Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-10-12
MAI. FORT FOR
LEAGUE RATHER
THAN BIG ARMY
Tells Why treaty Must
Win In Endorsing
Movement Hare.


from numerous sources yesterday on
the opportunity afforded the public
! of this community by the Times Re
corder to express itself to our sena-
tors for immediate ratification of the
peace treaty and the League of Ma
tions as it stands.
Among those endorsing the oppor-
! tunity was James A. Fort, recently
major with A. E. F., in France and
Germany, and now head of the local
post of the American Legion. Said
Major Fort in communication to the
Times Recorder:
Il am pleased to see that you are
at least taking an active interest in
the League of Nations.
1T seems to me there are. two
courses open to US: One is to have
the largest army and navy in the
world; the other is to ratify the
League as it stands.
Big Army Nothing.
! "A large army will not guarantee
| peace or victory At the beginning
| of the war Russia and Germany had
the finest professional armies in the
/ world; today they are both in the
! scrap heap One reason6 for this is
/ that men withdraw from iheir homes
and civil occupations lose touch and
are not in accord with the ideals and
aspirations of the people. Soldier
ing becomes a business and the SOL
! der is loath to take risks that might
| prevent him reaching the retiring age
If we had had a large professional
; army in 1917 no doubt the war
would be going merrily on at this
time. The Hessian troops in the
Revolution illustrate this.
| "a large army firmly fixed on this
country will establish a caste. An
army with no campaigns and gen
eral with no victories are without
honor, glory or souvenirs. (They
say in France the Americans fought
for souvenirs.) And as honor, glory
! and souvenirs are desirable you can
easily imagine the result.
u. S. Foremost Nation.
Events have made the United
States the foremost nation in the
world today. In the course of his
tory Rome, Spain Holland, France,
England have all occupied this posi-
ton. We have everything to excite
the jealousy of the world, the advan-
tage of other nations, and other ad-
vantages are with us ON every hand.
"Power carries with it response
bility. We must elect either to
stand on force of arms or, by fair
and honorable dealings, rest our case
on the enlightened conscience of the
world. The League furnishes the ma
chinery for utilizing the conscience
of the world. The President has said
we will be the principal partner in
the League. Our voice will carry
weight for very sound reasons, not
the least Of which is the fact that
the United States is the worlds store
house. Watch Italy get in line if
it becomes necessary to cut off coal
and credits from this country.
We Are Concerned.
"Our ships are today sailing the
seven seas, they visit every open port.
Our citizens, claiming the protection
of the American flag, journey over
all the world and trade with other
nations whether we would or not.
| We are in the game and are vitality
concerned about the rules.
Boiled down, it seem to me, the
League of Nations means this: If
one or two nations start trouble
the balance of the world becomes
an interested party at once, without
the camoufage of neutrality. Their
| differences are examined conclusions
arrived at and published. If the ma
ton found to be at fault still per-
sists in her course she does so in
the face of hostile world, with the
assurance that all outside sources of
supply will be cut off. Can you name
a nation that can "get away" with
it under those conditions? Russia
tried it and failed; France under Ma
poleon tried and failed; Germany un-
der William tried it and failed. They
say Alexander cleaned up every
thing in sight in his day, but today
he would probably be weeping for
something to eat, rather than she'd
ding tears for lack of somebody to
fight.
Opposition Easily Fathomed.
3fIt IS not difficult to understand