Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-02-18
BY L. c. MARTIN.

oeIidtoT bOrdu ) lelter was sent Ny
wireless to President Wilson, speeding
westward on the George Washington.
Comment on Borah's move was re-
fused at the White House.
HOT DEBATE FORECAST.
Poindexter's speech, If made to-
day, is expected to be followed by
speeches by Borah, Cummins and
Reed, all hostile to the league. Such
criticism as they will voice may
call for reply by administration
senators. In this event the senate
is likely to be plunged into the
very sort of debate President Will
son sought by his invitation to the
two committees to avoid. Admin
istration leaders are considering
measures for curbing the talk.
Borah, in letter to Presidential
Secretary Tumulty, made plain his
reasons for declining the invitation.
Meetings at the white house. ac-
cording to long standing CUSTOM"
wrote Borah, "are always regarded as
strictly confidential upon the part of
the guests. This meeting, I take it.
would be regarded as especially confi-
Dental, otherwise the president would
have spoken, according to his custom,
to the open senate.
DIFFER FUNDAMENTALLY.
"The differences between the presi-
dent and myself on this question are
fundamental. I am sure no sugges-
tion Of mine would modify in the
slightest the views of the president,
and nothing could induce me to sup
port this league as outlined in the pro-
posed constitution or anything like it.
feel, therefore, it would not be fair to
the president to accept his confidence
or receive from him confidential infor-
nation concerning this subject. Nei-
ther, in my view Of the subject, could
accept information which would not
feel perfectly free to transmit to my
colleagues or use in public debate.
After much reflection, beg. therefore,
to be excused from attending the
meeting.
I'm writing this note and taking this
course, I mean no personal disrespect
to or disregard for the president.
simply find myself in such disagree
ment with him and feel SO intensely
concerning the matter that / cannot do
otherwise than candidly advise him Of
the fact"
TO ATTACK FOUR POINTS.
Senator Poindexter said he plans in
his speech to attack articles s, ~,
Is and 10 Of the proposed league con-
stitution.
Article 8. Poindexter said today,
gives to the league power which the
American constitution never gave the
president, congress and all other gov
ernment agencies combined-the power
to take away from the people the right
to fix the size of the army and navy
In their own way.
He objects to article IL on the
ground that it transfers to foreign
powers every question which might af-
feet our independence, safety, honor or
existence. This article provides for ar
bitration or inquiry by the leagues ex-
ecutive council.
Article IS again invades the sover-
eighty of the United States, Poindexter
said, by giving the league control over
commerce in arms and ammunition.
"The United States constitution vests
in congress alone the power to regulate
commerce with foreign nations" said
Poindexter.
His objections to article 10 is that
1t will in time destroy the Monroe doc
trine and would entail sending of
American armed forces into all parts
of the world. 1t pledges the United
States with all other members Of the.
league to take part In the guardian
ship OF manatories.