The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-26
REPUBLICAN, SENTIMENT.
The Fifteenth Assembly District
Clubs Debate on the League.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN--Sir: In
THE Sun of June ~ you published q
letter signed ~. W." giving certain
facts about the discussion concerning the
League Of Nations which we have had
in the Fifteenth Assembly District Re-
publican Club. As president OF that
club ask the privilege OF setting forth
, in your columns certain additional facts.
These facts are Of general interest be-
cause some seventeen Of the signers OF
the recent round robin letter 10 Senators
Wadsworth and Calder urging ratifca-
ton Of the League covenant reside In
, the Fifteenth Assembly district.
, AS stated by ~. w." we held meet
! ing of the club on June IS, which was
addressed by Henry w. Taft and Her
bert Parsons. who speke in favor Of the
League. and by Nathaniel A. Elsbers.
who spoke in opposition to the League.
| The resolution quoted by ~. W." recon-
mending ratification of the League OF
Nations covenant was not introduced
until after IL p. NJ. There we're many
members Of the club who wished to
express their views on the resolution
| and toward midnight the whole matter
was doJOuTtou IoT oue Wocb-
] In the interval received letters from
various members Of the club, some Of
which we're strongly opposed TO the reso-
luton, some strongly in favor Of 1t and
some Of which favored its adoption
| with certain amendments.
In reopening the discussion on June
20 therefore stated that unless the
club could agree at the present time with
substantial unanimity upon some form
| OF resolution II would In my opinion
| be wiser to take no action at all, first.
because a resolution adopted by small
| majority would be lacking in real sig
nificance. and, second, because It did not
seem fair to bind the club as q whole
| with respect to such a rnomentous
question.
During the course Of the discussion
| which followed many different resolu-
| tons were offered and the argument
| with respect to form became almost a.
keen as that with respect to substance.
! Among the active organization Republic
| cans who were present every point of
| view was represented. even the some
what extreme view that war strengthens
a nations soul that peace Is weakening
and therefore that a league of peace 10
wicked in itself. 1t was obvious that
| unanimous support could not be OBJ
tanned for any of the resolutions pro-
posed, and accordingly after a pro-
trscted debate and by common consent
| all Of the resolutions were laid on the
| table.
May add that as an active organiza-
ton Republican I deplore the impression
which has been given by the negative
speeches of some of our Senators at
Washington. namely. that the Republi-
can party Is opposed to the League OF
Nations. On tho contrary know that
there is a strong body OF opinion in the
| Republican party which favors the
adoption OF the League covenant as II
stands. and believe that only a few
| Republicans would oppose the League II
| some limitations were put upon Article
X. and It were made clear beyond the
possibility OF argument that Article XXI
and the seventh paragraph OF Article
XIV. were intended to reserve and are
to be interpreted as reserving from the
| Jurisdiction of the League every question
with respect to immigration. the tarifl
and tho Monroe Doctrine. also be-
lieve that In the last analysis very few
Of tho Republican Senators would vote
against the League covenant as above
qualified. and am sorry to see them
take positions now which may well be
inconsistent with their Anal action.
| LAUREN CARROLL.
NEW YORK. June IS.