Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-11-11
OUR SENATOR'S FAVOR RESERVATIONS

eigntios which viii best promote the
welfare OF the people over whom they
rule: IL this article has a tendancy 10
prevent war, 1t Is only because OF It's
terrorism or autocracy. 1t Is in con-
fiict with every precept OF liberty and
democracy and there are no circum-
stances under which could be
brought to defend or support 1t.
That part of the covenant which
contemplates the administration OF the
affairs OF q foreign land, such as Tur-
key of the Balkans Is exceedingly re-
pugnant to me. 1t would not only be
tremendous drain upon our treasury
but II would accustom us to military
rule and to arbitrary command. We
are not fitted for any such work and
we ought not to undertake 1t. More
over. II Is In my judgment beyond our
constitutional authority, and I am
unwilling to break down the character
of our institutions, given to us by our
rorefather5.
Since the original draft was brought
to America by the President, the Pro-
vision relating to manufactures has
been modified by inserting clause
which gives to the country to which
the mandate is issued the option to
accept or reject 1t. While the modi-
dcation makes the provision much less
Objectionable and while L would not
vote for n rejection Of the treaty on
that account, must still record my
protest against 1t.
There are several reservations aside
from the ones which preserve to us
freedom in our domestic affairs and
relieve us from obligations OF Article
10 for which intend to vote, but they
are not so important or vital in their
character and I need not mention
them. 80
In so far as the German treaty
proper Is concerned, want In as few
words as possible to give my attitude
toward 1t. We are bound in honor to
our allies to stand with and by them
in making peace with Germany and to
share with them the burdens or obli-
cations which must be assumed in
order to make the victory complete
and it's results enduring. To me that
means rendering Germany harmless in
tary and naval establishments by OBJ
her Notifications, her mu-
milton factories, and the like. and by
requiring her to remain unarmed, sub
for such length of time as
the allied nations ( may regard as
1t is our duty to make sure
that Germany not only VIII not but
can not attack the world in order to
her ambitions and criminal
designs. When we have shared with
our allies these burdens We have per-
formed our whole duty. / am utterly
the plan which proposes
that the United States shall join Great
Britain. France, Italy and Japan in
disposing of the spoils of war, includ-
ing the disposal Of the territory which
belonged to Germany. 1t is
more than a blunder; it is a national
crime for US to become responsible for
the transfer Of Shauntung to Japan,
for the delivery Of the German provin-
ces in Africa to Great Britain, or the
creation of the protectorates in Egypt
and Asia. protest against assuming
the burden Of the new nations which
have been set up in Eastern Europe.
partly OF territory taken
from Germany and Austria. I voted
against the amendment to the Shant-
ung Article in the treaty solely
because am not willing to have any
thing whatever TO do with the distri-
button of the spells Of war, and shall
vote for every amendment or reserva-
ton which tends to lift the United
States from the frightful tangle into
which the President has led us.
] voted for an amendment for the
treaty which withdrew the United
States from the obligation to send an
army into Silesia for the purpose of
overseeing and directing the plebiscite
which Is shortly to occur. / am argu-
ing and voting for an escape from
these broils and turmoils of the world,
and especially of Europe. 1t is quite
true that the circumstances might
hereafter arise, which will require our
but I want to see the
United States free to do whatsoever
may seem best when the time comes,
and especially do l want our country
free from the responsibility Of having
divided the people of the world into
a division concerning
which the people most affected have
had nothing whatever to say.
This letter does not at all follow the
order of the questions you have
suggested, but believe what have
written will give you a fair conception