No Party Issue, Say Senators Of the League Johnson. Borah and Others Oppose Being Bound by Conference Proposed by Lodge; Take Own Stand Progressives in Revolt Westerners Insist Matter .Is Too Important To Be Decided by One Side Nexo York Tribune Washington Bureau WASHINGTON', May 1.?A group of Republican Senators, led by Senator Johnson of California and Senator Horah of Idaho, have taken exception to the message sent out to Republican Senator? bv Senators Curtis and Lodge, counselling against "final expressions" on the legue of nations covenant until there was "opportunity for conference," and have replied to the party leaders that they will not be bound by any caucus action on the covenant. The revolting leaders insist in their statements that the league is too im? portant a public matter to be involved in partisan politics. In answer to this, Senator Lodge in i statement to-day said that the cove nant was not a partisan matter, and thai no party action would be taken on it, but declared that his message to Republican Senators was designed to discourage hasty commitments on the covenants before tito full significance of some contested provisions of the re? vised draft had been studied by com? petent international authorities. Denies Frantic Efforts Senator Curtis, the Republican whip, affirmed Senator Lodge's statement, and denied the reports said to eminate from Democratic quarters that the Re? publican organization was making fran? tic efforts through conferences here and in New York to formulate a def? inite policy of opposition to the league covenant. Senator Lodge also denied this report, saying that no conferences had been or would be held. "It's a matter of every man for him? self on the covenant," said Senator Johnson to-day. "Any man who is in? capable of reaching a decision in this matter for himself is unfit to hold pub? lic office." This view was also expressed to-day with varying degrees of emphasis by .Senators McNary of Oregon, who has declared in favor of the revised cov? enant; Jones of Washington, Norris of Nebraska, and McCormick of Illinois. McCormick States Views In answer to a question regarding his attitude toward the revised cov? enant, Senator McCormick said: "In deference to the request of Senator Curtis and Senator Lodge, I do not want to speak in final judgment upon the amended covenant, but I feel free to say that in its present form it is rather a guarantee of empire than a league to enforce peace. It is a triumph for Mr. Lloyd George. The phrase maker of the king is a better ne? gotiator than the king of the phrase makers." Senator McCormick's statement, in which, after paying formal "deference to the request of Senator Curtis and Senator Lodge," he states himself with a definiteness which denies the request, is a fair sample of the attitude which many Republican Senators will take if there is any attempt at caucus ac? tion on the covenant. It is probable that the so-called progressive group of Republicans will, w.ithin the next week, propose to Senator Lodge the desir? ability of organizing a Republican steering committee at the earliest pos? sible time. Cannot Defer to Lodge Tr. the Senate there is a growing sentiment that the party cannot af? ford to defer entirely to the pro? nouncement, of the conservative group in which Senator Lodge is counted, although it is admitted that the Mass? achusetts Senator cannot be classed without reservation in the Penrose bchool of conservatism. In consequence there will be a move to place on the proposed steering com? mittee such men as Borah of Idaho, Lenroot of Wisconsin, Johnson of Cali? fornia and Poindexter of Washington. The latter may be selected as president pro tern of the Senate if he will become a candidate. One of the Progressive Senators de? clared to-day that Senator Poindexter should be elected to this office to com? pensate for the present dominant con? trol of the East in the Senate through the leadership of Lodge and the in? fluence of Senate action exercised by such men ag Penrose, Knox and Bran degee. Senator Lodge to-day denied widely circulated reports that he had con? ferred with Llihu Root and other party leaders in New York regarding the league. "I have not set foot out of Wash? ington since I returned here,'* said Senator Lodge. "There are enough con? ferences here." He added that no such conferences are contemplated and that he would remain in Washington. No Binding of Party Senator Curtis made this statement: "There has been no conference of Republicans on binding the party one way or the other on the league of na? tions. There is a general feeling among Republicans here that Senators should refrain from passing an opin? ion upon the covenant until they know Juit what it contains, and they won't Know until it has been presented to the Seriate for action. "The Lodge telegram was sent after considerate a number of Sen? ator? her..: in Washington, because it was believed to be a better plan for the Senators not to express them? selves on th<: proposition, as it had not been studied and the amendments sug? gested not verified. There, have been already statement? a- to what amend? ment!! have been agreed to, but there has been no authentic statement re? garding them made." Republican Leaders Call S en al Poll On League Valueless Veta Yori? Tribut': Waihinaioa Bureau WASHINGTON, May I. The poll of the Senate on the league of nations, made public here yesterday by the League to Enforce Peace, which claimed ? i'A Senators for the league, 12 opposed and '?') ?till in doubt, was declared to-day by Republican leaders V> be "inaccurate and valueless an a forecast of the action <>f the Senate on the revised covenant." Although Senator Lodge and other ??publicans prominent in the parly eottncU* declined to point out specific inaccuracies in the poll, they declared that many Senator/, recorded in favor of the league would vote ?gainst Recepta?*? o? the new covenant m ??amended form, and that a number *f 'tit. ?>?. !.,U,r, ,,,,?,',.,| ;,, ",J?.|Ufll!" were similarly opposed to ratification I of the new covenant without amend- j monts. I The poll was characterized by some ! Senators as propaganda intended to "smoke out" Senators and compel an early commitment on the covenant pro? posal. In this connection a letter cir? culated by the League to Enforce Peace was exhibited by Senators, in which it is definitely admitted that an organ ?zed propaganda on behalf of the j league is under way. This letter, signed by Tom Jones Mack, extension director of the League to Enforce Peace, and apparently sent broadcost, reads in ' part as follows: "Wo write to ask you to join forces with us in informing and educating the people of our country with regard to the new concept of world order em? bodied in the league of nations ideal. "A great deal of misunderstanding with regard to the plan, purposes and ! practicability of the league of na | tions still, exists. Not only for the ; present establishment of the league, I but for the future success of its work : ings, this must be cleared away. A 1 nationwide organization, working with i all Chambers of Commerce, Rotary j and women's clubs, and argicultural I and labor bodies, has been created. Al I ready a large number of volunteer ? speakers have been enrolled to present ? the message." Root Advises Brewers They May Lose Case - ! Court May Not Uphold Opinion, but You Can Expect Leniency if Defeated, He Declares BOSTON, Mass., May 1.?All Massa? chusetts brewers to-day received from i Elihu Root and William D. Guthvie the ' following opinion as to their legal : status under war prohibition: "As it is impossible to obtain a de ! cisi?n before May 1, when the act of j November 21, 1918, goes into force and effect, we deem it proper to point out that our opinion may not be con i firmed by the courts, and that the in? terpretation of the government may he '? held to be enforcible as to the inten ; tion of the law. "In such event, our opinion would ! not, of course, prevent legal proceed ? ings against the brewers or procure I immunity for acts done prior to the j decision of the courts. "The opinion of counsel, if acted and relied on in good faith by the brew? ers, pending an application to the courts for authoritative interpretation I of the law, undoubtedly would be taken j into consideration by the judges, par? ticularly in view of the irreperable j damages the brewers would sustain if they now discontinue brewing and broke up their organizations, and the question of statutory interpretation I were then finally decided by the courts I in their favor, as we are of the opin I ion should be the outcome of the pencB" j ing litigation." Brewers of State To Continue Making 2.75 Per Cent Beer R. J. Schaefer, president of the New : York State Brewers' Association, in a i fermai statement last night said that ! the brewers in New York will continue ! | to brew beer containing alcohol not in | I excess of 2.75 per cent in the belief j I that in so doing there is no violation : of law. "The brewers of the state believe the : war prohibition act is an illegal and un- I constitutional exercise of authority by Congress. They are fortified in this i i belief by the opinion of their special | i counsel, Messrs. Root and Guthrie," ? said Mr. Schaefer. "Even were the act held as valid it would not operate against a non-intox ' icating malt beverage. The brewers hold there is no authority vested in the Commissioner of Internal Revenue or elsewhere to define beer containing al j cohol not to exceed 2.75 per. cent as intoxicating, nor to prohibit its :ntn ! ufacture. "The brewers do not take this stand i with the intention or in the spirit of ! defying or violating the law, but with the assumption that they are acting! clearly within their rights, which they j have every reason to believe will be ! sustained by pending litigation.'' Wayne B. Wheeler, general counsel ! to the Anti-Saloon League of America, j yesterday advised William H. Ander- I son, State Superintendent of the New York State league, that he has been | notified by telegram that the Supreme Court of Oregon, by unanimous deci? sion, has decided that a state referen I dum on ratification of the prohibition amendment to the Constitution of the United States is unconstitutional. "This unanimous decision by the | highest court in Oregon in one of the ! pioneer referendum states, that the"! ! Federal Constitution precludes pos- ! | sibility of a referendum on an amend- | j ment, is the death blow to the liquor j hope," said Mr. Anderson. "The only way in which the brewers i can defeat, or overcome, or abrogate. I the Eighteenth Amendment is to pro- j cure the submission and ratification of j one which repeals it, and on that basis i we are prepared to meet them." ' All of the local breweries, so far as heard from, yesterday were making ] beer as usual, with the exception of | the Enterprise Brewery, of Ridgewood.; Peter B. Hanson, counsel for the En I terprise company, said that in his j judgment the Federal law prohibits! j the brewing of near-beer, and he said : the Enterprise would remain closed I i until the Federal authorities had de-1 1 cided whether 2.75 per cent beer may j j be brewed under the law. ! 6,000 Men Out of Work as i Milwaukee Breweries Close \ MILWAUKEE, Wis., May 1.?Nearly I 6,000 men were thrown out of work in i Milwaukee breweries when the famous ! big plants which gave Milwaukee a reputation as America's premier beer | | city were closed by the Federal prohi? bition law. The breweries have been working for i some time past on near beer, and rO ' cently resumed the manufacture of ! 2.75 per cent beer under the New York tent case which is now pending. When ; orders were received from Washing ! ton, however, to stop brewing, and ? when the State Dairy and Food Com? missioner ordered the brewing of near beer alito ?topped, the breweries de- j I cided to quit. ! Cleveland Labor Federation Demand? Burleson Resign | CLEVELAND, May LA resolution demanding the resignation of Post? master General Burleson was adopted last night by the Cleveland Federation Of Labor. A copy wns sent to Mr. Burleson. Other resolutions adopted call for' the withdrawal of American troops j from Ruts!? and a return to central ? time in <"[?vel?nd. i If isrif only Four and a Half Billion JKLl^Kt TBrni iJsr bbb^ flffj^ nsBrf MM HsW ?. ^M ^^smb? cjer ^^ ^*F ??? ^k ^F la^ ^pr ^ff ^w^oals ijp It needs twenty-five million sub? scribers to the Victory Loan. The larger the number of people who subscribe to this last big war loan, the less we shall have to draw on the bank funds of the nation?and naturally the better position we shall be in to go ahead with business after the loan. ?Twenty-five million subscribers means a better chance for prosperity in this country, for everybody. That's why the nation needs your sub? scription. 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