The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-08-13
MR., LODGE LAUNCHES
HIS LON C-EXPECTED
ASSAULT ON LEAGUE
OPPOSITION LEADER TELLS SEN
ATE WHY HE BELIEVES THEY
SHOULD REJECT COVENANT

Washington. Aug. l2.-Describlng the
League of Nations as "deformed eN'
pertinent upon noble purpose" Sena'
tor Lodge of Massachusetts, chairman
of the foreign relations committee ana
republican leader of the senate, declared
in Il senate speech today that there
We're features of the league covenant
Nshich "as an American" he never could
Except.
Creating not n league of peace but
an alliance embracing many provisions
'or war" this covenant in its present
form he asserted would kill the Mon
roe doctrine. nulify any possibility of
withdrawal from mebership, impair the
sovereign power of deciding domestic
questions. and plunge the United
States into every controversy and con
flict on the face of the globe"
LET us beware" he said, how we
calter with our independence. We
forced our way upward from the days
of the Revolution, through world
often hostile and always indifferent.
We owe no debt to anyone except to
policies and those rights on which our
power has been founded should never be
lessened or weakened .
II am as anxious as any human being
can be TO have the United States rem
der every possible service to civilization
and the peace of mankind but | am
certain we can do it best by not putting
ourselves in leading strings or subject
ing our policies and our sovereignty to
other nations.
Il can never be anything else but am
American. and | must think of the
United States first, and when l think
of the United States first In an ar
rangement like this | am thinking of
what is best for the world, for if the
United States fails the best hopes of
mankind fail with it. I have never had
but one allegiance cannot divide II
now.
L. s. the Worlds Best Hope
THE United States is the worlds best
hope, but if you fetter her in the inter
ssts and quarrels of other nations, If
you tangle her in the intrigues of Eu
rope. YOU will destroy her power for
We are told that we shall break the
heart of the world if we do not take
this league just as it stands. | fear
that the hearts of the vast majority
would beat on strongly and steadily and
without any quckening if the league
we're to perish altogether. If it should
De effectively and benefciently changed,
the people who would lie awak IN sor-
row for a single night could be easily
gathered in one not very large room, bur
those who would draw long breath of
relief would reach to millions.
Ideals have been thrust upon us as
an argument for the league until the
healthy mind which rejects cant, re-
volts from them. Are ideals confined
20 this deformed experiment upon
noble preson, tainted as it is with bar
gains and tied to peace treaty which
might have been disposed of long ago
20 the great benefit of the world if it |
lad not been compelled to carry this
-ider on its back.
NO doubt many excellent and patri- |
otic people see a coming fulfiliment or
noble ideals in the words, league for
peace We all respect and share these
ASP ations and desires. but some of us
see . hope. but rather defeat, for them
IN his murky covenant.
so far as the question of isolation
goes. it il impossible to isolate the
United States. But there is a wide diff
ference between taking q suitable part
and bearing a due responsibility in
world affairs and plunging the United
states into every controversy and con
,lict on the face of the globe"
Likens It to Holy Alliance
Likening the league to the ill-famed
Holy Alliance, Mr.. Lodge quoted the
covenant provision giving the assembly
authority to deal at its meetings with
any matter affecting the peace of the
world" and continued:
There is no such sweeping or far
.eaching provision as that in the treaty
Of Paris, and yet able men developed
rom that treaty the Holy Alliance
which for 80 years was an unmtigated
curse to the world England broke
from the Holy Alliance because English
statesman saw that it was intended 10
urn the alliance-and this league is an
,lliance--into a means of repressing in
:ernal revolutions or Instructions.
No revolutionary movement. no in
.ernal conflict of any magnitude, can
,uil to affect the peace of the world.
Any matter affecting the peace of the
world is a very broad statement which
could be made to justify almost any IN
on the part OF the league
with the internal affairs of other coun-
:ries.
In Article 10, the United States is {
bound on the appeal of any member or |
he league not only to respect but TO |
preserve its independence and its boun- {
iaries and that pledge. if we give it, I
must be fulfilled. There is to me no l
whatever in a treaty between
what some persons are pleased to call I
egal and moral obligations. A treaty |
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