The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-03-03
That Is Picture of League of
Nations Before Senate Today.
Would .Empty Upon America
the Galansfties of World
SHERMAN DENOUNCES PLAN
Brands 1t Masked Charter of
War; the Voice of Mars.
Let Europe Settle Own Wars, Is
Illinois Senator's Plea.

Washington, March 3.-The consti-
tuition OF the league of nations as pre-
serted at the peace conference was
pictured to the senate today by Sena-
tor Sherman of Illinois, Republican,
as a Pandera's box full of evils
which would empty upon the Ameri-
can. people the aggregated calamities
Of the world"
Senator Sherman sharply criticised
President Wilson asking who author
lied him to rear above the republic
an autocratic power. He added that
the authority was not to be found in
the constitution of the United States
nor was il implied from underlined
war powers and gave it as his opinion
that the president had been acting
eitEerkas IAN usurper or a Dictator"
Shall we not ask with the drama
tist." the senator said. Now in the
name of all the Gods at once, upon
what does this Caesar feed that he
has grown so great
He adroitIy maneuvers himself into
the spotlight as the fountain of peace
perpetual and the guardian of man
kind" Senator Sherman continued.
As he kept US out of war in 1916, so
he will keep us out of impending war
coEjured up to serve the issues of 1920
ard keep US at peace forever if we but
accept him again With him as the
drum major OF civilization eternal
peace, betting the earth and brooding
ike gentle spirit DER a still and
credulous world, proclaims the mile
mum Is here.
Prelude To World Wars.
Like his neutrality device was the
prelude to unprepared war, his peace
league engages not in one war. but in
all wars that scourge the earth 1t is
simple but deadly. apparently an open
covenant of peace, il is a masked
charter of unceasing war; the voice
of Mars. but the hand of Woodrow"
OF the proposed constitution, Sena-
tor Sherman said it would set Up an
oligarchy of the worst possible sort,
adding:
IF We cut the cables of constitu-
ttonal government here we are caught
in the irresistible tides that will sweep
US into the maelstrom of the old
worlds blood currents. The feuds and
sPoilations of q thousand years will
become our daily chart of action
All we know is that few men in
some hidden chamber known as the
executive council WELD over US powe RS
of life and death.
Secs Chaos as Result.
The creation of a nameiess thing
to SIT in star-chamber judgment and
decree implicit obedience to its man.
BY an ukase, il will embargo every
commerce. close our exchanges, de-
stroy credits. leave our merchandise
rotting on piers. shut the Panama
canal. order congress to declare war.
levy taxes. appropriate money. raise
and support armies, navies and dis
patch our men to any quarter of the
globe to fight and die, because an
alien executive council has willed it.
Sincere men may have deceived
themselves in their great hope for a
perfect world. but no de1dsion, how
ever sincere, will excuse this senate
against this universal Utopia promised
by the president. 1t is the tabled ap-
PIE of q great hope which will turn
to ashes on a trusting peoples lips.
The senate never faced a greater task
nor a nobler duty It will not ratify 8 n
emotion nor translate an impossible
idealism into a weapon of national
suicide"
Let Europe Settle Own Quarrc1s-
Senator sherman asserted that
against the wisdom and experience of
the American forefathers as summed
up in Washington's farewell address
there was now rising up THE dreamer
and the bookmAn, the socialist, the
mere habadasher in phrases which in
toxicate and mislead."
The senator urged that the warn
ing of the founders of tine America n
government to let Europe settle heI
own qparrels be regarded now, add
ing that when the United States went
to war against a common danger ii
did not bind itself I'm perpetual ALI
ance to draw the sword whenever and
as long as the majority of European
governments voted it upon u.s."