Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-05-27
American Organization Has
Plan to Assure Peace
Of Entire World
|UNION OF NATIONS
TO PROVIDE FORCE
Wars to Be Waged Only if
Laws of International
Court Are Violated

washington, -. o., May 26.-Amerl-
| can advocates of an International fed
GRAFTON to curtail war met here today
for the first assembly Of the new lea
que to enforce peace. William How
ard Taft, president of the league, and
Newton D. Baker, secretary of war,
were on today's program, and Presi-
dent Wilson's address at the closing
session tomorrow night will be sig
nif1cant utterance, it is thought. About
1000 persons attended the meeting.
Former President Taft's subject was
an explanation Of why the constitution
al authority Of the president and con-
gress to declare war would not be
violated by the leagues plan for fed
GRAFTON of nations.
Speakers pointed out that war might
not be abolished but 1t would be cur
tailed, for the international league
would allow combat only If the courts
decree were not accepted by any ma
ton.
Thomas Raeburn White, Philadel-
phia lawyer, in his address sought to
answer arguments advanced against
the leagues plan. v
Edward A. B'ilene, Boston merchant
declared European nations at the end
of the present war would be favorable
to the league to enforce peace.
Other speakers on today's program
were Oscar s. Straus, of New York,
member of The Hague court; Hamil-
ton Holt of New York, editor of the
Independent; Prof. George Grafton
Wilson, of Harvard university; Talcott
Williams, director Of Columbia uni
versity school of journalism; John
Bates Clark OF New York, director of a
department in the Carnegie endow-
ment for international peace; r. G.
Rhett Of Charleston, S. c., president Of
the chamber Of commerce of the Uni
ted States: Samuel Gompers, presi-
dent of the American Federation of
Labor, and Oliver Wilson of Peoria,
ILL.,, president of the national grange.
Taft Explains Plan.
Mr.. Taft explained that the leagues
platform proposes compulsory sub
mission to the world court of an inter
national dispute not settled by diplo-
matte negotiation and which are
'justiciable questions.
Turning to the question Of the duty
of nation belonging to the proposed
world court to use its army and navy
in enforcing it's DEGREES upon other
members that should go to war in de-
fiance of the courts DEGREES, Mr. Taft
took issue with former Secretary Of
State Bryan regarding. Mr.. Bryan's
contention that constitutional amend
ment would be necessary before the
United States could SO obligate itself.
81 venture to think that this view
is wholly without foundation" said
Mr.. Taft "If the war is foreign war
it could not be begun under the con-
stitution until congress had declared
war"
Referring to this nations treaty
with Panama, guaranteeing Panama's
independence, Mr.. Taft stated it meant
the United States is under obligation
to make war to defend Panama.
This duty can only be discharged
through the action of congress in de-
ciaring war;" he asserted. Does that
deprive congress of its power to de.
clare war? It seems to me the ques-
ton answers ITSELF"
With Cuba similar situation is pre-.
sented, said the former president.
WILSON HAS OLIVE BRANCH.