The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-05-28
Hitchcock Replies
to Reeds Criticism
League Of Nations
Ry Jalr,es Il. Nourxr.

Nv csfAitS HI &NoWIrt-
Washington, May 26.---The DONNA 4
ton of the league OF nations by the
black. brown. yellow and kindred ra-
ses. OF the wcr Id. possessing Jointly
more votes than nations of the white
race, was the topic upon which Sem
ator James A Reed. of Missouri, at
tackled The league plan in the senate
today
Characteristic of Senator Reeds
speech wa Il $ closing words. whis
were as follows:
IF shall not consent to grant any
governing power over this country
to any race of men on earth, save
the citizens Of this republic: and he
who shah do it under the pretext that
as he docs it he does nothing. and
vet claiming at tho same time that
he has produced some organization
here that is to change the world. who
talks with a forked tongue, who looks
in two directions AT the same time,
who assumes contrary positions-the
man who does that. and by that kind
of policy fasfens a league on this
country that shall in any respect con
troll this country, hetrays the republic,
betrays rs constitution. betrays his
| oath of office. hetrays the cause of
| justice ana The cause Of man"
| Having uttered this statement.
| Senator Rec, took his seat and sena-
tors were lcft to wonder 10 whom he
| referred.
Senator Reed devoted considera bile
/ time to reading statistics from en-
| cyclopaedias To show the character OF
| the races to whom the voting power
/ In the league assembl has been given.
He spoke of their population, their
/ habits, their morals, their religion,
and their capacity for government.
Most of the countries named. he
! showed; are inferior, in every way to
| the white races with which they have
an equal voice in determining issues
| which are to be brought before the
league for adjustment.
will the senator explain what
these nations can vote on ?" inquired
Senator Hitchcock.
"On anything that America can vote
on in the league of nations" replied
Senator Reed.
THE senator is entirely mistaken"
was Senator Hitchcock's answer. to
which Senator Reed retorted: "Ah,
does the senator claim the league of
nations has nothing to do Let us
have it out, does II have nothing TO
do, or does it have something to doe"
The league has very little to do. ;"
Senator Hitchcock replied.
Then the whole thing is fake and
q rotten fraud" exclaimed Senator
Reed, with some heat
Senator Hitchcock undertook to ex-
, plain again that the affairs of the
league are in the hands of the exc
cutive council and the only permanent
members OF this council are Great
) Britain, the United States, Italy
France. and Japan. This statement
drew from Senator Reed The follow
= ing comment:
Then you have not ~ league OF
, nations. You have a quintuple al
; lance. and instead of having Il league
, OF the nations of the world, as the
president said he was going to have
: you have five great nations that have
. united themselves to govern and
dominate the world. You plead toe
much. my friend. You plead that We
are standing here as you have stood
4 declaring in this hall and on the pub
l lie platform of the United States II
, effect that this league of nations. this
I assembly of the nations of the world
l is to become a great force that is II
/ control the evil passions Of man ant
Z OF races, to bring to the world peace
9 harmony and good will: and now yo,
, stand here declaring as your only ex
= cuse for its existence that it is
l LpOWerieSs thing-you stand here ant
g proclaim to the world that il Is
! fake. that it Is rotten fraud. that /
is "A miserable pretense and therefort
. it does not make much difference
t what YOU put into it as nothing is t,
, come ont of it,
senator Hitchcock showed SO mucl
@ irritation when he arose to reply Il
g Senator Reed that the latter cautioned
. saying he seemed to have lost hi
/ temper. which destroys his usual GOO
:. nature"
A Senator Hitchcock explained tina
: the vote in the assembly. as in the exc
cutive council OF the league. must b,
unanimous. which would make it i'm
possible for any OF these inferior coun
G tries to control America or any othe
q large country unless all the power
= were agreed.
Senator Johnson's resolution de
, manding the full text Of the peac,
\ treaty from the state department wa
+ not considered today. hut will be callet
t lup Wednesday. On that day Senate
:, Robinson of Arkansas will speak IL
Q support OF the league,