The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-05-30

n iSt.
Lodge and the World Court.
What action will the senate commit
tee on foreign relations take on Pres
ident Harding's proposal for American
membership in the International Court
of Justice?
The answer to this question perhaps
is more vital to the subject matter of
the Presidents proposal than Is the
result of the Presidents appeals as
they make themselves manifest In the
attitude Of the people of the country.
Every politician and every student of
the world court matter is looking
ahead TO next December, and in the
meantime is trying to learn something
in advance of the possible action of
the senate committee which will have
in charge the work of making q report
on the plan to the greater body of the
senate.
Senator Henry Cabot Lodge of
Massachusetts, the chairman Of the
foreign relations committee, already
has issued q statement on the cour
plan generally. The senator did not
commit himself definitely one way or
the other, but he said enough to make
it known that If he continues to feel
as he feels today he Is likely to favor
some changes in the Presidents pro-
posal when the matter goes before his
committee for consideration.
Senate Committee VIII Be Changed.
The foreign relations committee will
not be the same body next winter that
1t is today. The committee still exists,
because senate committees nave con-
tinuous life just as the senate has, but
several of its members dropped out Of
congress as a result of the last cleo
ton and their places must be filled as
soon as the new congress convenes in
December.
The administration, because of it's
advocacy of membership in the world
court, of course desires that senators
favorable to its plan shall be given
, places on the committee which Is to
give the plan consideration and to
make report thereon. The administra-
ton, however, cannot appoint senate
committees, and neither is 1t supposed
to exercise any influence in the ap-
pointment matter. Senators are ex-
tremely jealous of their pr~erogatives.
The new Republican and Democratic
members on the foreign relations COM
mittee will be appointed by the SEN
ate. the Republican majority picking
It's men and the Democratic minority
| niaEinn itc mon for tho uaoanf nIooaG
These three Republican senators on
the committee were defeated for re-
election at the polls last November:
McCumber of North Dakota, New of
Indiana and Kellogg Of Minnesota.
Two Democratic members of the ON
mittee, Pomerene of Ohio and Hitch
cock of Nebraska, were defeated for
reelection, while Senator Williams of
Mississippi, also a committee member.
declined to be a candidate to succeed
himself.
Compromise Is Expected.
So it will be seen that there are
six vacancies in the committee. Every
one of the Republicans remaining in
the committee is bitterly or almost
bitterly opposed TO the League of
Nations. From what one learns from
Senator Lodges recent statement on
the court matter, and from what
one or two other of the SEN
ators have impaired quietly to the
party managers, it is evident that
there is a likelihood that most of the
Republicans on the committee will &c.
cept the Presidents court plan but
will urge some reservations or
changes.
Concerning the Democrats on the
committee, it seems likely that most
of them will be favorable to the court
proposal, but a committee which Is
dominated by the Republicans would
much prefer that the body make a
report backed by Republican votes
rather than by a bare majority made
up of committee members of both
/ parties. Therefore it seems likely that
the Republican majority will attempt
to reach some finding which can re-
ceive the votes of all its members.
No one knows yet definitely what
Republicans will be appointed TO fill
the three committee vacancies, nor
for that matter is 1t known what Dem
ocrats will be appointed TO fill the
Democratic vacancies. 1t can be said
definitely that the hopes of The friends
of the administrations court plan are
that opponents of the proposal not be
chosen for committee membership.
If the country shall show al I'M
mistakable approval of the administra-
tons court plan the senate committee
will give its approval, for it probably
would not care nor dare to oppose the
nations will in the matter.
Lie Shnn AIMaNs Omen