The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-03-06
Senate ST. to Fire First
Shot Tonight in Attack
on League Of Nations
Constitution.
BoRAH's NEW YORK TALK.
Nation-Wids Speaking Tour In At.
tempt to, Turn Public Opinion
Against Wilson's
Ideas.
[By L.. @. Martin, United Press Staff
CORRESPONDENT

[By l.. @. Martin, United Press Staff
Correspondent
WASHINGTON, March 6-The ma
tion-wide campaign Of the senate 81"
against the league of nations consti-
tuition, begins tonight in New York.
Senator Borah, 1eaLer of the opposi-
tion, will speak before the Socssty Of
Arts and Sciences there. On Saturday
he will speak In Boston. Borah's
speeches are the first Of series to be
made In practically every state. in
opposition to the provisions of the
league constitution as drafted at Par
is. Every serator who sotns in the
campaign with the possible exception
Of Borah plans to make 1t plain to
his audiences that 1t Is not a league
Of nations he is opposed to, but as
the league Is outlined in tentative
constitution
Borah is opposed to any league on
the ground that 1t Is Americas bus1-
ness to stay out of permanent. al
liances with foreign nations. Other
senators who signed the round rob-
in" presnted to the senate by Senator
Lodge, favor q world organization up
on some basis which will make i'm
possible European interference with
the Monroe doctrine, American
commercial interests and American
sovereignty. Most OF them think
such league can be formed
They are willing to accept the present
constitution as the basis for it's or.
ganization What they insist on is
modification OF that constitution to
meet objections, they point out
They will emphasize to the country
in the next few weeks this one point
many of them said today:
"President Wilson is trying to force
on the United States his league OF
nations. We favor a peace league, but
it Is our right to point out and your
duty to study, the dangers that lurk
in the proposal as submitted"
There is no disposition to attack
President Wilson except by pointing
out that he, while inviting discussion.
stated lust before going back to
France that the constitution did not
need amendment.
The whole campaign is to be based,
republicans say, on the point above
outlined with these additional ones:
That sponsors of the proposed
league have no more authority for
declaring the league will not interfere
with the Monroe doctrine and Ameri-
can rights than its opponents fave for
asserting 1t will interfere.
That President Wilson said there
was a reason for every provision. but
in his two speeches in this country
and his talk with congressman did not
reveal one of the reasons.
That the proposed league will fail
because it tries to do more than the
world is ready for now.
That Europe is counting on America
bearing the burden financially, mill
tary and economic Of making the
league a success.
In addition to Borah, Senators Reed
7 odge. Knox, Cummins, Poindexter
Sherman. and Kenyon have partially
mapped out speaking tours. Reed, a
democrat, is not among the thirty
seven nor Is Kenyon, a republican
Others of the thirty have re
ceived invitations to speak and will
take some part in the country wide
debate.