Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-05-29
Republican Contribution to the
Covenant.
(The independently

If only the Republicans had the
wit to serve their party and the
world by coming out in favor Of the
Covenant as now amended. it would
be good political strategy. Then in
stead Of a fight which would do no
body any good. We should have both
parties competing for the credit and
honor of having originated. popu-
League Of Nations.
1t is we'll for the Republicans to
remember that Mcssrs. Taft. Lodge,
Hughes and Root. easily their most
influential and competent men. have
all made suggestions for the improve
ment Of the Covenant and that these
have been substantially adopted in
the revised draft by President Will
son and the Peace Conference.
All four urged that GD the Monroe
Doctrine be specifically recognized.
(2) domestic questions be reserved
from the jurisdiction Of the League,
ind t3) secession be permitted.
Messrs. Taft. Lodge and Hughes
suggested that % the language of
the Covenant be revised. and CD the
Council should act by unanimous
vote.
Mr.. Root proposed tina. % justice
liable questions be referred to arbi-
tration. co they be defined, (3) pro-
vision be made for a general confer
ence to formulate international law.
90 any nation may be relieved Of its
obligation to guarantee independence
Of League members after five years,
(5) the League shall have full
powers to inspect ornaments, and
60 the Covenant shall be revised at
the end of five or ten years.
MI. Hughes advised that "a no
nation shall be a mandatory without
its consent, and (2) the provision for
the guarantee of the independence Of
League members as against external
aggression be entirely stricken out.
A comparison of the tentative
draft of February IA with the re-
vised draft of April % shows that
the Conference has adopted in toto
the three suggestions in which the
four distinguished Republicans con-
cur as we'll as the two recommended
tons in which Messrs. Taft. Lodge
and Hughes unite. In addition they
tdNC lHSOI WI
Roots second and Mr. Hughes's
first point. whereas Mr.. Roots
first, third and sixth points are sub
stantially recognized in the original
draft. They have failed to adopt
only Mr.. Roots fourth and fifth
points and MIR. Hughes's second.
In other words, in the five cardinal
instances where more than one of
these eminent, constitutional law
yers have united on any particular
point their recommendations were
adopted. where as in the less i'm
portant cases where only one man
made the suggestion, two were
adopted. three were already partial
~ recognized and but three were re-
jected.
1t Is perfectly clear. therefore, that
as all of Mr.. Taft's and Mr. Lodges
five suggestions have ben accepted.
and as Mr.. Hughes got six out of his
seven points and Mr.. Root four out
of his nine, with three partially
recognized. the Republican party
need not worry about its prestige in
the peace negotiations in the coming
Presidential election. In fact it would
not be stretching Il point too far for
the Republicans to welcome the new
draft as a Republican victory If
they do not claim it is a victory they
will have to accept it eventually as a
defeat, for as President Wilson has
we'll said: NO party has a right to
appropriate this issue and no party
will in the long run dare oppose it,"