The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-02-24
Lewis
RAPS CRITICS
|pponentS of League of Ma
tions ACtuated by "Per-
sonaI Antagonism"
!, PRESIDENT Will SON
democratic Whip Replies. to
Borah and Reed-Hints
at Political Play.


&IWashington, Feb. 24.-(A. Po--
peaking in the senate today IN sup
brit of the proposed league of ma
bns. Senator Lewis; democratic
hip, declared the league would not
kntrayene the advice of Washington
1.-The Monroe doctrine. and broadly
imated that personal and political
tagonism to President Wilson lay
A1fnd opposition in congress.
Senator Lewis replied specifically
recent speeches by Senators Bo-
III, of Idaho, republican, and Reed,
n Missouri, democrat.
Nils address, which, because of at
t&cks on the league, was not with
lid in accordance with the presl-
d&nt's request that debate be post
p0ned, marked the resumption of SEN
afe discussion of the league, with
pfospects of daily speeches until ad-
iollrnment of congress a week from
t0mo,row.
ATTACKS upon the league, Senator
Lewis asserted, were based on false
fears and designed to awaken preJu-
dice. Demanding that opponents
present their plan for world peace,
he asked:
Country Not Deceived.
'Have you any? Is there only the
voice of veto from You all on what
ever plan-merely that it is proposed
Eby Wilson?
'The country is not deceived, II
Will understand--and when it does
Know that for party politics or per-
s0nal prejudices their representatives
would continue to consign the ma
Hons children to the misery of Grip
i1les-to the agony of sightless eyes
s-and order the destruction of their
Young lives forever, these Christian
mothers and patriot fathers will cry
down on the heads of them all the
curse of heaven.
IF Woodrow Wilson We're a Roman
ratahne charged by a Cicero with
1 conspiracy to surrender his land to
4he enemy OF hiSt cesRt-y, and Tat
h modern Aaron Burr, they could not
have been more violently impugned
than each has been by the leaders Of
fhe opposition to the league of ma
Hons" said Mr.. Lewis.
VI Nothing so proved the animositN
10 Wilson's success in any design as
The refusal to grant him his request,
cnhled as he sailed for America, to
npstpone discussions of the constitu-
Hon of the league until he could ar
riye and explain the circumstances OF
Its formation. The fact that there
would be months after Wilson returns
to Paris for the conclusion of his
work, in which discussion of every
nature could be had, was Of no in
Hence on those who preferred to eX-
hibit everywhere their defiance of
any request he might make.
No Grounds for Reasons.
R'rhe reasons urged as a justifica-
tion for the assault have, | declare,
no grounds in the contents of the
document.
s#''It is said the document violates
ou' policy against alliances with for
eifn governments as opposed by
Washington. | answer that the doc
tnent prevents what Washington op-
posed-partial alliances by America
With any foreign country. even were
her statesmen inclined.
''lt requires two thirds of all to
permit any war or peace action with
one. Would two thirds ever allow
such disadvantage to them in favor
of any one against them all?
"The constitution of the league pro-
hibits the possibility of a political al
}iance with any European power by
Balancing against the European. the
.Asiatic. Japanese and all of South
America.
Monroe Doctrine Stands.
"fhe army and the navy of the
United States are provided for" SEN
;ttor Lewis added, "in the charter by
words. as of a kind that she shall by
her situation and peculiar geography
re- oil llxr
trel."
OF the charge that the league would
Violate the Monroe doctrine Senator
Lewis said:
1T was TO prevent this very as
that section 10 of the char
ter pledges all of the governments in
the league to resist aggression by
amy one state or government of any
In reply to assertions by Senators
|Borah and Reed that the United
states would be outvoted. particu-
Iarly by England with her colonies
[ucluded, Senator Lewis said:
4 Such is not in the possibilities.
[fhere are eleven republics of Amer
|ta with eleven votes. Then, if all
Z5ritain's colonies each have
b vote, the United States with Cen
|fl and South America outvotes the
fa1ropeans on any American policy
to assuming only the larger re-
Pubiics are admitted to the council"
~ this connection, Senator Lewis
splored the suggestion there was
fanger of dishonorable consolidation
n the European nations"
sEvery action of the allies" he as
Fcrted, has proven the falsity of this