The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-07-16
IS
STRONGFOR THE
NATIONS PACT

WASHINGTON. July 15.-Cnaracter-
izing the league OF nations as prac-
teal step toward world peace involving
no sacrifice Of national sovereignty.
Senator Underwood, Democrat, Of Ala
bana, urged in the senate today accept
ance Of the league covenant without
amendment or reservation.
1.-THE great causes of war" he SAID
may be paraphrazed in two words:
National selflshness. Until the civil
lization Of the world is prepared to de-
throne it's own selfish ideals and to rec
ognize the rights of the other peoples.
the inherent causes Of war must con-
tinue to exist.
IT am not prepared to say that the
adoption Of the present treaty carries
within itself the elimination of those
causes of war or that in the end there
will be no more wars but I do say that
within the folds of this treaty. we find
an agreement between the great nations
Of the world that probably Will In the
future carry the questions OF natonal
dispute to a court Of final arbitration
and in many, II not most instances,
avert the horrors and injustices OF war.
1T do not regard the organization or
the league as a super-government. NO
super-government could exist without
power to maintain itself. Within itself
the league has no power to levy taxes.
and without q revenue government
cannot long exist. The league mas no
power to raise armies and naVles, ana
without military forces, 1t cannot de-
fend itself With the right 10 with
draw, ] feel that there Is no need TO
fear the dangerous surrender OF any
Of the fundamental principles ana
rights Of the American people. There
fore, I am willing to take it and try It
and hope that from th2 seed that Is
planted today. in its fruition the final
peace Of the world may he found.
IT am more interested in the prin-
ciples enunciated in the clauses relat-
ing to the league OF nations than 1 am
in the powers given for its government
for on these principles. the future llre
Of the league must depend. I would
have been glad to subscribe to con-
tract that would have arbitrarily limit
ed the ornaments OF the world. Such
a decree is not found within the con-
tract but there is covenant that seeks
to keep the peace Of the world. that
authorizes the executive council OF the
league to consider how much the pres
ent ornaments Of nations should be re-
duced.
Another vital principle that we arc
asked to agree to Is that all OF the
members of the league shall submit
differences between them that are not
capable Of being sattled by negotiation
before q tribunal to be composed OF
Judges or arbitrators agreed to by them,
tnk< hA QrhifrafiOn
they are required to abide by the award.
But the greatest principle OF the
league tending to keep the peace OF the
world Is that which declares that the
high contracting parties to this treaty
shall undertake to respect and preserve
against external aggression, the poll"
teal independence and the territorial
integrity Of every member OF the
league.' Most Of tho wars that have
been vaged in the ages that have pass
ed have had as their governing cause.
the desire to conquer and control an
other people or to expand the territory
Of the country that Is the aggressor IN
the war. Prevent the incentive Tor war
growing out Of q selfish Desire 1or ag-
erosion, as the over.weeninS force or
this covenant will do and few actual
causes Of war will remain that cannot
without difficulty or danger, be submit
ted to the high court Of arbitration.
You may say: Then, why should
we become involved in an alliance that
may drag Us into tho dispute, the dis
asters ana tho dangers OF other ma
tionsr This was tho doctrine our
fathers believed in and one that I am
slow to yield. But We face condition.
not a theory. Time and space have
BEEN eliminated. Dangers to our people
and our republic that were not dream
"a Of q century ago confront Us today
at our very doors a threatening men,
AGO to our lives, and our institutions.
Shah We continue TO dream Of tho ideals
Of tho past or meet a. practical men
ne dangers Of the future? For me
there - bot onA courSo to pursue