The Washington herald., 1919-03-06
SENATORS DENY
WILSON'S CLAIM
OF PLAN BACKING
Opponents Of League Scof
at Assertion Nation Is
for League.
MAY BE AMENDED
Senator Knox Is Asked by
Hitchcock to Submit
Changes He Favors.

Senators who are opposing the
league of nations were disposed yes
terday to scofT at the Presidents
assertions that the sentiment Of the
American people is overwhelmingly"
behind him in his effort to put
through the organization Of the
lea que.
Senator Lodge Republican leader.
declared that letters received by him
arc in the proportion Of nine against
the league to one for it Senator
Gronna. Of North Dakota, said his
maH is overwhelmingly" against the
league.
senator Poindexter. OF Washington,
declared that il the President car
ries out his announced intention OF
telling the people on the other side
of the water that an Overwhelming
majority Of the American people is
in favor Of the league Of nations" he
VIII mislead Europe.
TOwnspeopIe for League.
Senator Gore, Of Oklahoma, said the
farmers of his State are against the
leazic. while many OF the residents OF
tho towns seem to be for it
senator sherman. of Illinois, char
actC rized the New York speech Of the
Presidents as an 'impassioned inVo-
cation mingled with invective." How
ne President figures out that he can
=et the league ratified. the Senator
added. in view of the fact that fifty
Senators are pledged against it lis
more than can understand, although
il must be remembered that the Presi-
dent never was a professor of mathe-
ulatics''
About the only thing the New York
speech accomplished" Senator Sher-
man continued. was to crowd Will
lam Howard Taft of the first page.
The first thing we know these two
Dromios will be getting jealous OF each
other"
Senator Gore. in his statement, said:
What appeals to the farmers is that
perhaps 1t would be to the interest OF
the United States to have this league.
You know there have been eighty wars
in the last 100 years. The President
says the league would not abolish war,
but would reduce II. Now IL the num-
ber were cut to forty the gain of the
world would be very great.
situation Different in U. :.
From the viewpoint of the
United States. a different situation
presents itself. We have been in
vOlyed in only two OF these Eu-
ropean wars. but under the league
plan. assuming the reduction in the
number of wars I have indicated
the United States would be involved
IN forty. 1t would be a calamity il
We gained nothing from the war.
but ! should hate to see US lose the
gem at our feet in reaching for the
stars. I think solution Of the war
problems will be gradual evolution.
which cannot be attained by one
leap landing US in the middle of the
millennium.
Senator Poindexter said: so far
as the constitution already publish
cd Is concerned. it can never be rati-
fed in this country. There seems
to be widespread Misrepresentation
that the President can make trea-
ties Any arrangement made by the
President is a mere tentative pro-
posal or suggestion and has no life
or validity until it is consented to
by the Senate. Furthermore. an
overwhelming majority of the
American people never will consent
to transfer OF their liberties to a
central world government. as Mr..
Wilson proposes. Many Of them
have signed petitions for leagues OF
peace, merely because they are in
favor Of peace. without having seen
the Presidents proposed constitu-
ton Public sentiment is beginning
to pay attention. and will destroy
any party or public man who under
takes to betray them by a surrender
Of cur national independence.
The whole sinister aspect of the
matter is contained in Mr. Wilson'S
express statement: Now We are
ready to make the supreme sacrifice
OF throwing in our fortunes with the
fortunes Of men everywhere. Here
tofore it would have been thought
inconceiyable that an American
President should utter such
thought The American people will
make no such supreme sacrifice"
Knox Asked for Amendments.
Senator Knox. OF Pennsylvania, was
asked yesterday to draft amendments
to suit the wishes Of the thirty-nIne
Republican Senators who have signed
the formal protest against the league.
The request came from Senator Hitch
cock, chairman Of the Foreign Rela-
tions Committee, and principal spokes-
man in the Senate for the league.
Senator Hitchcock's purpose in max