Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-06-23
SENATOR BOOTS COMPROMISE.

Senator Root proposes g. compromise
plan between the senate and the presl-
dent which would accept the treaty
and the covenant as a whole with I'M
portant restrictive changes in the CO.
venant. The changes proposed by the
senator are:
First-Elimination Of article ten In
so far as it affects the United States.
This article guarantees the members
of the league Of maintain the terri
torial integrity and political independ-
epce of all the nations Of the world ad-
mtted to the covenant.
Secoud-Absolute and unqualified
right OF the United States to with
Draw from the league on two years
notice.
Third-Clear and unmistakable pro-
lection of the Monroe doctrine and the
sovereignty Of the United States over
purely American questions.
The changes proposed by the senator
cover the most important objections TO
the covenant put forth by opposing
senators and in the popular mind. With
those changes there is not the least
doubt that the covenant would be APP
proved promptly by the senate and ac-
cepted with good grace generally.
Few thoughtful Americans are WILL
ing to accept article ten as it stands III
the so-called league Of nations. 1t Is
opposed to all our traditions and to
policies established with the creation OF
our nation. There is little agreement
TO the proposition that the United
States shall be bound to participation
in every quarrel that may break out
over boundary lines upon another hem
isphere and that armies, Of American
youth be sent to die in every hole and
corner of the globe under command OF
foreign general staffs. There is no
such sentiment among the returned
soldiers, none in the households of this
country On the contrary there Is
very definite disgust at any such pro-
posal and feeling that will grow
stronger as the days and years pass.
AS Mr.. Root points out the probable
tiles are that we could not keep any
such agreement were it to be made
thru the unwise idealism that con-
ceived it and the grasping eagerness OF
those who wish to fight their own flu
ture wars with American men and
money. If we can imagine Canada de-
claring' her independence and an
American army being ordered to in
wade and crush her we may apprehend
somewhat Of the conditions such an or
der would bring about in the United
States Of America.
The absolute right to withdraw from
the league on two years notice is
merely protection Of American integ-
rity. The insistence upon clear and
urmistakabIe definition of the Mon
roe doctrine and the sovereignty oveI
purely American questions belongs in
the same category.
There Is no partisanship In Senator
Roots proposal however hard the Will
sonian press bureaus and committees
| OF public misinformation may attemp
| to read partisanship into it. Armies
recruited and drafted from American
| homes for service in Siberia, Abyssyn'
| MIA and the Sahara desert are not par
tisan questions in American families
submission Of purely American qnes
tons to the votes Of ignorant and IL,
literate new laid nations which woui'
| not constitute an American state II
population and least OF all In politica
intelligence il not partisan but Amer