The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-02-19
|PO|NDEXTER
ATTACKS LEAGUE
Senator Calls the Constitution
Frightful Compact and
a Fatal Coven-
ant.
TOO MUCH LIKE RUSSIA
Says It VIII Not Bring Peace, But Sow
Dragons Teeth from Which
Soldiers viii
Spring.
TOO MUCH LIKE RUSSIA

L - o.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.-Senator
Poindexter, Washington. today at
tackled the league of nations consti-
tuition.
"a frightful compact, a fatal cove
nant" which will steal away Ameri-
can national sovereignty and make
this nation part of great interna-
tional soviet, was the description of
| the document given the senate by
! Poindexter.
| Opening discussion of the league.
Poindexter said it marks the end of
our traditional policy of mind your
own business" which we have ap-
pied to ourselves and to other ma
tions alike.
| Analyzing the constitution, article
by article. he declared:
4 THAT the constitution, as drafted,
proposes world government model
ed along lines Of the Russian sovie.
government.
That 1t is part of the same inter.
nationalism which the l. w. w. and
the hoisheFist is striving fofs ,s-.Ae
That instead of bringing per-
pesual peace, it will sow dragon s
teeth from which armed men will
spring
That unless 1t is submitted to the
American people in political cam
pafgn for their approval or disap-
proval, popular government in the
United States will disappear.
Poindexter criticized President
Wilson's efforts to keep congress
from discussing the league In ad-
vance of his return and charged that
hired propa gandists are at work
spreading the administrations views.
''The matters. contained In the pro-
posed constitution are the most mo-
mentous In their effect on the people
and the government of Nthe United
States since the civil war" said
Pomdexter. 'rBut before the busy
world, whose destinies are to be con-
trolled, has had an opportunity to
read and digest its provisions, we
are requested not to make it the
subject of debate in congress until
the president can again speak in Its
behalf
'In the meantime various organi-
cations, such as the League to En-
force Peace. the Society of, Free
Nations and other internationalists
employing an ex-president Of the
United States as one of their chief
lecturers are inducing members of
the cabinet to keep busy in their be-
half.
There Is an internationalism of
the elite and an internationalism of
the proletariat in the world. There
is internationalism at the top and
internationalism at the bottom and
both are moving forward through
different means and methods to the
same destination. Germany Is sup
porting both. The idealistss and
peace-at-any-price pacifists are. ap-
preaching by one road. The Indus
trial Workers of the World and their
bolshevist allies throughout the
world are approaching upon another.
Both lead to the same destination;
an international and despotic govern
ment of the world Both involve the
surrender of nationality and the get
ting up of a centralized despotism
1t must be despotism because no
government in whose direction is
centered the ultimate control of the
affairs of the whole world can be
free.
"This movement is backed with
great resources and ample funds.
Such organizations as the Carnegie
Endowment for International Peace,
endowed by subject of Great
Britain with resources acquired in
the United States is one of it's most
powerful supporters. These organiza-
tions are able to employ, at high
prices, influential lecturers, including
even an ex-president of the United
States. The founder of the society
referred to is an open advocate of
the reunion of the United States
with Great Britain and of the ANAL
gamation of our government in the
British empire. The organization of
a league to enforce peace is but an
enlargement of this conception"
Poindexter said there are five prin-
cipal objections to the league of ma
tions plan. These set forth:
First, the surrender by the several
nations to the league of power and
discretion of determining the rules