.
Both spoke in defiance of the Presi
dents expressed injunction Of silence
until he had had opportunity to explain
his programme and his reasons to the
Foreign Relations Committee Of the
Senate and the Foreign Affairs Com
mittee OF the House.
Cummtns Aim Is Helpful.
Throughout his address Senator Cum
Minis persisted that his criticism was
designed upon constructive lines He at
4 e, ,r,,tl r.. tTla
of an International movement looking to
the esta bli shment OF world peace through
a proper tenable international agreement
which did not involve the sacrifice Of
nationality, but he assailed with caustic
bitterness the present proposition as
subversive of the intentions OF the
trainers of Americas fundamental law
and beside the beliefs. intentions and
will OF the American people.
The same thronged galleries which
have marked the attendance upon Senate
sessions during the last week OF inter-
changes on the League of Nations prob
lerls welcomed Senator Cummins. re-
mained through the intervening preeen-
tation of routine business and listened
to Senator owen.
Throughout Senator Cumminss pres
entation OF his argument the floor of the
similar attendance did not mark the
presentation OF the supporting arguments
of the Oklahoma Senator,
Cummins Has No Apologies.
Senator Cummins offered no apologies
for addressing the Senate on the queS-
ton OF the League OF Nations at this
iuncture. He explained:
al believe It Is not only the privilege
but the duty of every Senator to exer-
else his constitutional prerogative and
TO advise the President before he returns
to France OF his opinion on a matter
which so deeply concerns not alone the
people OF this country but OF all coun-
tries which have organized themselves
into governments As ] look at II. 1t is
pot far greater importance that We dis
charge this duty a. this Cime than T. ~
to consider appropriation bills or legis-
lation of any character.
'InasmuCh as we may well yield TO
the members of the Foreign Relations
Committee after the conference to which
I have referred takes place some OF US
must speak now or not at all"
Senator Cummins held that there
could he created an international agree
nent tending 10 exercise suppressive
measures against war which need not
IN the compact resign irrevocably the
sovereignty OF the contracting nations.
Helpful Interna atiOnaliz tion.
"I am saying these things" said SEN
ator Cummips, NOT because anyone has
specifically denied them but becaus. it
f. helpful Just now to remember that
there is an internationalism which Is
not only in harmony with the most ex-
allied spirit OF nationalism but which
supplements and strengthens that ma
tional power which every self-respecting
Government must exercise for itself
ut is not my purpose to enlarge upon
this thought or to expand my observa-
tions by more specific recital Of the
history of mankind. and / mention II
simply that YOU may have II In mind as
turn my attention to the immediate
subject which Is now uppermost in all
discussions throughout the civilized
world"
Senator Cummins, while admitting
that there was an element OF timeliness
in the considerations by the involved
nations OF tho general propositions of
permanent world peace, took the ground
which his predecessors In the discus
sions. most notably tho Republican
Continued on Third Page.