Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1919-08-15
ANOTHER WEAK POINT
IN LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Washington Aug. 11.--That the
league of nations of America were,
a member of it, would, throw Euro
pean troubles into American poll
tics, because of our large foreign
born population, is the opinion ex-.
pressed by the Republican Publicity
Association in a statement issued to-
day by it's president, Hon. Jonathan
Bourne, Jr. The statement which
presnts a new view of the league is
as follows:
"One of the most vicious features
of the league of nations, in it's attack
upon our domestic peace is the fact
that once foreign governments have a
voice in our affairs 1t is inevitable
that large portion of the people of
this country will divide themselves
in groups, each American and some
thing else. or still more likely each
something else first and American
aftefmaru. We nave seen something
of that. surely enough to cause US to
take warning.
$50 league of nations instead of
promoting Americanism and cement
ing us into single nation of patriot
ic people will cause a segregation of
interest of many people derived from
many nationalities of Europe, each
with a reservation of mind whenever
its own foreign nations interest is at
stake. 1t will make the United States
an unthipkable sort of a nation and
one without capacity to protect itself
Prom diversified loyalty within it's
borders.
Once we are members of the lea
guesof nations every other member Of
the league will have a very positive
interest in our domestic as we'll as
our foreign affairs. Our decorate
will be of immense interest to these
foreign governments and next to
their own voters ours will be of i'm
portance.
We have seen enough of propa-
ganda to know that every nation de-
pending upon our support of it's own
policies will seek to shape our public
opinion according to its own pattern
and there will be a powerful incen-
tive for persistent propaganda, and
along side of propaganda will go a
spy system necessary means of d.
recting and giving force to propagan-
da. We will be fruitful stamping
ground for intriguing diplomats and
propagandists from all the nations
of the earth. To make matters worse
the propagandists will have a sort of
official standing under the league of
nations and we would find it diff
cult to resent their activities, altho
when wholly independent of them
we could take. positive measures to
suppress them.
I'VE all know that when we cali
the neighbors into our family quar-
rels that the result is divided house.
We have had our own domestic diff
ferences and have fought them out
in the forum and at the ballot box
and at the end of our NEST intense
political battles we have accepted the
verdict of the ballot box until the
battle could again be waged at the
next election. All this has been in
such friendly spirit as to cause won
der that the heat of the political bat
tie could so soon be cast aside and
it has been possible because we have
had faith that whatever differences
differences of opinion have prevailed
our people were Americans, simply
dividing in their views as to what has
been best for the common welfare of
our country. There has seldom been
any suspicion that any portion of the
electorate has acted for the bene-
fit of any foreign country.
But with a league of nations
there will be very positive suspi-
'cion that in league questions that
affect the welfare of other countries
racial prejudices will sway otherwise
well meaning men.
This is a weakness of the league
that applies to us alone among all
the nations of the earth. 1t cannot
apply to England or France or Ger
many or Italy or any other member
of the league because their popula-
tion has been nationalized by CEN
lures of unity of interest.
I'VE must bear in mind that
house divided against itself will sure
ly fall"