The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-02-22
WANTS PEOPLE ID GIVE VERDICT ON
 NATIONS LEAGUE BOrah Insists That United States Should Steadfastly Cling to Established
 Americanism
By A,,ee,.t.d pr.ss

Washington. February zf.-Criti-
 e1xing the league of nations n ~the
 most radical departure from Presi-
 dent WashinRton's policies. and as
 spelling the end of the Monroe doe
 Urine. Senator Borah of Idaho, re-
 publican member of the foreign re-
 latfons ccmmittee, declared today
 in the Senate that before the plan
 was adopted the American people
 should be allowed to give . verdict
 on it.
 The Idaho senator, who recently de- clined President wilson's invitation to a White House conference next Wednes- day to discuss the league constitution, insisted that the United States should steadfastiy cling to the Americanism as eatabiished by tho fathers and as recently defined by former President Roosevelt and in the course of his ad- dress he charged former President Taft with making misleading statements about the effect of the leagues plan on American policies.
 UNUSUAL DEMONSTRATION
 When Senator Borah concluded, after speaking about an hour, an unusual demonstration occurred. While crowd ed galleries applauded. senators and visiting representatives crowded around the senator. seeking to congratulate him. Among the senators were several democrats, including Thomas of Col orado, Gore of Oklahoma, Smith of Geor- gia and vardaman of Mississippi. The demonstration continueI for five m,n- utes, while Senate business was com pletely suspended.
 Before MT. Borah spoke. Senator Sherman of Illinois, republican, intro duced resolution, which went over for future discussion, proposing that the Senate request President Wilson not to discuss the league until after he con fers with the Senate, the co-ordipate treaty making branch, and to preserve an impartial and unbiased mind on the subject. The resolution. which Senator Sherman plans to disc,Os soon, says that comment on the league by the President before he confers with the Senate would be "unwise. undiplomatic and calculated to promote d;scord" with the coordinate body.
 Iomorrow the A.tack on the league in the Senate is to be continued, with Senator Reed of Missouri, democrat. speaking Senator Hitchcock, chairman of the foreign rela >ons committee, and Senator Lewis of Illinois, democratic whip, are reported planning addresses in support of the league early next week, when Senator Cummins of Iowa republican, may also make an address
 DISAGREES WITH TAFT
 Senator Borah said he made his speech today especially because of what he termed misleading statements of former President Taft. He vigorously disagreed with MT. Taft's assertions that the league does not conflict with the Monroe doctrine or Washington s injunction against entsngliny European alliances
 Declaring that America would ne out : voted five to oue by England alone be cause of the recognition Of British colonies, Senator Borah said the league constitution vas ''tt-a greatest triumph, of English diplomacy Of three cen turtles" He declared that the tsntalive c constitution was almost identical with that presented to the peace conference last month by General Shuts. the Brit ish drafting representative. and added tha. the English p~ss and other for. eign auttor..les eoncede that the plan involves the end of Tho Monroe doc trirc
 Articles appearing in newspapers urging the people to write to i'residen' !, Wilson and thank him for his part ir dr ' ting the pror - q constitution of the league were. ria.-u;ed in the House today by Representative Hersey oi Maine
 .Why should the President be thanked for s.slething which has no' yet been approved of by tlie country {? Mir. Hersey asked. "The thanks should be postponed until it is seen whether or not the constitution will be ac- cepted
 Mir. Hersey appealed to the members of the House to carefully study the pro posed constitution, declaring that If i lconflicted with the constitution of tho United States, Congress should re | feet It.