Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-03-15
RAPS REPUBLICANS
FOR LEAGUE STAND
Homer S. Cummings Shows OPP
ponents of Society Fought
War Measures. N
CLAIMS PEOPLE UNDERSTAND
Only Learned Senator'S Confused,
He Says, and All Great
Documents Vague.
CLAIMS PEOPLE UNDERSTAND

NEW YORK, March li.-Thc claim
that the league Of nations covenant is
vague can be made against all grca.
historical documents, including Mag
ma Charta. the Bill Of Rights and
the Declaration of Independence. ac-
cordins to Homer s. Cummings, chair
man of the Democratic National Com
mittee. in an address tonight at The
National Democrats Club, in which he
vigorously defended the league. Mr..
Cummings attributed the main oDpo-
sition to the league to politics. claim
ing that for the 1ast two years the
Republicans have been making unusual
eHorts TO regain mastery Of the ma
chintry OF the Governn ~. He said,
in part:
Ever since the war began in Eu-
rope, In 1914. ouI ears have been veXeI
by the wild cries OF the opposition
procia aiming a superior brand Of pa
triotism. tnd now, at the very first
sign OF return to partial authority.
the leaders of the Republican part
In the Senate have placed themselves
and the leaders in the House Of Rep
resentativcs have selected for floor
leaher congressman Mondell, Of Wyom-
ing. who voted against the tabling OF
the selectiSe draft law
senator Penrose is to be chairman
OF the great Senate Committee Of
Finance, and the reactionaries are die
tating the policy OF the party. Ford
ney. of Michigan. who voted against
the tabling OF the McLemore resoIu-
ton. is to be chairman of the great
Committee Of ways and Means.
MEN VOTING AGAINST
WAR LAWS IN POWER
Porter. of Pennsylvania, who voted
for the Cooper amendment. to prevent
the armins OF merchant ships. is TO be
chairman Of the Committee on Foreign
Affairs Esch, Of Wisconsin. who
voted against the war, against tablIng
Of the McLemorc resolution and against
arming merchant ships. is TO be chair
man of the Committee on Interstate.
ana foreign Commerce.
Haugen. of Iowa. who voted against
war and against tabling the McLemore
resolution and aGains, the espionage
survey bill. is rewarded by the chair
manship of the Committee on Agr.-
culture. Campbell. of Kansas. who
voted against the food survey bill and
merchant ships, is. To be chairman OF
the great Committee on Rules Good.
OF Iowa. who voted wrong on the Nc
Lemore resolution and against arm
ing merchan, ships, is to have the
craftsmanship of tho Committee on APP
nropriAtions, and the wcll-known Will
liam Mason. of Illinois. who voted
against war, against the draft. against
the espionage bill ana whose public
utterances are even more offensiva
than his vote. is, by 4 curious KIND
of irony. to be found On tn. Committee
on Foreign Affairs.
CALLS UPON HAYS TO
LINE UP wIrR WILSON
Tho speaker called Upon Will IL.
Hays. chairman of the Republican
National Committee, 10 line his party
behind the league OF notions, thus maxi
ing il nonpartisau affair.
He viii be i'm good company" said
MI; Cummings for he g will find him
crsham. Senator Burton and President
Lowell. Of Harvard. and last but not
least by MT. Hnghes-with Mr. Root
leadership than that of Senator's Lodge,
PenroSe and Knox.
The argument that the covenant is
vague can be advanced against all the
great documents of history. The same
assertion could be made with reference
20 Magma Gharta the Petition of
tuition of the United States.
1T PRESIDENT Wilson should suggest
comma ndme"ts and the co" solden nS rule de
there would be learned Senators who
would argue that The doctrines are too
tain to lead America into trouble And
! trcrnoie TO think what would happen
70 The Lords Prayer if it were sub
'''.Tfr ..Ths-s 10 ,h" senate for for ratiIloation.
by entering the league America will
surrender her sovereignty. The high
contracting parties have not surren-
dered their sovereignty. They have
formed partnership for mutual pur-
poses and have surrendered only such
rights as will make that purpose ef.
SAYS SAFETY OF WORLD
LIES IN PARTNERSHIPS
Therein lies the safety of the world.
\ nation does not surrender its SOW
ereisnty, in any proper sense, when il
makes contract to observe the rules
of justice.
The league of nations provides for
mutual surrendering of the rights
without notice TO the world. 1t is "A
contract of honor and not a contract
OF abasement. All civilized society
from the individual up is built upon
the yielding, in some degree. of free
dom OF conduct. In no other way can
tnere be unity of purpose, either
among men or among nations.
not difficult to understand. The plain
people understand il. Only learned
Senator's are confused by it, Let us not
be disturbed by the actions of the dis
senting Senator'S They are engaged in
the most ungenerous task of history
and their objections are written in
american honor is bound up in this
project. IL America, out of her great
ness and generosity. is not prepared
to take up her share OF the task, but
attempts TO withdraw sullenly within
her own domain what force is there
Ieft TO lift up the fallen hopes Of hu-
manity? Are we selfishly to deny TO
ne ne! sorrow and the need OF the world