Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-03-19
NATIONS LEAGUE
COVENANT IS ONLY.
STARTER NJ ADOO
Former Director General of the
Railroads in Statement Here
Indicates That instrument Is
Subject to Revision.


William G. McAdoo, former direc-
tor general of railroads and secretary
of the treasury defended the covenant
of the proposed league of nations in
short statement, delivered here
Tuesday morning from the rear plat
form of Santa Fe train No. Z.
The newly organized Society for the
Study of the League OF Nations had
telegraphed Mr.. McAdoo asking him
to express his views of the plan. He
did not receive the message, however,
until the train had reached Lamy,
and had no time to prepare a formal
address. He spoke eXtemporaneously,
combining his talk chiefly to replies to
critics of the league.
More than 800 persons heard Mr..
McAdoo, Including as many railroad
men as could leave their work, They
marched to the car, under the Stars
and Stripes, and cheered their for
mer boss" heartily. Mr. McAdoo
shook hands with those nearest him
and seemed to be delighted at his re-
ceptiOn.
Mr. McAdoo handled the subject
categorically. taking one after anoth-
er of the chief shots aimed at the
league as his target. His first bolt
went against the charge that the eX-
ecutive council, somewhere in
chamber across the Atlantic, would
have the power to send the United
States into a war ii did not will. He
said that every act of the executive
council, outside of questions of pro-
cedure, must be authorized by unani-
nous vote Of the members.
How could America be forced into
war if she would vote against it,"
THE cry is going out" he 'contin-
ued, that the league, If formed,
would take away the sovereignty of
the American people l say that it
will add to the sovereignty. The ca
nard that we would be outvoted in the
league is absolutely without founda-
ton. Those who are. spreading this
propaganda forget to tell their audi
ences that the constitution of the
league, as it now stands, requires a
unanimous vote on all questions ex-
cept a few of technical procedure. !
asw you: How could we be outvoted?''
The league would not destroy the
Monroe doctrine. he said, characteriz-
ing the belief that it would as pre-
posterous, As a matter of fact, he
said, the league would be of the great
est possible, assistance in the enforce
ment of the doctrine.
Everyone knows many of the main
features of the Monroe doctrine" hel
added, but on several occasions I
have asked men who raised this OBJ
lection; What is the Monroe doctrine
and how could it be over-run by the
league" and they signally failed to-
answer the question.
"As matter of fact the league
would be of the greatest possible as
sistance in the enforcement Of the !
Monroe doctrine in that now if the !
doctrine is invaded we alone must sup
port it. IG the league existed all the
associated nations would be our allies
in enforcing it,"
from Paris by President Wilson was
tative--a starter, he said, from which
through discussion and thought the
final instrument may be built, Fair
and frank discussion was desired He
expressed amazement "at the fragrant
Misrepresentation which men of
standing have made to the public re-
garding the effect and general prin-
cipla of the tentative constitution of
the league of nations and the. results
which it would have if adopted"
1t was not expected he said, that
the, league would make war impossi,
ble,' but that it would make future
armed conflicts improbable.
Mr.. McAdoo was still speaking as
the train started