Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-09-22
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The League of Nations.

and Nebraska have been especially
/ favored in being permitted to see
and hear the chief supporter and
two of the prominent opponents OF
the league of nations publicly give
expression to their views.
That the speeches of President
Wilson have been disappointing
even to his followers, seem tC
be generally conceded. He has
been received with all the respect
and attention that Is his due as the
chosen head Of a great nation, &C
companied by the first lady of the
land, whose beauty and personal
charm have graced every public ap-
pearance. That the president and
his party should be SO received is
most fitting and proper, but his pc
dantic utterances from the rostrum
seemed in many instances to fall
upon dull ears. Many remark that
his explanations and replies to crit
icisms of the Objectionable features
Of the treaty were entirely neglected
or insufficintly answered. The use
of the barroom buffers last argu-
ment put up or shut up is not
graciously received. even though de-
livered from educated and refined
lips. The average" American re-
sents being told in substance that
whether he has or has not read
this great instrument he would not
likely comprehend it" but that ats
Interpretation ought of right be left
to those who drafted it," The "aver-
age citizen believes there can be
nothing written in plain English
language concerning the affairs of
his government which he cannot
both read and understand, but is
not SO egotistical as to say that his
Interpretation must be accepted by
all other men without question. The
president seems to think that he
Is still acting the part Of a peda-
gogue, whose utterances before his
class must be received as uttered
and no one should have the temerity
to doubt or deny.
Those who attended the Auditor
ium meeting addressed by Senator
Borah, regardless of their convic-
tons on the subject, must have been
could be more en- rapport with the
speaker than those who listened to
the senator. One exhibition Of per-
sonal feeling was perhaps a surprise
to many. When Mr.. Borah said,
las for myself + am opposed to any
league but the entire audience
seemed to rise as one to support
his position, not even waiting for
him to further explain, but that Ia
not the issue now-the issue Is, shall
the league be Americanized," which
met with as hearty approval as the
first part of his statement. And
again at the luncheon given for
Senator Johnson when he said,
Let us get out of this whole dirty
mess" it was greeted with the long
est and most vociferous applause of
any part of his address. Whether
majority Of the people Of Nebras-
ka are opposed to any league might
be questioned, but that an over
whelming majority are either in
favor Of amending or rejecting the
league as now framed cannot be
doubted.
Suppose, that Just before we en-
tered the war, the allies had en-
tered into a secret compact, where
by England on the successful ter
mination Of the war should have
coded to her territorial rights" over
the New England states and New
York and such a compact had been
ratified at the peace table. Sub
stitute Japan" for England" and
"Shantung' for New England and
New York" and you would have
exactly what is done by the terms
OF the treaty. To take from us
New England and New York would
be no greater wrong than to take
Shantung, the home Of their tradi-
tons, their ancestors and their gods,
from China, and yet we are asked
to ratify this, the blacklist page of
perfldy ever written in all history.
and pledge the blood and treasures
Of our people for generations to come
to say that this infamous compact
shall be enforced.
Any United States senator who
votes to ratify this league as now
formed without amendment or al
solemn oath to support the consti-
tuition of the United States as he
would IL he should vote to suspend
the bill of rights and direct the
president as commander in-chief of
the army and navy to enforce the
suspension.
Allusion is made to a member
OF a large firm of International
bankers in New York, who favor
treaty without alteration or amend
ment. This banking house. or some
of its members. may, be among the
same coterie who could answer why
10000 American boys were sent to
the Arctic Zone in the dead Of win
ter to starve, freeze and die in an
attempt to make war against ma
ton with whom the United States
was at absolute peace. Congress
never declared war against Russia
or any other European nation ex-
cept Germany and Austria. Then
why were American soldiers sent to
Siberia II 1t were not done through
some sinister influence which sought
Russian bonds. The American peo-
pie are not going to send their sons
across the Atlantic again to enforce
the payment Of bonds of bankrupt
foreign governments to those who
profited out of their purchase and
sale during the late war. They will
first see that liberty bonds shall be
worth par and every dollar repaid
to those whose loyalty and pa
triotism inspired them to invest their
savings for the preservation Of
America.
The supporters of the league have
descended to the usual blackguard-
ism and calumny of those who face
defeat. They promiscuously apply
the word "pro-German" to their
opponents, call such men as Lodge,
Knox, Sherman and Root and other
loyal and patriotic citizens bolshe-
visits and l. w. WIS and those who
follow them as willing lieutenants
IL such epithets can be properly
applied to such leaders In Ameri-
DAILY CARTOONETTE.