Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-09-21
Com m ent on the
Covenant

OAAVhAB ASGO,s 9VPt' ASs"Ao tiS
Editor OF The Bee: Prior to the re-
turn of our president from his wan
behring's In Europe, In letter to The
Bee I characterized the league of
nations as the most deceptive hum
bug since satan cajoled Eve in the
Garden of Eden. At that time many
of my friends thought l was rad
ically wrong and that the league was
the one thing needful to bring hap
piness to our country and peace to
the world. Today l know of but q
single man who would vote for the
league unamended and but very
few who favor 1t in any form.
Wilson says he will not discuss
the league, but he proposes to tell
the Interpretation thereof. One who
has followed him closely from his
delivery to congress to his present
lobbying campaign cannot but be
impressed with his seeming lack Of
faith in the league. Otherwise he
would want it discussed from the
housetops. He would contend for
his IA points being put in practice
right here at home by allowing the
people to vote whether they were
willing to sacrifice the Declaration
Of independence for citizenship in
foreign league, whether they want
ed to surrender their constitution
fol the advice and dictates of an in
ternational legislature which was not
subject In any way to their votes.
Our president says we should accept
the Interpretations of the makers as
the only genuine, but II 1t 10 ratified
1t will have to be interpretated as
dissentions arise long after its max
,ers are dead, and, like our own con-
rstitution, will have to stand on the
wording of the contract.
He Gays, III could not have
brought back such a covenant /
never would have come back" Is
that argument or Interpretation, or
is it to be taken as bluff? Our
president Is sworn to faithfully ex-
ecute our laws and uphold the con-
stitution, not to parcel the govern
ments of Europe or organize inter-
national league; yet he deserted his
pest Of duty at Washington in one
OF the most critical periods OF our
history to make league of nations.
Today we find him lobbying for
this league throughout the county,
W0IC Jul AdtkOA lONAS AL LILO Iul
inoils of anarchy and rebellion.
and lynchings are every day occur
rences. Are our laws being faith
fully executed? Oh for a Cleveland
or a Roosevelt! Our president says
he is willing to die for the league,
but we have thousands Of mere boys
who did die for nobler cause, l. e.,
the integrity and independence of
our United States. We had other
thousands who offered their lives
for the same cause who are being
held. in Russia, fighting for they
know not what, while our president
tours the country in the luxury Of
special train, not even leaving Tu-
mplty at the White House. I'VE
have taken the flower Of our youth
from every countryside, from every
household, and we told those moth
ers and those fathers and those sis
tiers and those wive and those sweet
hearts that we were taking those
men to fight war that would end
such business" are the words of the
president in demanding support of
the league.
But can we who had sons in this
war favor league whose constitu-
ton in plain words clothe 1t with
power to advise when our boys shall
be conscripted to fight in Turkey,
Russia or in any foreign country
where the league thinks a fight
should be pulled off? Today con-
gress, is afiame because it is reported
that $4,000 to 100000 Of our boys
are to be sent to Turkey and con-
gresham exclaims, ut shall not be;
the president has no authority to
send our soldiers to police foreign
countries, but if the league is rati-
fiedd there will be no help"
Our boys did not fight for league
of nations, nor yet for any A points;
but briefly stated, to lick Germany
and bring speedy peace. Glori-
cusly well they went to their task,
and, notwithstanding the inefficiency
of their equipment, they soon would
have had for all time a sorry and
lsmblike Germany; but a talking
machine was substituted for ma
chine guns and the armistice was
the result; then an opportunity of a
lifetime was lost in not sending COM
petent delegates to at once draw up
an honest fair peace treaty between
the conquerors and the conquered