Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 53, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 March 1919 — PLAN DEFEAT OF LEAGUE [ARTICLE]

PLAN DEFEAT OF LEAGUE

LODGE SECURES ENOUGH SIGNATURES TO DEFEAT PRESENT FORM OF LEAGUE. Washington, March 4.—Senator LaFollette, of Wisconsin, Republican, in an address begun shortly after 2 a. m., urged an immediate extra session of congress, and vigorously criticized President Wilson for failing to consult with the senate in conducting the peace negotiations. “A plain violation of the constitution,’ Mr. LSFofc' lette asserted. Washington, March 3.—Names of thirty-seven Republican members of the new senate, a number sufficient to block ratification of a treaty, were read in the senate tonight by Senator Lodge, of Massachusetts, who said they had approved a resolution satting forth that “the constitution of the league of nations in the fsrm now proposed to the peace conference should not be accepted by the United States.” The list was inserted in the record by the Republtcaii leader after Democratic leader Martin and Senator Swanson, of Virginia, had raised simultaneous objection to consideration of the resolution which he had introduced after long conferences with Republican senators and senatorselect who were not an Washington. While opposing the constitution as now drafted, the rsolution set forth that it was the desire of the senate that the nations of the world should unite to promote peace and a general disarmament. It also said it was the sense o £, the senate that “the negotiations on the part of the United States should immediately be directed to the utmost expedition of the urgent businness of negotiating peace terms with Germany,” and that then the league proposal should be taken up for careful and serious consideration.

Lodge’s Resolution. ■“Whereas, under the constitution it is a function of the senate to advise and consent to, or dissent from the ratification of any treaty of the United States, and no such treaty can become operative without the consent of the senate expressed by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the senators present, and, “Whereas, owing to the victory of the arms of the United State* and of the nations with whom it is associated, a peace conference was convened and is now in session at Paris for the purpose of settling the terms of peace, and, . “Whereas, a committee of the conference has proposed a constitution for a league of nations §nd the proposal is now before the peace conference for its consideration, “Now, therefore, be it resolved by the senate of the United States in the discharge of its constitutional duty of advice in regard to treaties that it is the sense of the senate that while it is their desire that the nations of the world should unite to promote peace and general disarmament, the constitution of the league of nations in the form now proposed to the peace conference should not be accepted by the United States. “And be it resolved further, that it is the sense of the senate that the negotiations on the part of tbe United States should immediately be directed to the utmost expedition of the urgent business of negotiating peace terms with Germany; to the United States and the nations with whom the United States is associated m the war against the German government, and to the proposal for a league of nations to insure the permanent peace of the world should be then taken up for careful and serious consideration.”