South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-03-03
Indiana Senators
Are Listed Against
League of Nations
BY John Carson.

WASHINGTON. Mar. 2.-The ex-
pected reaction in the senate as re-
garding the proposal of Pres't VIII
son that a league Of nations shall
be created. has begun 10 assert it.
self on the republican side of the
chamber. The violent and bitter
republican opposition TO the league
which manifested itself in all the
early statements of repu bIicans has
begun 10 simmer down now into OBJ
! jections 10 the constitution as pro
posed for the league. The policy
is the familiar one of trimming sail.
4 The cause for the reaction is that
the word from home has begun TO
reach the senators. Not only the
ordinary voter is demanding that
the senators voice the vote Of the
people Of the states but the repub-
! lican leaders, recognizing that a
grave mistake was being made when
fthe league question was considered
as a partisan question. have begun
TO urge that the republican senators
take care.
1t is known that some Of the re-
publican leaders from Indiana have
been insisting that the republicans
/ begin TO consider the league upon
its merits and dement's and with
in the last few days little has been
heard from Sen. New, one of the
first TO issue a statement in opposi-
/ ton 10 the league program.
Wants People To Understand.
There now is a little possibility
that the league will be considered
from any angle that will permit
vote at this session. II had been
the intention of some of the friends
! Of the president 20 force a vote OF
approval of the league and of con
| heence i'm the president but the
/ president mas declared he desires no
such vote Immediately the repub-
leans seized upon this as evidence
of a fear upon the part OF the presi-
dent 10 submit the question at this
time but it is known that the presi-
/ dent desires that every viewpoint on
I the league be given TO the people
\ before any decision was made.
! But 1t is a fact that if a vote
J could be taken at this time. there
would he little hope OF the demo-
/ cratic side for any support from
Sens. New and Watson. In all pre-
( liminary polls made Of the senate.
both New and Watson were pOlled
as being against. New and Watson
must voice the approval or disap-
prevail Of the people of Indiana as
TO the league and there is consider
able belief here that if a referen-
dunn was taken in Indiana tomorrow,
the president would gam the ma
jOrity of the votes and opponents
Of the league would he defeated. II
! is very possible that the senators
have not heard sufficiently from the
state and that if advised they would
change their viewpoint.
Sen. Lewis insists that if vote
could be taken now, there would
be a clear majority for the presi-
dent He counts on losing six dem
Ocratic votes and obtaining six re-
publican votes but there is a disag-
greement with him as TO the stand
taken by Sens. Lafolette, Cummings.
Norris. Kenyon, Kellogg and Nc
Cumber, the six republicans upon
whom he has counted. The demo-
cratic side with the exception Of
Sens Reed, Nardaman and Hard
wick, personal opponents of the
president, and Thomas and Myers.
who have announced their oppose
ton TO the league. is a unit in sup
port of the president
The chief thought i'm this connec-
ton is that the people of Indiana
can keep watch upon the efforts
of their senators here and by keep
ing them informed as to the senti-
'ment i'm the state. can force them
to vote the majority wish Of the
state.