The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1919-08-07
PRESIDENTIAL PACIFIERS
FAIL TO CONVINCE

Washington-The Republican Pub
licity Association, through it's Presi-
dent, Hon. Jonathan Bourne, Jr., to-
day gave out the following statement
from its Washington Headquarters:
whenever advocates of the league
OF nations reach a point in their dis
crssions of the covenant where a for
eien obligation is imposed upon the
United States they hasten to assure
their auditors that nothing compul-
sorry is involved, They declare that
the council and assembly are possess
Ell of no power of their own, and that
all they can do is to advise. Mr.. Taft
repeatedly has dwelt on that point and
emphasized his statement that the
adoption Of the covenant really binds
the United States to nothing. Sena-
tor Swanson, spokesman of the Pres
idont, in his key note speech took the
same stand Regarding Article 10,
which has been the principal point of
attack by the league opponents, Sen
ator Swanson said
1.-The recommendation for the en-
forcement of this article must have
the approval of the representative of
the United States rpon the council
Thus under Article 10 no troops
of the United States could be sent tc
engage in war without the advice of
her representative in the council and
the approval of her Congress. - =
1t greatest no supertribunal issuing
to us itsuing to us its dictatorial COM
mands. We select and follow our own
pathway of duty and obligation
That line of argument has been
adopted by practically every Senator
who has spoken in behalf of the cove.
nant, and has been applied to every
provision in it which opponents have
charged would bind the United States
against its wishes to coerce or make
war on other nations. Nothing is
more absurd than the position thus as
sumed by friends of the league, Boil
in Articles 10 and II the council i.
clothed with power to take cognizanc,
Of any situation likely to lead to war
and to advise what measures shall b,
taken to maintain peace. OF cours,
the United States can refuse to follow
tho advice of the council, but we coult
not honorably discard the advice o
those whom we have solemnly agree,
shall advise.
Every individual and every stat
has the fundamental right of revolu
ton. But II the traditions of the Unit
ell States we're to be maintained thel
we would follow the plan of action re
commended by the council. The YER
purpose OF creating the league is t.
cause nations to conform to the 'ad
vice, If you please, of the council an
assembly. Disregard that advice an
there is no excuse for the league
existence.
President Wilson has no illusion
on the subject. In his speech of Jul
10th to the Senate he said, referrin
to the league covenant, 1T was only a
the difficult work of arranging an a.
but universal adjustment Of tn
worlds affairs advanced from day
, dat from one stage Of conference
another that 1t became evident to theI
what they were seeking would be Ii,
tue more than something written VI
: on paper, to be interpreted and al
piled by such methods as the chance
OF politics might make available,
they did not provide a means of CON
I mon counsel which lal were abliged
3 accept, a common authority whose d.
. cisions would be recognized as decii
!, ions which all must respect
'Mr. Wilson may permit his lieuter
1 ants in the Senate to tell the countr
- that the league covenant does not rea
t ly mean anything after all. and thu
|. American liberty of action would nj
, be circumscribed In the least by az
he-ence to 1t, but he knows, and ever
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