The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-02-27
PRESIDENT IS
VERY SECRET.
Told Senators and Congress
men at Dinner About
League of Nations
SOME OPPOSITION
SHOWN BY MEMBERS
Congressman Give Very Little Informa-
ton About the Secret Conference
Probably Cannot Get Majority in the
Committee

committee.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27.-After ALL
most three months of silence President |
Wilson condescended last night to com
nunlcate secretly to handful of sen
ltors and representatives, the majority
Of them devoted to his personal for
unes, his, real reasons for advocating
m internationalism which many in con
ress believe threatens the republic,
just as the proposed constitution of
lie league of nations was discussed
nd adopted in secrecy, so was the Pres
dents first real informative explana-
ion of his advocacy of it delivered in
secrecy. 1t was dagrantly obvious that
he most extraordinary measures were
aiken to keep the people in the dark.
his fact so arousing the Indignation of
senator Borah fIdahc) and Senator
Fall (N. NJ that they declined to at
end the dinner given at the White
louise to the members of the Foreign
relations committees, and thus bind
ne themselves to silence.
These senators, however, were the
My ones that absented themselves
rom the dinner of mystery. Senator
edge (Mass.) saw it his duty to at.
end the dinner, though it may be that
G made ar honorable reservation or
wo as to how completely his duty TO
he people could be harnessed. Sena-
or Brandegee Conn., said early in
he evening that he would bow himself
ut of the dining room if the President
20 -.
ions that could not correspond to his
'nse of duty to his constituents.
As matter Of fact a great deal of
nman curiosity actuated both DeIno-
rats and Republicans. There was a
zen desire on all sides to penetrate the
oil which the President had dropped
ctore his motives and reasonings.
'epublicans who mean to contest to the
ast ditch eNr. Wilson 5 apparent inten-
ion to surrender Amerieanism to inter
ationalism hoped to obtain out OF Mr.
Wilson 5 own mouth arguments for the
ombat; while Democratic members ha
tuated to subserviency, hoped to ae-
| uire from the fountainhead argumen.
tive material
As these committees stand in person
| el there is a fair majority that believe
| I some form of league of nations, but
lr. Wilson was no doubt aware before
| he dinner had proceeded very far that
| majority could be had fer the eonsti.
ution of such league as he has Of
| cred. Opposition was plainly. ex-
| ressed although it was couched in
| ueh terms as. were not designed to give
Tense.
| Senators and representatives natural
were reticent as to what took place
oeling themselves bound by having ac
/ pied the remarkable terms of tn,
| residents invitation to maintain 81
ance. 1t was gathered, however, thai
he President after making fairly OK
ansive speech pointing out that eondi
ions in Europe and the world over wer,
ueh that no peace would be worth tn,
aper II was written on unless a leagn,
{ nations was first formed to guaran
&c its stability and its maintenance
hat the feeling in Europe was such tina
ire disaster certainly would follow tn
DOWNFALL of the project and that Amer
ca was giving up nothing of any rea
falue, while obtaining much of inestim
eble worth, called for several member o
/ he committees TO express their views