Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-06-20
ARTICLES V, VI and VII
Voting Rules.


Procedure and the appointment of
committees in the Assembly and the
Council are to be decided by a ma
jority vote, almost all other matters
require unanimity. The functions
of these bodies being mainly dis
cussion, the requirement of unan-
imous vote on questions of procedure
would enable one member to pre-
vent any subject from being debated;
and if it were required for the ap-
pointment of committees one mem>
Der could prevent gathering the in
formation needed for intelligent dis
cussion.
The object of demanding unanim-
ity for other matters was really to
still the alarm of people who did not
understand that the organs of the
League are given no substantial pow
er to direct the conduct of the mem
bers. But the provision is by no
means inconsistent with the prin-
ciple on which the League is based
that of automatic action by the mem
bers, specifically set forth in the Cow
enant itself, and beyond this confer
ences with view to voluntary con-
certed action by all the members.
For sthe last purpose unanimous
vote is not inappropriate.
The Automatic Principle.
1t may be we'll to explain here
more precisely what is meant by au-
tomato action on the part of mem
Der of the League. 1t denotes ac-
ton that is automatic so far as the
League or it's organs are concerned,
not in regard to the constitutional
branches of its own government. I'm
der Article XVI, for example, if one
nation resorts to war against an
other in disregard of its covenants
the other members of the League
agree Immediately to subjac' to the
severance of all trade and financial
relations, and to prohibit an inter-
course between their citizens and its
citizens. This is automatic in the
sense CIldG III ID d u1ISSI anu AIiAlAS-
date obligation, wholly independent
of any action by any organ of the
League. 1t is not automatic in the
sense that the severance of relations
takes place automatically without any
action by the governments of the
several members of the League. Nor
does it determine what branch of a
national government has power to
put it into effect That depends upon
the constitution of the nation. With
us it would require legislation, and
therefore action by Congress; but
II Congress is under a moral treaty
which pledges the good faith of the
nation, to enact the legislation re-
quired.
Permanent Secretariat.
The League will obviously need a
considerable body of men to carry
on a voluminous correspondence
among the members, to record the
proceedings of the different organs
to collect such information as they
may require, and to assist the va
rious committees and standing com
missions. In fact the convenience OF
the representatives, and the ease OF
working the organization will be
greatly promoted by the efficieny OF
such secretariat and it's chief. This
is especially true because in popular
governments-and no others are ex'
pected to be members of the League
the men who hold the high offices
of state change frequently, and hence
the representatives in the Council
Assembly are not likely to remain long
enough to be thoroughly familiar
with the details of previous trans
! actions, but must depend for much
information upon the secretariat.
In order, therefore, to render eff