The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-03-29
WATSON ATTACKS
LEAGUE PLAN IN
BOSTON ADDRESS
Sections Of Covenant Flayed
by Indiana Senator-Urges
Private Rail Ownership.

BOSTON, Mass, March 29.-Nearly
400 members of the New England
Street Railway Club gathered last
night in the Copely Plaza for their
nineteenth annual banquet, cheered
Senator James Il. Watson of Indiana
to the echo as he set forth the grounds
OF his opposition to the terms of the
league OF nations covenant as original
ly formulated, and in a review Of the
railroad situation came out emphati-
cally as the champion of private own
ership against government ownership
Senator Watson began his address
by outlining the railroad situation
from the time when conditions made
1t necessary for the government to
take over the roads. at has cost this
country $1,000, 100000 more to run the
railroads under government opera
ton" he said, than it did under pr-
vate operation. Where did we get the
money? We not only voted an appro-
priation of S500,000000 for the revolv.
Ing fund, but Mr. McAdoo increased
L.
state rates in many cases were in
creased as much as 600 per cent on
short hauls. A tremendous wrong
was done by that horizonal increase.
Passenger rates were also increased
DO per cent. Yet in January there was
deficit of $79,O0,00O.
Fears Political Control.
Il am opposed to any extension Of
ant rho,,
the twenty-one months have expired
the railroads should so back TO private
ownership and private management,
because government operation always
means less efficiency and greater cost.
! have always looked upon this as a
roundabout scheme to bring in gov
eminent ownership. which means po-
Htical ownership and would bring on
other kinds Of ownership. including
land ownership"
Turning to the league of nations is
sue. Senator Watson said
II am against this constitution be-
cause, while ostensibly formulated to
preserve peace, eight of it's articles
legalize war and four of them compel
1t; because it confers upon the execu-
tive council the literal domination of
of the council. because 1t makes no
provision for the election by the peo-
pie or by the peoples congress for the
selection Of our one representative in
that council, but leaves him to execu-
tive choice only.
Because 1t permits foreign body
to suggest the size of our army, and
II that suggestion be adopted, to pre-
nf mil 20 fnr ~ <,
no matter how great the exingency
that confronts us.
Opposes Use Of Troops.
Because 1t enables the executive
council arbitrarily to fix the number
of troops we shall furnish III any diff
ficulty that may occur any where on
earth, place them wherever it pleases,
keep them there as long as it likes
and compel us to pay all the expenses
incident to the enterprise
Because 1t places our troops under
the command Of any person it sees fit
to elect.
Because it empowers the council to
levy an assessment upon US for any
sum it may be necessary to exact to
defray the expense of any military ex-
petition upon which 1t may determine
to embark.
Because it makes immigration, tax
alton and tariff international and do
mestic questions.
Because it transfers at least a por.
ton of our sovereignty to foreign con-
troll, strikes down number of the pro-
visions of our constitution, abrogates
the Monroe Dcctrine and undermines
to that extent the independence of the
government of the United States.
Because it Immediately thrusts us
into all the quarrels of all the nations
of the earth and invites them to par
ticipate in settling all our difficulties
it means that the wages of our labor.
ing people shall be reduced in order to
'equalize' them with the wages paid
our competitors abroad.
II am opposed to it because under
two OF its sections Japan would be
enabled to force her people upon us or
else compel us to go to war with al
the other members Of the league"