The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-02-20
HOUSE CRITICISM
 |SBEGUN BYFESS
 IN LONG TRADE
Declares Any Who Subscribe to Such Surrender of Na- tiOn's Future Will Be Re-
 pudiated by People
By Associated Press

Washington, February 19. Criticism of the constitution of the league of nations was opened in the House late today with an address by Representa- tive Fess of Ohio, republican, who declared the league plan was "monstrous' and filled with "vicious possibilities.
 "Just as soon as the American
 people shall grasp the vicious pos abilities herein included. said Mir. Fess, "there will be such . revOlu-
 tion of sentiment aroused that any man who will subscribe to this
 perpetual surrender of the repub- lies future to . vote of foreign
 nations will he, as he should be. repudiated as an enemy to the
 spirit and genius of American in-
 stftutions..
 Representative Fess said one of the principal objections to the league plan was that it made possible five votes for the United Kingdom against one
 
 ] lf-governing dominions or colonies { to become independent members. 'The sovereignty of the United States continued the Ohio member, will be transferred completely to a group of European powers by mere vote of the league so that matters under considera- ton by it might lead to war.
 CAN BIND U. S.
 The executive council, which is to be the real agency of the league to en- force it's findings, is to be limited to rine members, one each from the United States, France, Great Britain, Italy and Japan, and one each from four other states to be, selected by the body of delegates The decisions of each body, delegates or executive council are by a majority vote, so that in all cases the findings of the council will be deter mined by five members In other words, any five of the nine voting together can bind the United States without it's consent to any matter falling within the province of the league
 No matter how much the people of the United States may wish to avoid mix ing in European or Asiatic politics any five of the nine members can fix the responsibility upon this country.
 ITO be specific article 19 authorizes the league to vest mandatory authority and select the nation to exercise it over such countries recently under other SOW ereignty and which are not yet regarded sufficiently stable to maintain stable seif-goverrnent. This article means that by vote of the league the United States would have to undertake the maintenance of law and order in Armenia, for exam pie, or country in Africa.
 Moreover, any group of five of the nine can fix the character of our defen- sive programme, as the question of the size of armament, large or small, of any x member of the league is apt to this vote by article 8.
 MOST DANGEROUS FEATURE Mir. Tess said the most dangerous fea- x turs of tke proposed constitution, to his mind. was the provision which would make the United States a constituent part of q league which would exercise su- preme authority through a body of dele gates, without name or number, each of whom would have equal authority in all matters which would come before it af- fecting this country.
 'The matters of consideration are not defined and therefore not limited" he said.
 ''If the Monroe doctrine is included in the judgment of majority of the mem bers, what recourse have we after we have entered the league, which speaks by majority vote? If immigration is included, according to a majority of the league, what is our defense?
 If tariff is included according to the judgment of the majority what have we left but to surrender or commit breach of covenant? ''Ihs nation should never under any circrmstances surrender it's sovereignty on any questions which pertain to its future welfare, to vote of league
 (Contfnued on Page Two)