The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-09-04
PREPARATION FOR
 DIPLOMATS GOES
 ON AT TIE CAPITAL
Many RumbIings Are Heard, While Underwood May Not Serve If Appointed By the President as
 Member
nv HUGH w. ROBERTS Washington Bureau The Age-Herald
 800 DuyidsOu BuiIdinc

Washington, September 3.-(Spe- cial.)--The capital is making fever ish preparations for the coming of the European and Asiatic diplomats who will collaborate in the American effort to disarm the world.
 President Harding is cooperating with municipal authorities in clean ing up" the city, and with d special housing" committee charged with the duty of securing living quarters for the prospective visitors. 1t has already been arranged, too, that the prohibition enforcement officers shall call off their dogs to the end that distinguished visitors might not be embarrassed through American GUS toms
 The newspaper correspondents have been assigned the duty of caring for the visiting members of the press. Club quarters and houses are being renovated, and available typewriters equipped with new ribbons.
 The Volcanic RumbIings
 Under the surface, however, every thing is not as propitious. There are rumblings of volcanic variety. There is openly expressed criticism of the appointment of Senator Lodge as a member of the American commission. Senator Lodge is not regarded as d disciple of peace, but of militarism. Senator Borah, as author of the amendment under which the confer ence will be held as a sincere advocate of actual disarmament, and as an opponent of secret diplomacy, should have been named, it is said. Especially, inasmuch as there has long been subrosa enmfty between the Massachusetts senator and the Secretary of State,
 Senator Lodge was appointed, it is known. of course, because of the necessity of the Senate ratifying whatever is recommended or achieved For the same reason the President will, in all probability, ap- point a democrat, preferably Senator Underwood of Alabama, member of the commission. With Lodge and Underwood agreed on what is done there is no question but that the Sen ate would ratify.
 An Underwood Report
 On the other hand, should the dem ocrats join with Borah and Johnson
  ready publicly expressing his con- tempt of the secret proceedings) the net result of the conference might fare as badly as the Versailles treaty. It is necessary, therefore, tl,at the President name either an outstanding democrat or Senator Borah. In the event the membership of the several commi ssions is not limited Senator Borah might be fn- v;ted to serve along with Senator Underwood.
 Regarding the Alabama senator, there is an interesting report that lis colleagues have advised him to lecline the invitation should the Pre- ident extend 1t. These colleagues fee that by serving Senator Under VIC l would enhance his prestige, but ,fi md the Woodrow Wilson school of democracy, which feels that Harding should fare as sadly as his immedi- ate predecessor. If Underwood serves his service will be construc tive. This collaboration, his col leagues fear, would destroy his chance of securing the presidential nomination in the future.
 Borah md Johnson
 There is distinct satisfaction in Washington over the Presidents re- fusal to name as members or the commission representatives of classes. He has given positive assur- ance that he will not name woman because she is woman, or mem Der of a labor union because of his trademark
 There is a division as to whether or not the conference should be held in the open. Senators Borah and Johnson are already predicting that the conference will result in failure if it is held behind closed doors. Daily