The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-05-08
SENATE WILL TRY II
TO AMEND TREATY
Republicans Desire Some Changes in
League of DEMONSTRATING Or
ganization of Senate.

WASHINGTON, May 8.--Senator Hen
ry Cabot Lodge, prospective Republican
leader and chairman of the committee
on foreign relations of the next senate, |
declined to comment on the semiothcialt
summary of the league of nations cove
hant in the peseel treaty, copies of which |
were given out by the state department.
Yesterday aftsfhoona e lsaeIS5
Speaking of the military terms imposed
upon Germany BY the treaty, Senator
Lodge expressed the opinion that tie
Paris conference had done very well
All those among the senator's colleagues
who have had his confidence and with
whom he talks freely says Mr. lodge re
| mains convinced that the covenant Of the
leagae Eof nations should not be adopted
without an attempt at least being made
/ to amend it.
Article 10, which guarantees the terri
torial integrity Of member nations is en-
| tirely unsatisfactory not only to senators
who like Borah, Reed, Poindexter, john
son, Brandegee aud others, are classified
as last ditch opponents to league,
but also to Senators Lodge Knox, Smoot
and other Republicans in the upper
branch of congress who are not hostile
The fight against the present covenant
will undoubtedly be centered on article
49, but there will be an effort to amend
the covenant in other particulars, espe-
cially in the matter Of defining domestic
questions, such as immigration and tariff
over which it is contended the jurisdie-
ton of the league should not extend
Unless the league covenant is amende
/ | +bpGa Nh py,r,pcaI ~, n
effort will be made to submit the ques-
ton to the country
1t is understood that one Republican
senator who is violently opposed to Il
league of nations in any form, proposes
to bring the submission Of the acceptance
of the covenant before the voters on d
popular referendum and that resolution
providing for such a referendum vote will
be introduced in the senate early in the
4 session
Senator Smoot Of Utah, who returned
4 to Washington Yesterday, said in state
/ ment that he expected the league Of ma
4 tions covenant to be materially amended
! by the senate and then adopted
IF the league plan were not il Tho
1 treaty, said Senator Smoot. Il believe
I the treaty would be accepted with bu
: little discussion.
At the party conference Nav IT, /,
take steps for the organization Of til,
new senate, Senator Lodge will he cho
sen chairman Of the majority confer
ence, which viii carry the floor leader
SHIN Of the majority party 4 presiden
= nro tempore, probably Senator Smoot 4
; Utah will be nominated. also a secretar,
T IF the senate and minor officers will b
= selected
Il Tho committee on committees to be an
!. pointed Is expected to have its worl
coienleted ari recommendations adonte,
= within a day OF two after the assembling
Il Of the senate
H In spitc Of the very narrow maiorit
II by which the Republicans control tn
H senate, thern is. the utmost corlidenc
II On the mart of the Republican leaders taa
II they VIII cr,trol the organization !
II = said the threatened Republican -rvo.
II md possibly nartv bolt IN tie ever.t G
II he selection by the majority leaders !
H Senator Penrose as chairman of the /
II naoce committee has been averted
II Mr. Penrose is u be cilaifman 81 I'll
II finance committee and Senator Borah ~
II hose who lave been II sympathy VT
il him in lis onpositon - Paarose vi
II not cndaneer Republican control of tt
II senate by boltinq the conference The
- arc said to he still hostile to Penrasp, III
:. viii accept his elevation to tile chaIma'
I shia Of lie most important commit,
/ dealing with domestic affairs q con2rc
y t3e interests Of party unity in Il
J senate,