Evening journal., 1919-04-02

willing to make many sacrifices. both
personal and national.
The only Constitution OF a League
OF Nations presented TO us. Il the
draft or one prepared In France. and
submitted 10 us by President wilson
during his short stay In the United
states President Wilson. who was
chairman Of this particular comm,s-
sion. reported this covenant TO the
convention and advocated its adop-
{ on while In this country: therefore.
It Is that Constitution OF a League OF
Nations that we must discuss.
Defend Integrity OF Nation.
Il am an American citizen As
United States Senator my obligation j.
to preserve and defend the inlog~ IS
OF this nation. I believe my ilrst
duty Is 20 this county. Therefore.
IN considering any League Of Ma
tions. Il must not contain any articles
which Will tend TO weaken or destroy
the sovereignty Of tbs country.
"The Constitution Of such a League
OF Nations should be so plain as TO
permit Of no reconstruction. The one
submitted 10 us for approval Is not
OF such a nature
"Wc have men like ex-P~esidcnt
Taft and President Wilson who claim
that IN no way does Z infringe on the
Constitution OF tho United States nor
ab-idge the sovereignty Of this coun-
try.
"On the other hand. men whJ have
given their whole lives to public af-
fairs and whose patriotism cannot
be questioned Ike Senator Lodge.
and const tut'onal lawyers like Sen
ator Knox. Eihu Root and George
N'h'rton Pepper: close students OF
nublic affairs such as Senator'S Sher-
man. Reed. Borsh. Po'ndexter and
Hlrdwick and leading newspapermen.
such as Watters0n, differ widely in
their construction OF the articles OF
this covenant.
United S'a'eS Of Word
eve ind senator Knox viewing this
covenant as an attempt to form
United states Of the World He we'll 1
argues that since this covenant does
not take IN all OF the nations OF the
world that the remaining outlswed
nations would form q second league I
OF nations and hence. instead Of
preserving peace, this would breed |
war. By careful analysis OF the /
various articles Of the Constitution. /
ne construes Il to fav0r war under J
seven conditions and compels war
under three conditions. He claims /
the provis' 'ons Of the covenant strike |
down vital precepts 5f our Const'tu-
on. In that our Constitution places |
the power Of declaring war exclusive /
ly In the hands OF Congress. This
covenant places the power OF declar-
ing war IN the hands Of an executive /
council in which we have but a single 1
vote: the European and Asiatic Pow
ers having eight votes. He further
ella ms that the covenant is destruc-
tive 70 our sovereignty In that It takes
away from US our power Of self
defense. N that 1t places in the hands
Of a higher power the right to raise
armies and 10 control the position OF
those armies n the field.
lir. Tar Takes Different View.
"NIr. Taft, on the other hand. takes
q radically different view Of the pow
srs granted to this executive council.
In his speech In New York. he de-
ylared the executive council had no
power but to recommend 10 the Ma
lions Of the League. courses which
those nations may accept or reject,
save In the matter Of increasing the
limit OF armament, 10 which the
Un'ted States by IFS Congress, after
full cons 'deraEon, shall have con-
sented Ne ther the executive coun-
I'll nor the body Of delegates in the