New-York tribune., 1919-06-22
Says He Will 'sTrample" on
Platform That Approves
Scheme and ''Spit OH the
Platform That Is Silent''
Demands Party Stand
Tells Senate Pact 'Pawns
Brawn and Manhood of
America'forEurope'sWars
Ne,D York Tribune
W1shin0tOn BErenu

Ne,u York Tribune
Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, June Ex-senator
William E. Borah announced to-day he
would bolt the Republican party at the
next election if it did not take stand
against the league of nations.
Il would trample upon the platform
which indorsed this treacherous
scheme" said Senator Borah. "and I
would spit upon the platform which
was silent upon the subject"
=, IN a direct slap at the chairman of
the Republican National Committee,
VIII n. Hays, Senator Borah said he
was out of patience with those who
stan stand here in the midst of the greatest
nght IN history and cover themselves
under the statement that it is an Amer
lean question without saying whether
they are for America or Europe"
Senator Borah started his address
with an attack on George W. Wicker
sham, Oscar S. Straus and other signers
OF the petition to the New York Sena-
tors to vote for the league, printed to-
day. He read the petition and the
names of the signers into the record.
Hopeless, Says Hitchcock
Senator Hitchcock, the Administra-
ton leader, replied telling Senator
Borah that his cause was hopeless; that
there was no chance of his committing
the Republican party against the league
OF nations, because the majority of Re-
publican sentiment throughout the
country was for the league. To prove
this Senator Hitchcock read long list
OF Republican and independent news
n al b.o1
porting the league
"A great deal has been said in the
last few days with reference to max
ing this partisan issue" said Mr..
Borah. "Mr. Taft has called attention
to the proposition that all politics
should cease at the waters edge. I
agree perfectly.
"But this is not the settlement of
the treaty: This deals with matters
or domestic concern to the American
people. This deals with the question
OF our government. This reaches down
and gets hold Of the things which touch
the men and women throughout the
entire land, in their lives and their
homes
II do not ask my Republican broth
ers to accept my view on this question.
| am tolerant. But l ask them to take
stand. Mr.. Hays says this is an
American question. 1t is an American
question, 'but there are two sides to
the question. On which side does he
stand?
Upon one side it is said that the
future peace of the world hinges and
that we can afford to surrender our
sovereignty or a part of it, TO surrender
portion Of our independence, in order
TO get the benefits which they claim
Will come to witness the peace of the
world.
Wants Party to Take Stand
Every we'll, if the majority Of the
Republican party believe that is true.
'et them so write it in the bond and
take their stand
On the other hand, if it develops
that this is not the peace of the world
but that it is pawnng the brain and
the Drawn and the manhood of Amer
lea for all the future wars of Europe.
IT it develops that instead of standing
by The American system founded upon
ana CONCEIVED in liberty, we are to
accept the European system founded
upon force, let the Republican party
take stand against it,
Il have been a Republican all NV
llte. should like to remain a Repub-
lcan, but | would trampe upon the
platform which indorsed this treach
erous scheme, and l would spit upon
the platform which was silent upon the
subject.
".My country, as / see it in this
hour, is in peril. The Republican partv
was born to maintain the American
Union. If read the signs of the times
right, the same fight is on now.
The people have no way to express
themselves except through the political
organizations. If the Democratic party
is supporting the league of nations and
the Republican party takes no stand,
and there are three or four or five
million people in the United States
earnestly opposed to the league of ma
tions, who think it is surrender of
their rights as American citizens, how
are they going to express themselves?
They must do it through a political
organization.
Makes Threat of Third Party
II therefore hope to see my own
party voice that sentiment, but if it
does not there will be a means found
by which to voice it, The international
bankers may monopolze pretty nearly
every one else in the United States,
but they cannot monopolize the right
to form a political party, and the
Democratic party and the Republican
control of the international bankers
of New York, who are financing the
League to Enforce Peace and sending
out the hundreds and thousands of
speakers and flooding the land with
propaganda in favor Of this league Of
nations. There will be another party
which will still represent the American
sentiment.
"Mr. Hays cannot commit the Repub-
lican party to neutrality, to indecent
eXpediency, to absolut inaction. 1t be-
longs to the rank and file, and they
will determine what the course will be.
$50 far as l am concerned, 1t does
not make any difference to me what
the Republican party does. But I am
utterly out of patience with those who
stand here inthe midst Of the greatest
fight in history and cover themselves
under the statement that it is an