The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1919-03-28
Washington Letter.
AMERICANISM ABOVE POLITICS

Washington, March 25-(Special
nce)-Nothing that the
President is reported to be in favor of
a non-partisan discussion of the
league of nations Senators Poindexter
and Borah, Republicans, Senator Reed,
Democrat, and Mr.. George Wharton
Pepper, lawyer of Philadelphia, have
drawn preliminary plans for the for
nation of national non-partisan or
ganization to oppose the acceptance
of the constitution of the league of
nations as now written. To further
emphasize the non-political character
of the new association, Henry Waiter
son, former publisher of the Louis
vile Courier Journal, and a leading
Democrat, has been chosen president.
1t is said that many Senators who
have voiced their opposition to the
league will join with the organizers of
the anti-league forces in opposing its
adoption.
1t is announced that a statement
soon will be issued outlining the pur-
poses of the organization, one of
which will be the coordination of the
local bodies throughout the country
that have formed to combat the lea
que. Speakers bureaus prabably will
be established, and an intensive cam
paign of publicity conducted, design
! ed to offset the enormous amount OF
pro-league propaganda that is being
circulated among the people. Although
| it is understood there is no agreement
on the subject, the suggestion has been
made to send representatives to Paris
during the progress of the peace nego-
tiations. Headquarters Of the organi-
zation probably will be established
in New York, and voluntary contribu-
tions will be relied upon to support its
activities.
While the Republicans have taker
the lead in opposition to the Presi
dents proposed league, they welcom'
to their ranks in this crisis all men O.
every party who put their American
sim above political considerations. AL
ready Democrats throughout the coun
try, like many of the leaders of tina
party in the Senate, have refused t.
follow the President into the interna
tional chaos where he proposes to lea
us, and have boldly joined with the Re
publicans in steadfastly refusing t
desert the principles that hav
, brought this nation to the command
ing position she now holds among tn
} countries of the world.
{ Men like Senator Reed of Missouri
Col. Harvey of Harvey's Weekly, CO
Watterson, and other leaders WI
t have contributed to the polite;
n strength of the Democratic part
= have not hesitated to subscribe to tf
e doctrine of "America first" and al
0 now bending their every energy to d.
: feat the sinister schemes of their ers
= while party leader. They, with tt
d Republicans, believe that all that
: necessary to preserve our institution
f from the taint of internationalism
to call the attention of the people
h the provisions of the leagues const
n tuition and the inevitable destructi'
t. effect it's adoption will have upon o,
n form of government To that end Il
e new publicity organization has be-
II formed, with the certain knowledi
e that as soon as the people are ava
IS Of it's purposes they will eagerly a
le peal to it for authoritative and no
If partisan information regarding t
4 most momentous question with whi
+bov avar have heen confronted
According to reports, japan will
into the league of nations if its teri
= permit japanese emigration to all t
'e other nations of the earth. We m
o as we'll have the question settled M
q as later.