The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-06-17
WU SON TO STUMP COUNTR Y FOR THE
 NAHON'S~LEAGUE
Itinerary for Nationwide
 Speaking Trip Already
 Prepared, and President Will Begin Tour Immedi- ately Upon Reaching Home
sv A..oe,s,sa Press

ident Wilson, facing a divided senate, has decided to carry his fight for ratification of the league of nations covenant dl- rectly to the people in a coun- try-wide speaking tour. He expects to begin the trip as soon as he returns from Paris.
 The Presidents decision was re- vealed here today co-incident with re- ceipt of a message in which he de- clined to give the Senate. in advance of signing. the official text of the peace treaty, requested in resolution adopted over vigorous opposition or the league supporters.
 Neither development caused great surprise here but each served to em- phasize the Presidents position ard to provide further subject matter for the debate which begins tomorrow on Senator Knox's resolution to put the Senate on record against accepting the league covenant along with the peace treaty.
 tentative itinerary for the speak ing trip has been completed by Sec retary Tumulty, but it will not be made public until MT. Wilson finally has approved it. It is expected, how ever, that the tour will carry him into the far west and will occupy many days. It was said he probably would devote most attention to western states, where league opposition has rained the greatest headWay.
 EXPECTED JULY 1
 The date the trip is to begin still hinges on developments at Versailles, but as nearly as officials here can pre- dict Mir Wilson will reach Washing ton about July 1, will lay the treaty formally before the Senate and then, possibly on Independence day, will begin a swing around the circle that will eclipse in extent and in spirit all his previous direct appeals to the pep pie. while he is making the tour the Senate might be forced into recess and sen ators opposing ratification sent to the country to answer him, but it was said at the capitol there was little likeli- hood of such course. It Is regarded as certain, however, that opposition speakers will follow the Presidents
  stage
 Opposition senators generally. how ever, declined today from making any comment on the executives plan of campaign The message declining to send the treaty text was received in silence when it was read to the Sem ate, but Senator Johnson, republican, of California. who introduced the resc- lution making the request, is expected to make the Presidents action the subject of Senate speech within ths next few days.
 TREATY NOT COMPLETE
 Notification of the Presidents deci- eion to withhold the treaty text was sent through the State Department, to which the Senates request was ad- dressed. In letter to the Senate, Frank L. Polk, acting secretary of state, said he had been instructed .ty the President to say that he (the. President) feels that it would not be In the public interest to communicate officially to the Senate text which is provisional and not definite"
 The letter also pointed out that many points of great moment are under consideration" and added that ''the text will of course, not be com plete until it is finally ready for sig nature"
 Senators remarked that no mention was made of the reported agreement among the Versailles delegates that the treaty would be withheld from publication.
 ators on both sides of the treaty con- troversy. the letter was received only as formal closing of that chapter of the fight which reached it's climax week ago when Senator Borah, repub- 1ican. of Idaho. put into the record a copy of the treaty brought to this country by a newspaper correspond ent.
 The new chapter of the fight to be written around the resolution occupied leaders most of the day. while the senate was working on appropr;a- tions
 There were many conferences and several senators were absent prepar- ing addresses.
 KNOX IS UNCERTAIN
 Senator Knox was uncertain tonight whether he would attempt to bring the resolution technically before the sen ate tomorrow, but he expects to speak at length in it's favor. regardless of the parliamentary situation.
 The opposition will be opened by Senator McCumber. republican. of North Dakota, and in the debate that will follow scores of members expect to participate.
 The discussion seems certain to last for many days
 Beyond a determination to fight the resolution at every ster the plans of league supporters are being left large ly to be formed by developments. They disclaim any intention to carry their opposition to the point of filibuster but it is considered entirely probable that there will be no roll call until after the treaty is cjpned
 Issues of the league controversy figured in debate only once during .o- ssgo ssmeerss isspsi ssnss9r w,'5sHs n,sds speech q, d. aenoI .s publican senators