The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-07-23
FOUR SENATORS
IN CONFERENCE
WITH PRESIDENT
Newberry Among Repubi-
cans SummonedEMckellar
Calls League Greatest Step.
(By Associated PreSs)

(By Associated Press)
WASHINGTON, July 23.-Confer-
ences with Republican senators on the
peace treaty and the league Of nations
covenant were continued today by
President Wilson, senators on the list
were Page. Vermont; Sterling. South
Dakota; Mclean, Connecticut, and
Newberry, Michigan.
Senator Page, Republican, Vermont,
frankly outlined his objections to the
peace treaty to President Wilson at
the White House today and told the
president he would not approve it.
Beyond this statement Senator Page
would not discuss the conference.
Senator Sterling of South Dakota,
another White House caller. said
neither he nor the president mention
ed the Shantung settlement. They dis
cussed article 10 of the league OF ma
tions covenant referring to protection
of nations against external aggres
sor" and the clause relating to the
withdrawal Of nations from the league.
But the senator would not go into de-
tails of the discussion.
Mr. Wilson's condition continued 10
improve today and it was expected
that within a few days he would have
entirely recovered from the effects OF
an attack of intestinal trouble. The
president, however, still is weak and
for that reason held conference today
in his study in the white house instead
of in the executive offices.
The league of nations was supported
in the senate today by Senator Nc
Kellar, Democrat, Tennessee, as one
of the greatest forward steps in the
nations history. Most of the opposi-
| ton he asserted came from reaction
aries "of the same school as those
who opposed the Federal constitution
and those who later handicapped the
growth and development of the coun-
try.
Denounces Reactionaries.
There have always been reaction
aries In our country" said the Ten
nessee senator, land there have al
ways been progressives. There have
always been forward looking men and
backward looking men. There have
always been men who looked to pre-
cedents and to the past and men who
looked to the future. If the reaction
aries had had their way in the begin
ing of our government we probably
would not have had republic. If they
had had their way the republic would
never have been enlarged.
II am not a reactionary. I am a
democrat in its most progressive
sense. We ought to improve upon
those who have gone before us. We
lhave had better advantages than they
had They blazed the path. Every
Idictate of conscience, every dictate of
humanity, every dictate Of an enlight-
ened self-interest, every dictate Of
commercial and industrial advantage,
every dictate Of desire for peace, re-
uuires the establishment Of this great
world pact.
"Reactionary Republicans and re-
dictionary Democrats who are opposing
this league, don't let your hatred of
any one man warp and set aside your
Judgment. Whatever may be said of
Mr. Wilson, he has surely done great
things for America. Under his admin
istration we have become a world
lpower faster than in any other like
period in our history. All of his work
has been done for America. Let not
America, who has given this great
peace covenant to the world, be the
lonly one to repudiate It,"
Quotes Lodges Speech.
The speaker quoted Senator Lodges
and declared the peace terms laid
down there had been substantially en-
bodied in the treaty. Senator Knox,
he said, had desired to go even farther
than the league covenant in his resolu-
tion declaring the United States would
cooperate to remove any future me-
mace to European peace.
"The real criticism Of the league In
the minds of it's opponents, in the SEN
late" continued Mr.. McKellar, Is that
Woodrow Wilson took a commanding
part in the formation of the league
There may be better plans. but why
haven't they been produced?"
Three incontestible reasons for the
league. continued the senator are the
cost Of war its sacrifice Of human life,
and "the utter folly of creating ma
tions in Europe without giving them
the guaranty of life" He said he did
/ not agree that Article X imposed only
, moral obligation to go to war to pre-
t serve the integrity of members, but
that it rightly imposed legal obliga-
ton to do so.
Replying to the charge Of Senator
, Reed, Democrat, Missouri, that the
: league might be controlled by black
: red and yellow races, Senator Nickel
/ lar quoted this passage from speech
/ made when Jefferson bought Louisi
ana. I'VE are soon to look for our
= rulers to the black, yellow and red
brethren beyond the Mississippi"
Missouri" continued Senator Nc
>. kellar, was a part of the Louisiana
2 purchase. I am curious to know II
some ancestor Of Senator Reed did
J. not speak those words. The argu
= ment is idle. I think the senators from
:, South Carolina and Mississippi will
K compare favorably with the represen
4 tatives Of other states In this body, re
0 gardless Of the black majority in each
, of these states"