The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1919-02-25
HOUSE,SENATE GUNS
SPEED THEIR SHELLS
PROPOSED LEAGUE DENOUNC-
ED AS A SURRENDER OF THE
MONROE DOCTRINE.
INDUSTRIOUS" SPEAKERS DE-
CLARE In REFERENCE TO PLAN
Assert That Under the Scheme Pro-
posed the United States Would
Have to Do What Other Powers
Demand. Vardaman Is Caustic.

Have to Do What Other Powers
Demand. Vardaman Is Caustic.
WASHINGTON, D. C.-Vigorous
criticism of the proposed constitution
of the league of nations was voiced
today in both houses of congress.
Speaking for three hours before
crowded galleries Senator Poindex-
ter, of Washington, precipitated
discussion in the senate which en-
braced other subjects and consumed
practically the entire session.
Discussion in the house was unex-
pected and was not general. Just as
the members were settling down for
a night session Representative Fess,
of Ohio, chairman of the republican
congressional campaign committee,
delivered carefully prepared ad-
dress in which he took up the con-
stitution section by section and de-
nounced the whole as abridging the
sovereignty of the United States and
containing vicious possibilities.
Ignored Presidents Request.
The addresses by Senator Poindex-
ter and Representative Fess were the
first prepared ones made in congress
since the constitution of the league
was published and since President
Wilson requested that discussion be
postponed until he could confer with
members of the senate and house
foreign affairs committees at the
white house.
Senator Reed, of Missouri, demo-
crat, spoke in criticism of the propos-
al and also vigorously denounced de-
lay in demobilizing American troops.
Senator Shafroth, of Colorado, dem
ocrat, in defending the war depart
ment, after Mr.. Reeds attack, spoke
briefly in support of the league char
ter, declaring it would stop nine
tenths of future wars.
Senator PoindeXter, in his address
declared that the league charter open
| ly cOnfiicted with the constitution
| of the United States and meant not
only surrender of American sover-
eighty to European nations, but also
abandonment of the Monroe doctrine.
| He also declared the league plan in
volved Colossal burden of entang-
ling alliance" and would breed in
stead of preventing wars.
Interrupting the Washington men,
Der Senator Reed suggested that the
! leagues executive council would be
composed of eight non-American
members-possibly EN- e sand
that its mandatory clause would re-
quire the United States to furnish
troops in suppressing nationalistic up
risings in Canada, Ireland, Australia
and other countries.
Vardaman Attacks League.
In attacking the league charter
Senator Vardaman, of Mississippi,
spoke for only few minutes.
"The proposed organization" said
Senator Vardaman, carries us into
UNEMPLOYED regions of diplomacy. 1t
presents problems that will test the
capacity of the American people for
self-government and the preservation
of the American constitution. 1t
marks a most vital period in the life
of this nation up to date.
81 have no sympathy with the sug-
gestion made by the president that
discussions by the senate should be
postponed until he comes home. If
the president had thought more of
America and her institutions and
cared less for the triumph of his per-
sonal ideas and efforts he would have
said to the American people: Dis
cuss this measure, vivisect, analyze,
tear it to pieces and find out its ev-
cry possible defect, for it is only by
suggestions that the truth, the eter-
nal truth, will be discovered"
Resumption of Attack.
Resumption of the attack on the
league came next day, when Senator
Borah, who declined the presidents
invitation to a dinner to be given the
| foreign relations committees at which
| the league will be discussed because,
he said, it was the custom to
hold in confidence any information
received at conference at the white
house and that he was not willing to
be bound to silence on such an i'm
portant subject, on which he and the
president disagreed fundamentally,
characterized it 'as the most radical
departure from our policies that we
have ever considered"
Washington Is Quoted.
Many expressions of President
Washington against entangling Eu-
ropean alliances were cited by Mr..
Borah, who said the distinctive feat
ure of the first presidents admins
tration was it's foreign policy.
"Do the people believe that Eu-
rope now and in the future will be
free of selfishness, of ambition. cap
rice and humor?" he asked. "Why
quit our ground and stand in foreign
soil? And yet in the very beginning
of this league of nations constitution
we find the executive council would
be dominated by three Europeans,
one Asiatic and one American.