Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1919-04-25
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SANE VIEW OF LEAGUE OF MA
TtONS


League for the Preservation of Amer
lean Independence, b. f. Harris abank-
er of Champaign, Ills, and vice presi-
dent of the Illinois State Council OF
Defense, attack the Wilson plan for
the league of nations as a menace to
American nationalism, and criticised
the President for what he termed his
forced methods of trying to gain its
acceptance The greatest serviceAmer-
lea can render the world. he believes.
rs in offering an exemple of restrained,
rational and disciplined democracy.
Mr.. Harris letter said in part:
Il am in favor of every sane and
sound effore looking toward the abol-
ishment of war and the arbitration of
all international disputes.
L am, however, unalterably opposed
to the present form of the league con-
I stitution-not to A LEAGUE, but to
the CECIL WILSON league.
II resent also the American, I'M
democratic and unconstitutional at
tempt on the part of the President or
league propaganda to force this draft,
or anything akin to 1t, upon our SEN
ate or our people.
Il delounce the dishonest scheme of
a Democratic organization, partisan
beyond endurance. to brand as 'parti-
san to demean as 'pigmy minded all
who venture to protest against the de-
tails, or lack of details, in this highly
unsatisfactory document.
Il am of those who believe with
Abraham Lincoln that:
Only the people themselves and
not their servants, can safely reverse
their own deliberate decisions -
that whatever may be the wishes or
disposition OF foreign states, the integ-
rity of our country and the stability
of our government depend not upon
THEM but upon the loyalty, the virtue
the patriotism and the intelligence of |
the American people = Let them |
beware of surrendering a political |
power which they already possess"
Il am of those who feel that our |
greatest danger lles3 not in too much
but in too little Nationalism: that in
restrained. rational, disciplined Amer
lean democracy lies our hope and the
hope OF, and our greatest service to
America went into this war as a
Tree nation-it must come out and
stay out free nation.
Taking Mr.. Wilson seriously when
he said; We shall fight for the things
which we have always carried nearest
'ur hearts we will fight for the Con-
'titution and with Cleveland land
very president before and to 1879
against any departure from the for
ign policy commended by our his
DRY and our tradition and prosperity.
Have we stopped to realize that a
little partisan picked. unsolicited un-
ndorsed and thus unrepresentative
roup with more than 300 similarly
elected specialists on geography.
.eology philology, archaeology. my
biology astrology. farceology. but no
'mericology, are shaping our destiny,
meanwhile expecting the doxology
rom as.
"A s50.000.00O fund with world
work and not a single
enator or other elected or constitu-
lonally coordinated Representatives
xcepting our expatriated president.
Tho does not speak from the Ameri-
an point of view. for. in attempting
speak for all men everywhere. he
axes In so mush territory that. per-
orce he cannot speak for, nor diff
arentiate US and our interests from
he rest.
NOT uoes ne ueSife 10 do so, but
lther to level us to ali maakind' with
III economic barriers removed and
10 matter what the cost.
This un-American group plans 10
lake us a mere fraction in super :
lobe government that would have au- Z,
iority and power 10 raise and expend o
Tres: 70 organize and command n
rmies 10 regulate the trade and
OF the world and 10 declare a,
ar, giving US the big end of the bur- Il
en- and the small voice. The future r,
rec and authority of international n
W should in reality be the most vital
nestion before the Paris conference. %
AS the success of any plan must W
nd its foundation solely in the honor +
the constituent nations. why not scr nj
? high court with the representa- Sc
YES sitting as judges. as Roosevelt
lggested, rather than have them at OF
mpt in many respects impossible, OF