The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1919-05-23
LEAGUE IS
FEARED As
'F|REbRANO'
Senator Sherman Bitterly
ASSaiIS President Wilson. /,
SOVEREIGNTY IMPERlLED
Resolution Offered Separate
ing League From Treaty. /

WASHINGTON, May 2J-The ats
ack on the league OF nations began
II the senate today with an address
" Senator Sherman, republican, Of
Illinois, bitterly criticising President
Wilson for his conduct Of the peace
negotiations and denouncing the league
proposal H a revolutionary attempt
o set up "a parliament OF nations con-
rolled by an oligarehy."
The national sovereignty would dis.
appear under the league. the Illinois
senator declared, and Liberties won In !,
centuries Of struggle would be lost
forever, Doomed with "the curse Of
broken faith and shameless perfidy
from its inception and birth" the
league, he predicted. would become
a gigantic firebrand for a world
Resolution Presentsd. n
Senator Sherman made his address .
in presenting a resolution declaring
It the sense OF the senate that tho
league covenant could be separated
fro the peace treaty when the latter
is submitted 10 the senate for ratifi.
cation. He charged that covenant and
treaty had been closely interviewer h
the final draft for the deliberate pur.
pose OF securing votes for the former
and argued that separate eousidefa.
ton Would give an oSpovtuaity for ~
senate and the country to psss . more
sobsr verdict.
HS charged President Wilson had
broken faith with China. Poland and
ltaly; had yielded to Great Britain, :
had endeavored to "subvert the funda.
mental laws OF the republic" and had
promised to embark the United States
on policies that would require her to
send million soldiers abroad.
- Assault On Institutions.
The American people" declared
the senator, have not yet fully meas-
ured the unparalleled and atrocious
character OF the assault made by the
author, Of the league on Americas
government and American institu-
tions. A more sinister assembly Of
men never threatened the peace and
safety. OF our country than demand
now the limit Of our powers over the
lives and fortunes Of the American
people surrendered into their keeps
ing
In revising the original covenant,
said Mr.. Sherman. the delegates q
Paris had improved only its gram
matical texture. y
Sovereignty Impaired. y
Like the original document, h 10
nnamendable, omniscient and infalh-
ble,' he said. Again il must Be sess
cepted as It flashes from the summit
where dwells the incarnate wisdom.
1t has become political plasphemy 10
question and treason to try 10 under
stand. Both the original and the
amended leagues impair the SOW
ereignty. Of this republic and reduce
It TO a vassal state. 4
The league OF nations Is Inter.
locked with the treaty Of peace desig-
nedly for an ulterior purpose. II Il
can be welded upon the peace treaty.
II is supposed to procure votes, o<her-
wise impossible. 1t i, a confessed
case of log-rolling. II the lesxue he
ratified while the government Is n
war, the vast and unknown war pow
er Of underlined extent will be in.
voked to declare il valid. II peace he
first concluded those extensive and un.
defined war power, disappear. In
peace, civil powers are construed and
interpreted by peace tribunals. War
created by the military authority
which exercises them.
make Peace First"
'Iet thi, senate first r,,ilv q treaty
e;v,, n,oe.dn,. ,Im ", IN nay ,;., t''..s ,, unosl