Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-02-22
BORAH-LODGE CLASH

Washington. Feb. 21-By agree
ment among Senate leaders, the. adj
ministration shipping bill was tenn
porarily laid aside tonight in the
Senate to allow consideration of con-
ference reports on the army and Dis
trict Of Columbia appropriation bills.
Adoption o fthese reports was fol-
lowed by motion to take up again
the shipping bill and this was left
pending when a recess was taken at
. o'clock until tomorrow.
Senator Borah's assertion that the
Soviet government was now main
tanning order throughout it's jurisdic-
ton and was affording adequate pro-
lection to foreigners was controvert-
ed by Senator Lodge, Republican,
Massachusetts, who gained the floor
! as soon as the Idaho senator had
concluded.
Il do not agree with the senatorrS
views as to present conditions in.
Russia" Mr.. Lodge said. 1T is a tru-.
ism that the United States cannot.
| examine into the internal affairs Of
another government which seeks
| recognition, but at the same time, it
must also be conceded that 1t is the
| exclusive right of the recognizing
power to decide when such recogni-
ton should be given.
The present Russian Congress is
not freely elected assembly, Mr.,
Lodge declared. referring to Mr..
| Eorah's assertion that their present
government is entirely acceptable to
the Russian people," The Republic
can leader pointed out that by con-
fession of Soviet leaders. themselves.
less than % per cent. of the deputies
returned in the last general ELECTION
were of the Soviet party.
That party, Mr. Lodge said, claim
cd membership of 100000 in pop
ulation of at least 120,000.000. He
, quoted a British resident of Moscow
! as reporting the Soviet army at L.
| 100000 men, the great majority being
hired foreign mercenaries
when / was last in Russia" Mr..
Lodge continued, "the Czarst gov
eminent was in full sway and was
being accorded precisely the sans
character of support now given this
Soviet I be"eve evolution and inn
provement in Russia must eventually
come from the pcasantry."
Senator Williams. Democrat. Mis-
sissppi. followed the Republican
! leader and devoted more than ons
hour to a witty analysis Of tbs
speeches which had occupied tbs
| days session. He referred to tbs
island hunger" Of Senator Reed as
simplifying the internal greed of
| the white man."
It's hypocrisy to talk OF tbs
| white mans burden" Mr.. Williams
| said. at is the other fellows bur-
| den and the white man is the bur.
den"
He also commented on the speech
es of Senators Borah and Lodge with
| reference to Russia. asserting that
he had taken the floor principally
ito express utter lack of confidence
! in the conclusions they reached"
Il find it hard to believe in the
! repentance or reformation of the
Soviet" the Mississippi senator de-
clared.
| Mr.. Williams was applauded fire.
quently by the galleries which hnauy
were warned by the chair. ~
Senator Lenroot. Republican. WIS
consin, who gained the floor to. an
swer q critic. SIN by Secretary Mel
lon. of the Lenroot- Anderson farm
credits bill. declared he would not
vote for the shipping bill. unless IT
was amended to prevent payment
of government aid to floating pal
aces, designed to carry passengers
/ exclusively" Senator Jones called
his attention to an amendment al
ready adopted which would base pay
ments on a spccd of 10 knots.
! But that does not exclude stpe
passenger craft" said Mr.. Lenroot.