The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-03-26
HITCHCOCK SAYS
PRESENT LEAGUE
DRAFT OR none
Nebraska Senator Expresses
His Support of Society of
Nations Covenant.
(By Associated Press)

|
CHICAGO, ILL.,, March 26-Declar-
ing that there is only one league OF
nations constitution before the world
and that people must accept this or
nothing, Senator G. M. Hitchcock of
Nebraska, formerly chairman of the
committee on foreign relations, paused
in his speech to the Association of
Commerce today and added: Il am for
| It,"
| "We need not deceive ourselves
with foolish hopes that wars will nat.
urally cease" Senator Hitchcock said
Experience has shown that they come
whether nations are barbarous or civ
ilized, Christian or pagan, educated or
| illiterate
'They will continue in the future as
| they have in the past unless nations
| unite in plan to avoid them. For
the first time in history nations are
making an effort to do this
"Will the efforts of the men at Paris
succeed or fail? The answer is of
tremendous importance to families
| who must furnish soldiers If they do
| fail. 1t is Of great importance to tax
payers. If the league is not formed
| the signed at Paris will be only a
truce and every nation will resume
war preparations on bigger scale
than ever. Taxes in the United States
to cover these preparations would run
into hundreds of millions of dollars a
year. Most of this burden would be
in the form of taxes on incomes and
business profits
League Impossible Before.
Prohibition has knocked out sew
eral hundred million dollars a year of
government revenue, and public SEN
timent probably will never again sub
NIT to the old practice of raising the
bulk of the revenue by taxes on the
consumer, no matter how they are lev.
led. This may be cold -blooded way
OF looking at the question. but wish
to make 1t plain that the Paris con-
ference is not entirely academic but
anects US all tremendously.
Perhaps the establishment OF a
league of nations never was possible
before. great change, however, has
come over the world. In the past the
world has been cursed by autocratic
governments bent on conquest.
Now, however, the nations of the
world have become, or by our aid
may become largely democratic. 1t
should be comparatively simple for
them to make an agreement to estab-
lish international peace based on
justice.
America Leads Effort
"That is the effort now being made
at Paris. America leads. Her rep
resentatives are devoting their ener
gies to securing for huma nifty the
great boon of world free from future
wars. In this historic effort the lead.
er is the American president, Wood
row Wilson.
Should we support this effort or
repudiate it? Already opposition is
strongly developed Considering these
objections it was first said the league
would be a sort of super-nation with a
great standing army and navy capable
Of destroying any particular nation
This objection disappeared as soon as
the league constitution was published.
Second, the objection was made
that the United States surrendered a
part of its sovereignty by entering the
league. 1t has now become evident
that neither the United States nor any
other nation surrenders anything as
the league is not a government and
has no sovereign powers.
Believes Doctrine Safe
Third, objection has been made
that the United States abandons the
Monroe Doctrine. How can this doc
trine be abandoned by joining league
which proposes to put stop to ag-
gressions by force against every ma
ton including those in America?
Fourth, objection has been made
that British self-governing colonies
like Canada and Australia may be ad-
mitted to the league, which it is
claimed would give Great Britain five
votes to our one. II it were true it
would not matter because all import
ant questions must be decided by una
nimous vote, also, these colonies are
now almost completely Independent
of Great Britain and Canada especial
ly. has many interests in common with
the United States.
Only World Questions.
Fifth, it has been objected that
Japan might insist on having the
league settle the immigration ques-
tion and through the league force us
to admit Japanese. If she could she
could also force us to change our laws
of marriage and divorce. taxation or
any other domestic question. The
league, however, deals only with inter-
national questions and has no rela-
ton to domestic affairs.
81 feel that these objections will be
brushed aside and that men will meet
the big issue squarely. Our answer
must be yes or mo- and l am sure
there is but one correct answer and
that is yes.
II believe that the people of the
world will accept the league as 1t has
been prepared in Paris because they
must realize the promises the nations
make to each other will act as an eff
fectual preventative OF war;"