The labor standard., 1919-09-01

If both parties to the dispute have observed the rules of the League, the other nations will stand back and let them fight it out. War under such circumstances is difficult to imagine, however, because before the angry na- tions will be allowed to fight in ac- cordance with the rules of the League, so much time must elapse that in all probability their anger will cool and they will reach an amicable under standing.
 What we have to fear is that some nation will go to war in defiance of the League, and every precaution has been taken to suppress such nation by the immediate use of the united power of the other nations. If inter to terms she would have to face a combined international army and navy. The founders of the League be- lieve that the mere possibility of such situation will prevent any nation from violating its agreement. Does anyone think that Germany would have begun war five years ago if she had known that nearly all the other great powers would combine against her?
 Doing the Worlds Work.
 In addition to settling international disputes peaceably the League of Nations will provide means for doing much of the worlds work more sys- tematically and effectively than can be done now when each nation is working only for itself. The people you know best and like best are those who work with you on the same job. It will be the same way with the nations of the future The more they work together, the sooner they will come to understand and like each other.
 For example, the League will estab- fish an international organization for the bettering of labor conditions in different countries, for the protection of women and children and the native inhabitants of civilized and semi-civil- ized countries. One of Germany's greatest crimes has been her barba- rous treatment of the helpless people in some of her colonies. One of the chief tasks of the League will be to look after peoples that are not strong enough to protect themselves.
 The League will appoint commis- sions to take charge of various inter- national undertakings so that they may be carried on, not for the benefit of any one nation, but for the benefit of the whole world. Provision will be made for promotion of fair and equal trade conditions.
 These are only a few of the benefits the world will derive from the League. As time goes on we shall find more and more tasks at which the nations can work in common and a greater number of opportunities to remove causes which stir up jealousies and animosities between races and peoples.
 Objections Answered.
 Of course we cannot hope to make the great changes such as the League of Nations will bring about without opposition. Fortunately the war has taught us the great advantages of international cooperation. It was only by good team work that the free liberty loving nations were able to whip Germany.
 The treaty which the United States Senate is debating obligates the meIn- bers of the proposed League to pro- tect one another against attack from enemies outside their own boundaries bent upon conquest. Although this agreement (Article X of the Cove nant) is vital to any arrangement which seeks to. prevent war, it has been attacked on the ground that it would draw the United States into wars in various parts of the world and force us to send our boys to fight in quarrels which did not concern us.
 We should remember, however, that the main purpose of Article K is to frighten nations tempted to wars of conquest from yielding to the tempta- tion, by the certainty that they will be crushed if they begin such a war by a universal boycott and a union of forces of the world against them. If a big war breaks out again, the United States will be forced to take part in it whether we have League of Nations or not We tried hard enough 10 keep out or the war WlLn Oermany but found we couldn't.
 A little war contrary to the League rules could be handled by the powers close at hand. Certainly it would not be necessary to send American troops to suppress an uprising in the Balkans when prompt action by the armies of Italy or some other nearby powerful nation could suppress the fracas be- fore American troops could even get started.
 Great Gain for Small Loss.
 We had to make many sacrifices to win the last war and we made them willingly because we knew they were worth while. It will be the same in 8 smaller degree with League of Nations. When men form a business each one has to make to the views and opinions of the other members of the firm. When we enter the League of Nations we may have to give up cer-