Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-08-23
INSISTS ON OPEN
ARMS SESSIONS
Senator Harrison Says Demand
Should Not Be Resented
by Other Nations
U. S. VITALITY INTERESTED
BY the Associated Press


Washington, Aug. 23.-Demand by
the United States for open sessions OF
the disarmament conference could not
be construed as an insult to the repre-
SentativCs of foreign nations, Senator
Harrison declared in the Senate today
in supporting his proposal that the
American delegates use every effort to
prevent secret deliberations.
The issue was brought to the front
by the Senator's amendment TO a bill
appropriating 5000. 600 for expenses Of
the conference directing the delegates
named by President Harding to work
for public sessions.
This amendment does not mean that
Congress is attempting TO bring to bear
any influence upon the conference ex-
cept through Its own representatives, -
Senator Harrison declared.
Referring TO the secrecy at Yer
saillcs, the Mississippi Senator said the
Far Eastern questions to be taken un
here in November related to Shnntung,
Zap, the open door In China and pos
sibly the JaparcCe alien land problem,
some of which. he added. have been dis
cuSsed openly in the Senate for years.
tie insisted the public should be in
formed from day to day of all discussion
ot navnl reduction by the United States
and other nations participating.
Hopes for Conference Success
Turning to Senator Lodge. the Re.
publican leader. named by President
Harding as a member of the Americar
delegation. Senator Harrison expressed
the hope that the conference would sue
coed.
but if we are to derive any bcncf,
from it, he added, "the world must
know who rendered a great service and
where blame shall attach in event of its
fnilure. / hope the distinguished Senn
tor from Massachusetts will not take
the position that the conference must
be closed"
senator Harrison charged that many
RepubIlCans We're demanding that the
people be kept in the dark on every
step toward reduction of naval arma .
ment."
president Harding has started Il
great movement and the delegation rep
reScnting the United States should not
throw him down. he continued. 1--WE
Will never know how they carried out
his program unless everything is done
III tnc open.
The Mississippi Senator attacked
PRESIDENT Harding for not inviting
Latin American countries to partici-
pate in the conference. The countries OF
South America. he added. were vitally
concerned in the result of tn confer
enCe.
Watson Opposes Public Sessions
Senator Watson. GcOrgiu. opposed
public session of the conference, con
tending that lin the very nature OF
things some negotiations must be con
Quoted in private" He added that
grand and petty juries meet in secret
and that the books of the Bible. the
writing of the Constitution and the Dec
laratiOn of Independence and the selec
ton of George Washington as COM
mander in chief were all done behint
closed doors.
As author of the amendment to the
Naval Appropriation Act directing the
calling of n disarmament conference
Senator Borah declared that since the
question had been brought up, failure oi
the Senate to record its view for pub
licity would be construed by the world
to mean that 1--WE are opposed to open
conferences.
Senator Lodge. in opposing the Har-
rison amendment, declared 1t wa:
"wholly out of place and futile bac
manners" and that he would not bt
guilty of this incivillty toward the
great nations invited here to participate
in the conference.
The Senate and House resumed today
their consideration of business under
high pressure in the expectation of de-
claring thirty days recess late to-
morrow. Both were in session last
night. the House until it had passed the
Administration Railroad Funding Bill:
and fhe Senate until IL 10, when It had
reached a point where 1t was ready tc
day on the Shipping Board deficiency
Bill. carrying S4S. 800, 900.
The House today was to take up the
conference report on the anti beer bill
with the expectation of leaders that i,
would be adopted. although there was
no Indication of what course the Sen
ate would subsequently take in the
matter in view of its previous insist
encc on the Stanley amendment. relat'
ing to search and seizure under the
Volstpad Act. When this report is dis
posed of the House is to take up the
conference on the Capper- -TinChcr Bill
regulating trading in grain futures.
The Senate debate last night was de-
voted in part to vigorous discussion
of President Hardtng's appearance be-
fore it last month to oppose passage
Mt that time Of the Soldiers Bonus Bill
The discussion was started by Senator
La Toilette. who charged the President
with executive interference with the
legislative branch of the Government
and was participated in by a dozcl
others. the President being both at
.o.l,oJ o,l 1nfep6pl for hig course