The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-09-06

sept b--TeXt OF President wilson s
address follows:
Mr.. Chairman, my fellow countryrnen:
/ Tt is very inspiring to me to stand
/ in the presence OF SO great a company
I OF my fellow citizens and have the
/ privilege OF performing the duty that
I I have 70 perform That duty Is TO
report 10 my fellow citizens concern
( ing the work OF the peace conferences.
I and every day 1t seems 20 me to be-
/ come more necessary to report. be-
/ cause so many people, who are talk
\ Ing about IL, don't understand what il
/ was.
Il came back from Paris, bringing
I one OF the greatest documents OF hu-
I man history. tApplause) One Of the
| things that made II great was that Il
was penetrated thruout with the prin-
ctpleS to which American has devoted
/ her life (AppIausel Let me hasten
/ 10 say that one OF the most delightful
| circumstances OF the work on the
I other side OF the water was that
I discovered that what We called Amer
I lean principles had penetrated to the
heart and 10 the understanding. not
[ only OF the great peoples OF Europe.
but to the heart and understandings
u the great men who were represent
/ ing the peoples OF Europe
Win Discard War.
Il think that can say that one OF
/ the things that America has had most
at heart turnout her existence has
been that there should be substituted
for the brutal processes OF war the
friendly processes OF consultation and
arbitration and that is done in the
covenant Of the League OF Nations
an very anxious that my fellow citi-
CHIEF topic Of the covenant Of the
League OF Nations. the greater part OF
its provisions
The whole intent and purpose OF
the document are expressed in provi-
sions by which all the member states
agree that they will never go to war
without first having done one or other
OF two things. either submitted the
matter in controversy TO arbitration.
in which case they agree to abide by
the verdict or submitting it to discus
sion in the counsel of the League Of
Nations and for that purpose they
consent 10 allow six months for the
discussion and whether they like the
opinion expressed or not that they
will not go to war for three months
after that opinion has been expressed
SO that you have, whether you get ar
bItration or not. nine months discus
sion.aud I want 10 remind you that
that is the central principle OF some
thirty treaties entered into between
the United States OF America and some
thirty other sovereign nations. all of
which are confirmed by the senate OF
the United States
Huns Saw League Power.
1--WE have such an agreement with
France: we have such an agreement
with Great Britain; We have such an
agreement with practically every great
nation except Germany, which refused
to enter into such an agreement be-
cause. my fellow citizens. Germany
knew that that she intended some
thing that did not bear discussion and
that IL she had submitted the purpose
rzf~
one months discussion. she never
would have dared 70 go into the enter
prise against mankind. which she
finally did go into tappiause) and
therefore I say that this principle OF
discussion is the principle already
compulsfou to do this The cOmpul-
sion is this. that II any member state
violates that promise 10 submit either
to arbitration or discussion 1t Is there
By. ipso facto. deemed to have COM
mftted an act OF war against all the
rest. Then you will ask. do we at once
take Up arms and fight them? No.
We do something very much more ter
ribIe than that We absolutely boy
colt them
Boycott Worse Than War.
LET any merchant put up to him
self. that IL he enters into a covenant
and then breaks It and the people all
around about desert his establishment
and will have nothing 10 do with him,
ask him. after that. II II will be neces-
sary to send the police? The most
terrible thing that can happen to any
! Individual and the most conclusive
thing that can happen to a nation IS
to be read out OF decent society zap
/ plause)-
Provides Dlsa armament
There was another thing that we
rzh IL
pished in this document We wanted
| disarmament and this document pro-
/ vides in the only possible way for
| disarmament by common agreement
/ Observe. my fellow citizens, that just
[ now every nation in the world is a
member OF this partnership except
I Germany. and inasmuch as Germany
/ has accepted n Limitation Of her army
/ to 100. 900 men. I don't think for the
/ time being she may be regarded as a
/ great fighting nation
And you know. my fellow citizens,
that armaments mean great standing
armies and great stores OF war ma
teriaL They do not mean burdensome
| taxation merely; they do not mean
merely compulsory military service
which saps the economic strength Of
the nation. but they mean the build
ing up OF a military class Again and
again my fellow citizens. in the con-
ference at Paris we were face 20 face
I with this situation That in dealing
| with a particular civil government We
found that they would not dare to
promise what their general staff was
not willing that they should promise:
and that they were dominated by the
military machine which they had
created. uOminaIly for their own de-
Tense, but realiy-whether they willed
IL or motor the provocation OF war
And so. as long as you have a military
class, It does not make any difference
what your form of government Is II
you are determined to be armed 20 the
teeth you must obey the orders and
I directions OF the only men who can
control the great machinery OF the
war. II is not merely the cost Of II
I