Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1919-10-07
TACK Of ALLIANCES MADE ], s,
GREAT DECLARES SPEAKER WHO
SUBSTITUTED FOR SEN. REED

A speech against the League of Ma
tons delivered by Mai. James R. Page
of Missouri, who spoke in place of
| Senator Reed, was heard last night by
an audience that filled the Grand
! theatre. Major Page speaks under the
auspices OF the League for the pre-
servatlon OF American Independence
of which Henry Watterson is presi-
/ dent.
The purpose of this league is given
as to establish Freedom to defend a
right; freedom TO refuse to fight;
freedom to mind cur own business"
Major Pages talk did not take the
: form of a violent TRADE against the
League of Nations. He made it a
point to take up the articles of the
league one by one and to point out
the provisions with which they would
bind the United States, and to let the
audience draw its own conclusions. He
spent two years in the army during
the war, eight months of which he
was overseas.
The speaker was introduced by E.
j. Flanagan, who said in part:
I'VE have before US for discussion
and for our enl-a1tm~nt the most mo-
mentous problem that has ever de-
volved upon us as American citizens
to solve. We know that as patriotic
citizens it is for us to determine
whether the president is right or
wrong; whether the proposed league
should be affirmed or denied. We
have with us tonight a representative
of the negative side of that quesuon
who is well qualified to present these
issues
Saw Service
Major Page said in part:
81 am not war hero but have spent
eight months on the other side and
have seen our boys lying mangled in
No Mans land You who stayed at
home and made many sacrifices for
that boy did so because you could not
be there. But you did it for the sake
of America and for humanity at large.
If anyone had told you that you were
doing this that we might have league
OF nations what would you have said rs
Those of you who have read the
league raise your hands, requested
the speaker. Very few in the audi
ence were able to comply.
"All you know about it is what some
one has told sou," continued the
major. You have been told that it
would prevent war. l would be for it
too, if l believed that. Show me any
thing that will prevent war or that
looks like it will and l will be with
you.
"Why is it that those who say you
should be for the league never tell
you what is in it? Has anyone ever
told you what it was framed for, ex-
cept that it would prevent war?
No Alliances
81 declare that the United States is
the greatest nation in all the world.
Why? Is it because for the last 100
years we have had entangling al
liances with other nations?
("Because we have minded our own
business" someone in the audience
replied.)
''Then why should be change the
plan, and supplant that which has
caused us to become this, with the
league. Why should we accept this
new scheme?"
What thing has made Is great?
The constitution is the foundation of
our greatness"
Here Major Page read the preamble
to the constitution of the United
States, comparing its purpose as given
for the promotion of American inter
ests with the purpose as given in the
preamble to the league of nations
which reads as follows:
Reads Preamble
'The high contracting parties, in or
der to promote international co-opera-
ton, and to achieve international
peace and security"
What doe sit mean to promote in
ternational cooperation" continued
the major. Does it mean interna-
tional trade? Does it mean interna-
tional finance or immigration? I can't
tell you and I don't know of anyone
who can"
The major then poinced out that
tile proposed league was in effect an
amendment to the constitution of the /
United States.
you women" he said. obtained |
your right to vote through an amend
TYNT1TAKC