The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-09-27
In Leaving, Johnson
Hurls Defiance at
Democratic Seniors

Washington, Sept. z6.--Afthough
the Johnson am endment to the league
of nations has suffered an Indefinite
postponement. it was the subject of a
stirring debate in the senate today
Senator Johnson, busy with his
plans to get away to the Pacific coast
had not intended to make any
speech today on the amendment. BUT
when he learned that it was being at
tackled by Democratic senator's he
fastened to the senate and delivered
speech defending it
Senator johnson departed FOR San
Francisco on the 8 O'Clock train. &C
companied by Mrs. Johnson His
farewell to the senate was chaI-
lenge TO take UP the amendment as
soon as he returns and answer his
arguments for it's adoption. He no
titled fhe administration senator's that
he VIII give them every opportunity
| they may desire to debate the uves-
ton with him.
Senator Johnsnn's mai today con
tanned checks and drafts and cur
rency from persons unknown to him
who urged him TO uso the money on
his trip. The drafts were of various
amounts, one being a check for So so
from man I'm an obscure town IN
Tennessee. Another letter was from
soldier at Camp Grant, Illinois to
which was attached a $40 bill, which
he begged the senator to use I'm
spreading the anti~league gospel
Another interesting DEVELOPMENT OF
| today was speech by Senator Cum
! minis, of Iowa. in which he announced
that he would support the johnson
amendment, t1t would OPPOSE The
Shantung amendment Senator Cum
Minis has been at various times
ciassed with the so-calIed mild re-
sAvyationiSts." bat IN his speech to-
day he left no doubt that he holds to a
strong position with respect to the
treaty and that the reservations. par
ticnlarfy thai on Article X. must be
strong and effective, or he WIN vote
against the treaty.
The debate on the johnson amend
( ment was started by statement by
Senator John Sharp Williams OF Afi4-
! stssfppi, in reference to Senator John
son's trip to the Pacific coast Sena,~
tor Williams read into the record a
memorial signed by twenty five
prominent Californsans urging Sena-
Tor Johnson 10 support the league
Twelve OF the signers, Senator vii
/ liams said. were members of Senator
/ Johnson's presidential campaign com
n1tttee, Commenting upon the m a
I mortal, the MissiEsippian said he SIR
! m fsed that the senator's trip TO the
/ coast was for the purpose "of mend
I ing his political fences and for max
I ifre gsrure hts title To mansions N
+ the political skies"
Senator johnson replied that If thc
senate were to do its whole duty IL
would take a recess and permit every
member to go to his own people and
( tell them what the treaty means
Senator Williams spoke at consider
able length in reply to Senator John
sons argument He explained that
white the British empire has GIG
voices in the assembly it has only
one vote
| Tho letter whicl, President Wilson
Clemenceau and Lloyd George signed
I assuring Canada that each Of the
! British self governing don1inions
would he eligible to a seat in the
[ council was interpreted by Senator
Williams to mean that Canadian OF
an Australian might be eligible r.
election, but that there could not be a
I representative of Great Britain and
Canada or Australia at tina same time.
! In closing the debate Senator John
son said the reason America should
I have as many votes as any other ma
| ton was that it is the preponderatine
nation In the league.