Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-08-01
REFERS TOLEAGUE
AS OPPORTUNITY
Senator Owen Urges Avoid
ance of Partisan Disputes
Over Wording of Pact.

The Senate was urged yesterday by
Senator Owen, democrat, Oklahoma, to
accept the league of nations covenant
in order to establish a new world or
der. and not to delay its action by
"captious and partisan" disputes over
the wording Of it's various provisions.
'I shall not criticise the rhetoric OF
the verbiage of the covenant" said
Senator Owen. This covenant is wise.
1t is thoughtfully drawn. In it's sub
stance it is splendid. In Its purpose IT
is glorious.
"a perfect contract between scoun-
drels is worthless. An imperfect con-
tract between trustworthy friends
who have fought and bled together in
a common love of justice and liberty
is of very great value. Let us be de-
youtly thankful for the opportunity
to bind the world together in bonds
of peace.
Born of Necessity.
"on the battlefield a league of vic
torious nations was established. We
have a league of nations now, born
of necessity. The nations composing
IL discovered that while they were
bound together by the exigencies or
war, in framing the future relations
of the nations of Europe with Ger
many. It was essential to establish
a league that should embrace all the
nations of the world. Throughout
the treaty with Germany the proposed
league is charged with many re-
sponsibilities to see that the treaty
Is carried out.
order in place of anarchy between
nations. We have had no such thing
as international law. We have had
merely international precedents. ethics
and agreements. This covenant pro-
yfdes for the settlement of every in
ternational dispute that can honestly
"The political enemies Of President
| Wilson should not throw themselves
/ In blind fury against the covenant
on the theory that It is MS cn eau .h aae
| Of The Hague conventions brought
| down to date. 1t represents the best
/ opinions of the whole civilized world.
! Do not STAY the covenant as Presi-
\ dent wilson's CHILD He is not the
stefan who presided over the accouch-
ment. 80
| Ignoring washington's Words.
| "The opponents of the covenant
ldeciare with suspicious zeal that we
| are violating the advice of our re-
/, yered washington and ignoring his
| warning against entangling alliances.
| The entangling alliances to which
| washington referred were agree
ments common in his day. making
| offensive and defensive alliances be-
tween one autocracy and another.
| washington had not the faintest
| conception of the present covenant
| establishing a world order by the
democracies of the world. The pres
| emit covenant precludes the POSSIBLE
ity Of military, dynastic alliances.
"Without CLEAN of humor there are
lopponents of the league who have the
hardwood to confront the intelligence
of mankind with the astonishing pro-
posal that the present covenant would
aboIi sh the Monroe doctrine. But the
covenant actually recognizes, in terms.
the Monroe doctrine. which is all any
reasonable man ought to desire.
"Some Of the hostile critics of the
covenant insist that our sovereignty
would be invaded. This whimsical
conceit has nothing to justify 1t. 1t
is grossly unreasonable to argue that
forty-fve nations would unanimously
vote a precedent to invade their own
sovereignty"