Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1919-02-20
PoindeXter in Senate
and Fess in House
Begin Attack.
OUR RIGHTS GIVEN UP
Sovereignty Surrendered
to Europe View of
Many Speakers.
INCLUDE MONROE DOCTRINE
Borah Asks Taft to Sup
port Clause For Main
tenance in Pact.
INCLUDE MONROE DOCTRINE

WASN'T 1NGTON. Feb. l9.-Vig.
orous criticism OF the proposed con
stltution OF tho league OF nations was
voiced in both houses OF congress to-
day
Speaking for three hours before
crowded galleries. Senator Poindcx
/ ter OF Washington, republican, pre-,
/ cipitated "A discussion In the senate
which embraced other suhjeciR and
consumed practically the entire ses-
sion There was no formal reply 10
tho Washington senator from the
democratic side.
Discussion In the house was uncx-
pected Representative Fess of ohio.
| chairman OF the republican congres-
sional campaign committee. dellv-
| cred "A carefully prepared address In
which he took up the constitution,
section by section, and denounced
the whole az nbridging the SOW
ereignty OF the United States and
containing vicious possibilities.
The addresses by Senator POindex-
ter and Represe ntativc 'l'css were
the first prepared ones made In con-
gress since the constitution of the
league was published. and since Pres
ident Wilson requested that discus
sion be postponed until he could con-
fer with members OF the senate and
house foreign affairs committees at
the white house next week
Comment " Made.
During Senator poindexter's ad.
dress, Senator Hitchcock nf Nebras-
ka, Republican Leader Lodge and
Senators Knox Of Pennsylvania and
Brandcgee OF Connecticut. all mem
bers Of the foreign relations COM
mittce, briefly interjected comment
on questions involved In the league.
Senator Reed OF Missouri. democrat.
spoke IN criticism Of the proposal
and also vigorously denounced delay
In demohllizing American troops
Senator Shafroth Of Colorado, dem
ocrat. in defending the war depart
ment after Mr.. Reeds attack, spoke
briefly In support OF the league char
ter. declaring II would stop nine
tenths~of fuslrc wars
Wants Doctrine Excluded.
Senator Borah OF Idaho. repub-
lican member Of the foreign rela-
tions committee. who Yesterday an
nounced his refusal to attend the
white house conference, today made
public a letter he had written former
President Taft. leading supporter
of the league plan. asking Mr Tatt
whether he would support an amend
ment to the tentative constitution
TO provide specifically for maintcn-
ance OF the Monroe doctrine.
Senator Borah is ready TO SPEAK
but may defer his address until Fri
day Senator Cummins OF Iowa, re-
publican, also is preparing an al
dress for delivery this week ana
senator Reed gave formal notice TO-
DAY that he would discuss the league
on Saturday. Senator Hitchcock also
is planning an early reply TO the
critics OF the league,
Conflicts with Constitution.
Senator poindexter, In his address
today. declared that the league
charter confllcted with the constitu-
tion OF the United states and meant
not only surrender Of American
sovereignty to European nations. nut
also abandonment OF the monroe
doctrine. He also declared the league
plan involved colossal burden OF
ontangling alliance ana would
breed instead OF preventing wars.
lnterrupting the washington
member, Senator Reed suggested
that the leagues executive council
would be composed OF eight non
American members-possibly EN-
emics-.and that It's mandatory
clause would require The United
States to furnish troops IN suppress
ing nationAlistic uprisings IN can
ada. Ireland. Australia and other
countries.
In his flrs, public comment on the
league charter Senator Lodge de-
clared he was convinced the pro-
visions FOR mandntories would ue
compulsory upon sIgnhtory nations.
Cites Canadian CaHc.
DisputinK Senator Poindexters
statement that this was the first
time any attempt had been made TO
restrict congressional power. Sen
ator Hitchcock cited the Canadian
boundart treaty. with It's prohibition
against naval forces in boundary
waters. as precedent OF direct re-
strictlon" upon congressional powers
over armament Senator Knox de
clared the precedent applied only TO
boundary matters. while Senator
Brandegec said the treaty validtlng
the league could not be set aside
as could be done in the case OF other
treaties,
After Senator PoindeNtcr had con
Cluded Senator Reed deplOred delay
IN conclusion OF p"ate treaty,
which would make possible the early
return of American overseas forces
and declared that much EaluAbie
time had been "fritterel away at
Paris in discussion or a league OF
nations