New-York tribune., 1919-05-16
New Republican Members of
Foreign Relations Com
n,ittee Give Body Majority
of 10 to Z Against Draft
Plan Many Amendments
McCumber, Strongest for
Pact, Pessimistic About
the Final Passage of 1t
NeW York Tribune
W0ofii,joto,, p,,,

Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, May IS. -. Rougf
Shedding for the league Of nations
covenant is indicated when that part
Of the peace treaty comes up for con.
sideraton in the Foreign Relations
Committee 1t became certainty to.
day that the new Republican members
Of that committee, of whom there will
be four, will be men who believe the
league covenant, as drafted at Paris
should at least be radically amended, if
not rewritten or thrown into the waste
basket.
All of the seven Dem ocratic members
OF the committee, except Senator
Thomas. Of Colorado, are presumed to
be behind the President on this ques-
ton, and Senator Thomas is balanced
by one proponert of the league on the
Republican side, Senator McCumber.
who is the stanches supporter the
league has on the majorit. side, on or
off the committee. SO that the lineup
on the league in committee may be
assumed to be ten agains and seven
for.
The real advantage Of the situation.
from the viewpoint OF opponents Of
tao league, is the parliamentary situa-
ticn when the treaty is reported by
THO committee for ratification. If a
hostile majority in the committee pro-
poses amendments to the league cove
Hant, there is no way Of escaping votes
Oh these amendments in the Senate.
These amendments also must be voted
on before any individual Senators can
offer their own amendments.
1t is believed that some Of these
amendments which the committee will
bring out will be for the purpose of
protecting Americas interests, and will
be so framed that many of the luke
warm Democratic Senators who arc
not iii their hearts enthusia site about
the league, anyhow, but have been
merely following their leader blndly.
will be afraid not to vote for them.
An interesting development of the
situation with regard to the selection
of men for the Foreign Relations Com
mittce who are known to be hostile to
the league was the selection of the
chairman of the Committee on Com
mittees. There were other reasons
which may have controlled the selec-
tioA of Senator Brandegee, of Con-
critics of the league, and the man
whose questions most embarrassed the
President as to the details of the plan
at the famous dinner given by the
President to the Foreign Relations
committees of the two houses. But
the fact that Mr.. Brandegee is chair
man of the committee that is doing
the picking has been noted with in
terest by Senator'S whose chief interest
at present is centred on the league.
The significance becomes greater
when it IS recalled that the original
slate is understood to have been that
The league'5 strongest supporter on the
Republican side, should have become
chairman of the Committee on Com
mittees. Mr.. McCumber was given a
very important assignment that of
chairman Of the Committee on the
Order Of Business, which is virtually
a steering committee. Indeed, it is
whispered that this tribute to the
North Dakotan, conferred, as he we'll
KNOWS, py men VINO are strongly OPP
posed to the league, will count heavily
with him when the committee is con-
siderng the league.
With ,lst one fight over the organi-
zation Of the Senate undecided
against Senator Warren for chairman
Of the Appropriations Committee-the
best judgment tonight was that Sena-
tor Wadsworth, of New York, would
be given the Craftsmanship of the Mill
tary Affairs Committee.
Mr.. Wadsworths friends have feared
that if Senator Warren was defeated
for chairman of the Appropriations
Committee, he would take the Military
Affairs, on which he is also ranking
member.
1t is understood, however, that Mr..
Warren will persist in his refusal to
take Military Affairs even if he is not
given Appropriations since he feels
that he would be too greatly cmbar-
rassed OF the Military Committee, by
the fact that he is the father-inlaw
of General Pcrshing.