The Topeka state journal., 1919-07-15
HEAR BOTH SIDES
Topekans VIII Bring L. of n.
Speakers Here.
Business Men Want To Listen
to All Arguments.
ORGANIZATION FORMED TODAY
Is Branch of League Headed by
Henry Watterson.
Officers Assert It VIII Maintain
Open-Minded Policy.
ORGANIZATION FORMED TODAY

There is no disposition on the pat
of the business men of Topeka to ac-
cept the league of nations covenant
without looking carefully into the
provisions of the document. 1t may
or may not be the long looked for
war preventive and it may or may not
preserve the integrity of the United
States At any rate, Topeka is to be
given an opportunity to look closely
into the matter before final decision
| is made.
At meeting of representative
business men of Topeka at thu
Chamber of Commerce this noon an
association to consider the league Of
nations was formed. Ferd Funk was
elected chairman by reclamation and
Fred Voiland secretary. The meeting
was called at the instance Of J. w.
Rhine of Philadelphia, special field
representative of the League for the
| Preservation of American Independ-
ence.
Would Hear Both Sides.
| Action at the meeting today was to
the effect that speakers representing
both sides of the league of nations
controversy be asked to come to To-
peka and explain their views on the
| provisions OF the famous document
Tho matter was left at that stage and
no particular speakers were named.
However, it was stated that very soon
the invitations will go out.
The meeting of the business men to-
day was an entirely serious procedure.
There was little levity and the men
were inclined to look the matter of
/ the covenant sQuarely in the eye and
when decision is made they will be
ready to act with decision after care
full investigation.
/ 10 he
men at the meeting that the contest
on the acceptance of the league of ma
tions will be a test of strength be-
| tween the eastern and the western
states. The states of the middle west
will be the grist between the two mill
stones.
Branch of Big League.
The Association to Consider the
League of Nations organized in Topeka
this noon is the state branch of the
League to Preserve American Inde-
| pendence. And the latter named or
ganization is openly against the ac-
| ceptance of the league covenant. On
the speakers list of this organization
| are such well known opponents of the
| league as Col. Henry Watterson, until
recently editor of the Louisville
Courier-Journal;. Senator Albert ].
Beveridge. of Indiana; Senator Hiram
| johnson, of California; Senator Reed
Washington; Senator Borah, of Idaho:
Representative Kahn, of California,
and James NJ. Beck, former assistant
attorney general.
The League to Preserve American
| independence admits that there are
some features of the covenant which
are good, but it takes exception to
articles 10 which the league claims
will tend to bind the United States
to protect by force of arms some forty
or more small European states. The
league also takes exceptions to that
provision which gives the league of
nations power to tell the United States
what size army and what size navy
she may maintain.
The Topeka organization disavows
any opposition or any favoritism for
the league of nations covenant. It's
officers maintain that the association
is of an open mind and is ready to
be convinced on either side of the
controversy-as the members best
judgment may direct.