Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-03-20
L0DCE-L0WELL DEBATE MERITS
 OF PEACE PACT
Large Audience Follows Ar
 gument With Interest.
LOWELL SAYS PEACE
 PLANS ARE SOUND
Lodge Declares Covenant is Porous Instrument With Many
 Faults.

Boston, March 19,-The merits of I the proposed covenant of the league of nations were debated tonight by Senator Henry Cabot Lodge and A. Lawrence Lowell, president of liar ward University, before an audience that followed the speakers with in ! tense and frequently expressed ap- proval. The debaters approached the i general topic from different angles. Senator Lodge attacked the coven- ant ''as agreed upon by the commis- sion of the peace conference as "a porous instrument" on the nterpre- tation of which the signers them selves would be at odds within 12 , months.
 Dr. Lowell admitted that the "cov- enant" needed clarification, but ar gued that in subsistence that plan for the prevention of war, it was sound.
 Symphony Hall was filled. Three thousand persons had seats and 300 stood. Half of the audience was made up of members of the legisla- ture, federal and state judiciary, governors of New England states, army and navy officers, members of the Harvard faculty, delegates of the central labor unions, and, personal guests of the debaters. The other half represented the lucky ones who had been awarded admission by 1 chance from twenty-five times as many applications.
 Governor COllidge Presides. Governor Calvin Colldge presided, introduced the speakers and held the watch. Senator Lodge led off, speak ing for an hour. He received noisy reception and was repeatedly inter- rupted with applause
 Senator Lodge in opening his ar gument said that he was not against league of nations, but was anxious to have the free nations of the world unite to secure peace and bring about "a general disarmament"
 He also denied the charge of in consistency because of speeches in 1915 and 1916, favoring Gin general" a league of nations.
 At this time and later, in fact up to the very last, he explained, he was ln constant consultation with Colonel Roosevelt.
 Roosevelt Approved Plan.
 'Two weeks before his death," he said, 1 was with Theodore Roose- welt for some hours, seeing him for two mornings in succession. The draft now before the country was not then before us, but we discussed full ly, the league of nations in all it's bearings. We were in entire agree ment The position that I have talk en and now take, had his full ap- proval. The line I have followed in the senate and elsewhere was the one he wished to have followed. l do not say this to transfer any respon- sibility from my shoulders to his
 All 1 do and all say is on my own responsibility.
 "The question before us," Senator Lodge said, "the only question of a practical nature, is whether the lea que that has been drafted by the commission of the peace conference and laid before it will tend to se- cure the peace of the world as it stands, and whether it is just and fair to the United States of Amer ica."
 In answer to the charge that there had been no constructive criticism of the nations, Senator Lodge ex- claimed:
 My first constructive criticism is that this covenant ought to be re- drafted, this is essential" he added, because the sanctity of treaties is vital above all else"