The Mankato free press., 1919-05-09
DISCUSS nation LEAGUE
SOCIAL SCIENCE CLUB HAS
UP THE BIG QUESTION
READING OF THE PAPERS
Rev. O. ]. Arthur Took Very
Strong Position Against the
Organization

Discussion of the League of Nations
covenant and the bearing it will have
hereafter on international and national
affairs of the various countries in :
volved was taken up at the meeting
of the Social Science club last even
ing. w. A.. Streater read the paper
of the evening, taking up each of the
fourteen points of President Wilson's
peace program and explaining each in
detail. The point embodying the
League of Nations was the last one
discussed.
Rev. o. J. Arthur discussed. the
league thoroughly and declared it was
a big question and should be well
discussed. He scored President Viii.
son for requesting criticism of the
covenant should be withheld. In part
his paper follow:
ut is true that President Wilson
has declared the American people by
an overwhelming majority endorse the
league as it is now to be organized
We do not question the sincerity oi
the president nor are we unapprecia
tive of his great ability in ascertain
ing the mind of the American people
yet we question whether or not the
president has correctly interpreted
public sentiment. 1t may be correct
from one viewpoint and from another
it is not correct"
Fear Of the League.
There are many able and honest
statesmen that fear the league will
not tend to promote international unity
but rather act as an irritant and pro
woke international disputes. We have
no right to question their ability
their honesty and their motives. II
is very unjust and upkind to attribute
their opposition to narrow partian.
ship"
,cs;It Is pec<aliaF-t presideut has
sought to dfsparage free discussion
of the league. No agreement SHOULD
be entered into that has not the en-.
ity of the American people. We dc
not want a league of self appointed
diplomats but league of people. Nc
little circle of men even though they
are men of genius should be permit
ted to usurp the inherent rights of a
people and force them into a league
that is not in harmony with the
ideals and best interests of these peo-
ple"
81 do not think that our committee
at the peace table is a representative
committee. They are men who rep
resent the views of the president and
are not permitted to contend for their
own personal views. They simply
echo and assent the views of the
president. While we admire and have
unlimited respect for President Wilson
and recognized him as one of the
greatest statesmen of this age yet We
are not willing to delegate to him the
power to alone determine whether or
not our nation shall become a mem
ber of this league as it is to be con
stituted and governed.
Critic of President.
"It seems to me that President
Wilson merits one criticism and that
is that he has not taken the people
into his confidence and sought the
advise and counsel of duly elected
representatives of the people. This
ought not be in democracy like
that of ours. He has not only failed
W lnNltS ulSCuooloh vi tiC pClNS
treaty and the constitution of the
league of nations but has ignored the
candidly expressed views of some OF
the ablest students of international
law We cannot but wonder at the
secrets of the deliberations. Why
have not the discussions been in the
open? We thought that the day of
secret diplomacy was no more"
In discussing the league itself, Rev
Arthur declared that he did not be-
lieve the American people or the
world was yet ready to form an inter-
national state such as it would bring
about. While all peoples were anx-
ious to end war for once and for all
times, he said they were not willing
to do so at the sacrifice of national
independence such as the formation
of a league of nations would mean.
Could Not Endorse League.
In closing he said: Therefore
do not believe that we are yet ready
to endorse the league. We ought to
consider this matter carefully in all
it's details. Let us. not be swayed by
sentiment but rather seek to look al
il from a practical viewpoint, The
ideal of the league is grand but if the
ideal cannot be reached what good
will it effect"
Personally l would wish that the
matter be carefully discussed before
it is endorsed. This l feel confident
the August senate will do. / wish to
add that the "willful thirty nine" OF
the senate have rendered the nation
and the world distinct service
While we may not relish their method
of procedure yet their action deserves
commendation and ev/y critic \of the
league deserves praise for the oppo-
sition. ! feel that their opposition and
criticism of the constitution has caus-
ed the peace conference to modify
and clarity many points and have
Continued On Page Two.)