Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-07-15
HOLDS LEAGUE
STEP TOWARD
WORLD PEACE
Senator Underwood in
Speech Urges Senate
to Accept Pact.

Washington, July 15.-Charac-
terizfng the league of nations as
a practical step toward world
peace involving no sacrifice of ma
tional sovereignty, Senator Under
wood, Democrat, Of Alabama, urg-
ed in the senate today acceptance
of the league covenant without
amendment or reservation.
The great causes of war" he
said, may be paraphrased in two
words: National sel1ishless.' I'm
til the civilization of the world is
prepared to dethrone it's own self
ish ideals and to recognize the
rights of other peoples, the inher-
ent causes of war must continue
to exist.
Will Prevent War.
81 am not prepared 70 say that
the adoption of the present treaty
carries within itself the elimina-
ton of these causes OF war, or that
in the end there will be no more
wars, but do say that, within the
folds of this treaty we find an
agreement between the great ma
tions of the world that probably
will in the future carry the ques-
tions of national dispute to a court
of final arbitration, and in many,
If not most instances, avoid the
horrors and injustices Of war.
Not a Super Government.
"I do not regard the organization
of the league as a super-govern-
ment. No super-government could
exist without power to maintain
has no power to levy taxes, and
without revenue a government can
not long exist The league has no
power to raise armies and navies,
and without military forces, it can
not defend itself. With the right
to withdraw, / feel that there is no
need to fear the dangerous surrea--
der of any of the fundamental prin-
ciples and rights of the American
people. Therefore, am willing to
take it and try it, and hope that
from the seed that is planted to-
day, in its fruition the final peace
Of the world may be found.
81 am more interested in the
enunciated in the claus
es relating TO the league Of ns&ions
than I am in the powers given for
It's government, for on those prin-
ciples the future life OF the league
must depend"
"A vital principle that we are
asked to agree to is that all of
he members of the league shall
submit differences between them
hat are not capable of being set
led by negotiation before a trib-
anal to be composed of judges or
arbitrators agreed to by them and
after entering into the arbitration
hey are required to abide by the
award.
Removes Causes Of War.
But the greatest principle of the
eague tending to keep the peace
If the world is that which declares
hat the high contracting parties
o this treaty shall undertake to
-espect and preserve against ex-
ernal aggression the political in
and the territorial in
egrity of every member of the
eague.' Prevent the incentive for
var growing out of a selfish desire
or aggression, as the over-ween-
ng force of this covenant will do,
md few actual causes of war will
emain that cannot without diff
.ulty or danger be submitted to the
ligh court of arbitration.
Live in Past of Future2
"You may say: Then, why should
We become involved in an alliance
hat might drag us into the dis
,utes, the disasters, and the dan
,ers of other nations?' This was
he doctrine our fathers believed in, /
nd that l am slow to yield. But |
We face a condition, not a theory. !
lime and space have been elimin-
ted Dangers to our people and |
ur republic that were not dreamed /
4 a century ago confront US today |
t our very doors, a threatening !
menace to our lives, our civiliza- |
ion and our institutions. Shall |
Te continue 20 dream of the ideals !
f the past, or meet as practical |
aen the dangers of the future? |
or me, there is but one course to
ursue."