The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1919-05-08
League of Nations Can Foment War as
Well as Promote Precautionary
in Its Worst Form

filled. Whether the territorial integ-
rity is based upon justice, upon right
eousness whether the cause which
would disturb 1t Is Just cause, or
whether there Is conscience and de-
cency behind 1t, we are nevertheless
to preserve the territorial integrity,
and we are to follow the advice of the
executive council as to how it shall
be done. Although the executive
councils advice might be regarded as
vicious and unwise, as characterized
by ignorance and selfshness, by the
many reasons which often lead those
diplomatic combinations to foment
war, the people would have no choice
whatever nor any power to review
their action. II the executive council
should advise that the United States
should send one million men to pro-
tect the territorial rights of China, or
Great Britain in India, or of Russia
in the Siberias, we would be under
contractural and moral obligation to
act although we might regard the
whole scheme as unjust and uncon-
scionable.
The point which I make is this:
That there is ample power for this
executive council to foment var as
well as to promote peace. Evil-mind-
ed men, selfish, corrupt men, ambi-
tious and militaristic men, could bring
on a war much more easily than the
men who fomented and instigated this
war If they should see fit to do so.
There Is not word in the constitu
ton which restrains or limits them.
Their law is their discretion or their
will There Is no way to check or
control them on the part of the peo-
pie. They are there, so far as the
constitution provides, for life, with a
jurisdiction equal to that which the
kaiser coveted and as free from re-
straint as it would be possible for
nine men to be.
When the fathers organized this
government they thought it necessary
to put check upon their representa-
tives, upon their senators, upon their
president not only in the way of
counter checks but in the way of
limited terms of service. But we are
here presenting to these few men,
whom the people can neither elect,
check or control, a power which if in
l1L 80 al
bring on world war at any time.
Suppose this council were in session
over the question of preserving the
territorial integrity of some European
power. The United States would have
one vote. Europe would have from
three to five votes at least. Asia
! would have the balance in all prob
ability. The policy could and likely
would be determined by aliens. and
our people would be without any re-
course whatever
Let us take another illustration as
to the want of democracy in this con
stitution. The territorial status OF
nations of today may under the law
of change and progress be wholly diff
ferent tomorrow. A subject nation
may want it's freedom and the United
States might sympathize with it. But
there is no provision nor any possible
clause under this constitution by
which the principle of self determine
ton could be applied. If by reason of
the internal disturbance with a ma
! ton threat of war" should arise, or
} if that which the executive council
might choose to regard as a threat of
war should arise, they could call into
action the economic or military forces
OF all members of the league to put
down the disturbance. There is am
pie power and ample authority under
this constitution for any executive
council to crush out any movement
for freedom or independence on the
part of any subject nation or any
small nation Certainly constitu-
ton for a league of nations ought to
have somewhere recognition of the
rights Of the people and chance for
them to be heard upon the question
of peace or war; and also recognition