The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-22
Democrat Senator Joins Repub-
licans in Attacking Policy.
Supports BOrah Charges of
Monroe Doctrine AbrOgatiOn.
]. S. WOULD LOSE OUT
Says Charter Conflicts With
Ideals of the Americans.
America Entered War a Com
plete SOYereign-NOw Changed.

Washington. Feb. 22.-Support for
the Republican attacks in the senate
upon the proposed league of nations
came from the Democratic side to-
day when Senator Reed, of Missouri,
Democrat, delivered a prepared ad-
dress in denunciation of the plan.
Free American government, Senator
Reed asserted, would, thru the league,
be largely displaced by a government
controlled by European monarchs
and Asiatic despots."
He supported the charge of Senator
Borah. of Idaho. Republican, that the
league would abrogate the Monroe
doctrine, involve America in all wo1 Id
conflicts and compel submission of
vital American questions to a foreign
tribunal.
England. Senator Reed asserted, vir-
tually would dominate the league and
on all questions. he insisted, the United
States would be overwhelmingly out
voted. Denouncing the eIeague as a
movement of internationalism, Senator
Reed asserted that the fangs' of Eol-
sheVism were plainly visible in the
league constitution. The provision re-
quiring America to fight foreign wars
he said, was monstrous.
Conflicts With Constitution.
The league charter, Senator Reed
declared, plainly conflicted with the
American constitution, but he said he
would reserve discussion of that point
till some future date.
snail we surrender with pen what
Washington gained by his sword ?''
asked the senator.
Shall we repudiate the nationalism
under which we have become the first
people of the earth for the doubtful
experiment o. 1nternationaliSm ?"
Shall we make our government of
the people, by the people and for the
people, government partly by the
people and partly by kings and en-
perors?
Acceptance Involves These.
The answer to these questions is
involved in the acceptance or rejec-
ton of the constitution of the league
of nations.
"A situation so tragic demands the
attention of every loyal citizen of the
republic.
America entered this war a COM
plete sovereign She acknowledged no
master. She was the arbiter of her
own destiny. A victor in the war
shall she nevertheless emerge a mere
constituent state of a league domi-
mated by European monarchies and
Asiatic despots?
Shall our nationalism be stricken
down and for it substituted an inter
nationalism? Shall our independent
! democracy come under the control
either in whole or in part, of foreign
monarchs or foreign Bolsheviki?'
Sherman Criticises Taft.
Former President Taft's support OF
| the league was criticised by Senator
| Sherman of Illinois, Republican, in a
\ furry on the senate floor before Sen
! ator Reed spoke. Senator Sherman
presented a letter from a constituent
| in which Mr.. Taft's position was as
sailed and his political record ridi-
culed to the amusement of senators
| and the overflowing galleries.
! Senator Ashurst, of Arizona, Demo
/ crat, sharply criticized reading of the
letter, declaring it made Mr.. Taft ar
! "object of ridicule.'
This is no way to conduct debate
on this league of nations" said Mr.
| Ashurst ''Altho I never agreed with
Mr. Taft, politically, for four years
| Wontinuen on Page TwoD