Bisbee daily review., 1919-02-25
REFERENDUM LIN COVENANT
 .|S PROPOSED
Senator Lewis Speaks in De fense of League of Nations,
 Replying to Criticisms of Borah; Is Given Applause
(By Review Leased wirel

WASHINGTON, Feb. 24.-The first address in the senate in defense of l-.e proposed constitution of the League of Nations was delivered today by Sena- tor Lewis of Illinois, democratic whip who took issues with the recent criti- cisms made by Senators Borah of Idaho, republican, and Reed of Mis- souri, democrat.
 Speaking for nearly two hours, Sen ator Lewis denied contentious of Op- pOnents of the league that it wouIu abrogate the Monroe doctrine, that it was departure from the principles of Washington and Jefferson, that it would dictate world armament and that American would be our voted by the United Kingdom. An immense audience listened intently to the speech and uproariously applauded when the Illinois senator concluded.
 Senator Lewis address is to be fol, lowed soon by many other discussions of the league. Senator Owen Of Okla hOma, democrat, and Cummings of Iowa, republican, will speak Wednes- day and the debate is expected to continue daily until congress ad- jOurns one week from tomorrow. sen ator Sherman of Illinois, republican, announced today that he would make an address Monday.
 Referendum Proposed
 In the house today Representative Lundeen of Minnesota, republican, in- Croduced a resolution proposing a ma Jional referendum on the league to ue called by the secretary or state within 90 days after it's formal submission to the senate. The proposal for an ex- pression of popular opinion on the league was referred to by Senato- Lewis in concluding his remarks:
 It will be before the American peo ple," the Illinois senator said. The people will pass on this document in the form of a treaty through their representatives But it also viii have the added advantage in that its -.s- tinguished champion will go to his countrymen with the truth And they will approve his understandin;l, as they have everything he has gone to them. Yes, the people will decide"
 Senator Reed spoke briefly when Senator Lewis concluded. He said that if the Illinois members argument was correct, tn league would not havl ] the power to limit American armament and that of allied countries.
 | If that is the case" he said, ''the ! chief argument for the league is with drawn and the chief reason for its ex istence does not appear to exist"
 Lewis Digresses
 Senator Lewis dfgre5sed greatly from his prepared address. He ana lyzed in detail the arguments of Sena, tors Borah and Reed and also declared that in May, 1916, Republican Leader Lodge had spoken in support of the l league plan Replying to the argument that the league would cOntravene the Monroe doctrine, Senator Lewis de clare1 that by the very plan of -. society the world would guarantee that doctrine. He also declared there was no ground for assertions thaf kings and emperors would control ,-C league for assuming that the Central and South American republics wOL be members on equality with British colonies, the American republics could out-vOte the European nations.
 Tt must be plain" said NIT. Lewis 1 that senators have read this docu ment in a way that greatly misle them"
 Senator Lewis said he could not con ceive or refuse to assume that .-.S principal Latin-American cOuntrie: would not have equal representation with Great Britain's colonies and as serted that senators had misconstrueC the Ieague charter by assuming tha the executive council instead of ,-., league itself would control its policieg
 The Illinois senator also deciarel nations could submit to the leagu only questions which they cOnsidere were matters for it's jurisdiction.