The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-07-15
WASHINGTON NEWS =
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WASHINGTON, D. c., July 1a-sen-
ator Davis Elkins today gave TO the
press a statement OF his views on the
League Of Nations. 1t is the first
since he signed the so-called round
robin" in which the views OF 80 Sena
tors were set forth briefly, but clearly.
That was given out at a time when
the Senate had not received the COM
pleted document.
Senator Elkins says IN his state
rnent issued today:
y The League OF Nations as presented
TO the Senate calls for change OF pol
icy on the part of the United States
with success since It's foundation. We
have, following the wise counsel OF
Washington and the fathers of the Re
public, kept clear of entangling ALI
ances with all foreign governments
The proposition now Is very plainly
that We abandon that policy and as an
inevitable result of that abandonment
enter at once into partnership and al.
lance with the politics, intrigue. wars
Nand.reyolutions and all the ferment of
racial discord and European ambitions
and selfishness with which we have
WISELY uOI SlllCt we nave DGtil
a nation. Under this policy we have
gnown in greatness and independence,
and by reason of 1t have been able 10
WELD an influence, and enact righte-
Gus part IN world affairs. that we could
not have had had we entangled in such
q league or alliance as Is now pro.
posed.
II we are to depart from this life
71ong policy, we must do 1t within tho
limits OF our constitutional powers. TAX
ling every precaution. to safeguard and
'sprotect our government and its insti-
tutions as established under our con-
stitution. In a number OF respects.
most vital and all-important to us, the
covenant as presented violates that in
"a most astonishing extent. If we are
to enter upon this new policy. this
Z santi-Washington and anti.Americalr
policy Of forming entangling alliances
with each and every foreign govern
,ment that desires our partnership, thea
these several provisions violative of
{ our Constitution and our country's do
mestic peace and safety, must be elm
inated, amended, or rendered inOpera
tive by wise and sufficient reserva-
lions TO insure the greatest measure
of safety. No precautionary measure
: should be neglected II we are to do this
. Unprecedented thing.
* ] have little heart in the success of
the adventure we are asked to embark
this Nation on. 1t is not the sort of a
league that the people envisioned nor
: political parties put into their plat
forms. It is most wild and visionary
experiment that is proposed in which
sours is to be the performance of the
3greater part with the least authority
3 and freedom of action given us in
= which to do It. We are asked to sur
a rerder measure of our national SOW.
Sereignty to an international or super
government. To state 1t more under.
Sstandibly to the average American citi-
.Szen, We are invited into an information.
< al corporation in which we are allotted
/. a small per cent. OF the stock aud Civ
4 en- single member upon the board OF
directors. We are expected to sup
ply, in return for this, the bulk of the
capital for its operation; capital that
lis represented by not only money and
its equivalent in supplies and credit,
Z but in armies and in ships in all parts
of the world. Is there any business
men possessed of large capital who
< would, for second, listen to any such
an absurd proposition as that?
: We are to underwrite the peace of
the world, and we are told that the