The sun., 1919-07-09
Battle Lineup in Senate
Shows Majority Favoring
Radical Amendments.
DEMOCRATS FRIGHTENED
President to Get Respectful
Audience Thursday Before
Oratory Is Let Loose.


battle over the League Of Nations
covenant in the Senate has been def
initely drawn. The opposing forces
stand ready for the fray. Until Presi-
dent Wilson himself has spoken no
further word OF criticism or praise or
condemnation or suggestion Of amend
ment will be forthcoming from Repub-
lican lips, and the President may come
to the Senate chamber with the full
assurance that the customary respect
ful hearing will be accorded his report
Of his helmsmanship Of Americas
course in the uncharted sea OF modern
world affairs.
In the Senate on Thursday the Pres
ident will be received for his address
In open executive session, in disregard
Of all Senate precedent The decision
to open the doors Of the upper house
to the public when President Wilson
speaks was reached without sugges-
ton from the President after Senator
Lodge (Mass.). chairman OF the For
eign Relations Committee, had ascer-
tanned at the White House that the
President wished to appear on Thurs
day.
Once President Wilson has spoken.
once the definition OF his position has
been announced to the Senate. the
floods will be unloosed. A season of
debate transcending in Importance and
probably in bitterness anything that
has preceded It during the last half
century will be under way. And in the
great battle, which has been preceded
by more than six weeks OF active skir-
mishing. the opponents OF the League
OF Nations covenant begin hostilities
with decidedly the best Of the situa-
ton.
Majority for vital Changes.
1t is known tonight in the councils
OF the opposition to ratification Of the
treaty and the league covenant to-
gether that a clear cut majority OF the
the league covenant in the form Of
reservations TO the compact. The Re
pvblicans count on every one of the
entire membership Of their party in the
Senate, forty-nine in all, standing
steadfast in favor OF at least two res
ervations.
IL. "
OF the Senate. Two Of the forty-nine
are reservaionists only upon two
Items of proposed change. but the Re-
publicans now have the positive assur-
ance OF the votes OF two Democrats-
Senators Reed (Mo,) and Gore (Okla-) }
for the entire list of amendments to
the covenant, following closely the
lines OF suggested revision framed by
Elihu Root, which means that the
peace pact and league covenant cannot
now pass the Senate without that rat
flying body exercising its consutu-
tional power to change, amend and re-
serve.
Senator Gore. whose adverse Views
have been privately known for many
months but whose intended course has
been shadowed In doubt by reason OF his
unwillingness heretofore TO break away
completely from the Presidents leader
ship on a question which held so many
dangers for the Democratic party, for
sook his seclusion to-day and came out
fiatfootedly in favor OF radical revision.
Senator Gore said 10 his friends, to
| whom he made his intended course
! known. that he had determined TO oppose
the ratification OF the treaty without
fundamental changes. These changes,
| he said, he considered vital TO the preser-
walton OF the integrity OF the United
| States, the rights OF the American peo-
| pie to live the life OF America in Amer
| lean fashion. and they would forefend
against America being forced to shed
blood and expend treasure IN the settle-
ment OF foreign international contro-
Versies.
Cores Views Called Radical.
| The Okiahoman announced exceedingly
radical views in regard to the supple
mentary enactments by the Senate which
| he purpossd favorinE. He said that he
| intended to urge an amendment to the
peace pact which would inform the world
| that hereafter the United States might
| withdraw from the League OF Nations
by the simple enactment OF a concurrent
resolution of Congress relinquishins
league membership. Senator Gore also
believes that Il should be set forth In
| the reservations which the Senate will
attach to the International compact that
America shall not hereafter declare war
| or the existence OF a state OF war with
Continued on Third PagS