The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1919-05-28
The Worlds Next Step
!. NJ.
Il, the League of Nations q Workable
s Plan?
BY CLARENCE L. SPEED

ipraHcil OF League To Enforce Pcace.)
1t Is n remarkable fact that, in all
the opposition that has come out to
the ratification of the peace treaty
containing the draft of the league of
nations as 1t stands. scarcely single
responsible American statesman has
come out fatty against the principle
of league to enforce peace.
Many have expressed serious doubts
as to whether or not II would work.
Others have said that this was not
the time TO establish 1t. ana that it
should wait until after peace was
signed. SIN more have pointed ont
this difficulty and that; and. because
the American people are very largely
heatllne readers, the impression has
gone out that q great number Of Sena-
tors are unalterably opposed 10 any
sort of Il league of nations whatso-
ever.
There is no doubt that some of
these objections to the ratification
providing for a treaty are sincere.
Some OF them may not be. But the
fact remains that nearly all these
statesmen who depend upon the
people for votes have left open Il way
Of retrea, so that, If it finally devel-
ops that public sentiment demands
the league 1t can never be shown that
they were unalterahly against it.
There are many, on the other hand
who have so definitely committed
themselves TO the idea of league of
nations That they leave no loophole
through which they may crawl If the
idea Is not favored by American vot-
ers, They have the courage of their
convictions They are so sincere that
they are ready to stand or fail on
their records.
Such q man Is William Howard Taft,
formerly president of the United
States. By no stretch of the iinagi:
milton could he be considered as back
Ing league of nations favored by
President Wilson through partisan mo-
lives. Here Is what Mr.. Taft had to
say in Il public speech at Helena,
Mont, the day after he had had the
opportunity of reading the draft of
the constitution of the league of ma
tons as cabled from Paris:
"As. lovers of your country and as
lovers of mankind ask you to use all
your influence with our senators to
have the treaties embodying the
league OF nations idea ratified. 1t is
\ real league of nations. 1t Is not an
that wished, but comes near. 1t is
a great deal better than | hoped. 1t
contains within its terms provisions
for It's own growth. Indeed the ext
gencies of the European situation in
the sphere of the league will probably
require additional ind more stringent
provisions in some respects than APP
pear in the present plan"
"T'here should be no. doubt of It's ap-
proval by the senate when it is EN-
bodied In the treaty"
Mr.. Taft evidently is convinced that
the league viii work. President VIII
son believes 1t viii work. Lloyd
George believes 1t will work. Even
Clemenceau OF France believes it will
work. 1t has the complete support
OF the Italian government. which be-
.lleyes 1t will work. The little nations
turn TO it as their only hope of safety.
They believe it Will work.
II all of these people and these ma
tons believe the league will work how
ean 1t fill to work? The only uppar-
emf chance of its falling to work would
be In case there We're enough strong
powers against. it, while 1t is young
and untrled to keep it from working.
But here YOU find the powers all for it.
Who is going to try to upset it---some
power Ike Liberia, or Il beaten and
helpless Germany? Why, even Ger
many now hopes it will work and work
In n hurry, for without it there is no
limit 10 the penalties that victorious
neighbors might impose.
And the peoples of the world, even
more than sle governments, want it
10 work. Mothers and fathers whose
sons are buried by the million Oh the
battleilelds Of Europe are for it,
Women who have suffered violence at
the hands of invading armies, or who
have fed headlong from their homes
TO avoid it, pray that it may become
operative. Worlmen who are hungry
because factories are closed see in it
q preventive of wars. People who
have seen their savings jeopardlzed or
swept away stand behind it.
No one, apparently, wants it to fail,
ret there are some who doubt its sue
cess because, by careful searching,
asy can find difficulties in the way.
They may be of good cheer, and you
may rest at ease TOO, because, If by
any chance this league which every
body wants should fail to work. there
Is nothln. 10 prevent youNflghting for
your rights just as You did in the past
The United States faced a world in
arms with Very little preparation for
war. She can face world leagued
for peace with an army or navy just
rs large or small as she chooses. There
is not even the nest remote prona-
hillty of the United States ever fight
s,.sr ~