The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-05-12
EXPECT LIVELY
FIGHT IN CHICAGO
ON TREATY PLANK
Borah and His Wing AT
ter Absolute Condem-
nation
CARRY PROTEST
TO THE FLOOR
Boom for Beveridge
Dies Out and Borah is
Picked for Permanent
Chairman
BY JAMES II. NOURSE.

(Stan Correspondent Universal Ser
vice.
Washington. May 1.-THE pros
Eects of a lively fight in the Chicago
convention over the treaty plank in
the Republican platform have been
greatly increased by a statement to-
day from Senator Borah. leader OF
the irreconcilabie treaty opponents.
Senator Borah declared nothing
short of an absolute condemnation OF
the treaty and league of nations will
satisfy the wing OF the party TO
vi ich he belongs.
1t was intimated that unless the
convention takes a stand along these
lines there will be a revolt which
may split the party wide open.
, Senator Borah will lead the fight
against the treaty. He will make his
first appeal to the committee on plat
form tc whom he will apply for a
strong plank condemning the treaty
and league plan. If defeated in the
committee, the fight will be carried
, by Senator Borah TO the convention
/ itself, where an effort will be made
to commit the party irrevocahly
against the treaty in its entirety.
Reports which came from yester-
days session of the committee on con-
! ventian arrangements in Chica GO
greatly disturbed Senator Borah and
others who stood with him in oppo-
sition to the treaty. These reports
were to the effect that it had been
practically decided that the conven-
! ton, instead Of condemning the
league, would endorse the Republi-
! can majority for It's stand on the
Lodge reservations.
SAYS THEY ARE DEAD
Senator Borah declared himself
/ not satisfied with such an arrange
nsnt. In his opinion the treaty and
the league are dead and the country
believes them dead. To give them
/ endorsement in the party platform
with reservatio would have the
effect Of giving new life to them. in
( the senato tors opinion. He is unable
/ 10 see why the Republican party
should do this. in view Of the fact
that President Wilson intends to force
the Democratic convention to endorse
( the treaty.
! Senator Borah made this statement:
7 hardly think the party will &C
! on record in favor of ratifying j
treaty six months hence. which is al
ready under condemnation in Europe,
! and which will be more and more
condemned as its disastrous economic
/ effects are felt. I venture the opinion
| that the treaty will not follow the
course indicated by the press reports
! published today.
! "in all probability there will not
/ be nation in Europe standing by
/ this treaty by the time the next pres
/ ident is inaugurated The Repuhu-
! can party might take very serious
chances whether ii would furnish the
! next president If il entered upon such
a course, II the party managers
/ think that the peODIc who have been
enjoying the belief that the treaty
and league are things of the past. are
| going To receive this news with en-
thusiasm in my judgement they are
I greatly mistaken"
T It is practically settled that Sen
j ator Borah will be tho permanent
! chairman of the conreution.
This will enable him to make a
! speech in which he viii define his
stand upon the treaty question. More
! over his job as cha irman viii not pre-
/ vent him from yielding the gravel
| to some one else if he finds 1t nee
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