Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1919-03-03
TAFT CALLS THEM.

A1AAAA A<AA/AL0, !
Former Presiden. Taft makes a.stg-
yestion to the opponents of Il league of
nations that ought to attract their at
tention and result in the submission of
plans and policies to prevent war, if
my there are, otherwise than those Of
tered by the proposed league. In an
address at st. Louis few days ago Mr..
Taft, in discussing the proposed league,
said:
Let him who objects TO it suggest
another remedy Ito prevent war, or
hold his peace.
"The fundamental weakness of the
attitude of Senator PoindeXter, Sena-
tor Reed and Senator Borah, is that
they contine their arguments to point
ing out the dangers of this covenant to-
the United States. which l think are
comparatively slight, while they utter
~ fail to tender any constructive sug-
,estions to the conference for method
by which peace can be maintained and
the just results of the war can be Sc
.ured.
IF the United States does not en-
ter the league of nations, the refusal
will leave mere offensive and defen-
sive alliance of countries and Compel
tive ornaments, followed inevitably
| by another war, as much more horrible
IN its destructiveness of armies and
peoples and civilization as this one was
more horrible than any previous war"
If Senators PoindeXter Reed and
Borah, also Senator Cummins, who has
expressed opposition to the league since
Mr. Taft issued his challenge, have
anything better to offer the world than
the league as proposed let them speak
and give out the information. All civ
ilized peoples are sick and tired of war
md are anxious to adopt some means
Of preventing such hidcous nightmares
in the future as those experienced by
mankind during the past four and a
half years.
| The Freeman-JOurnal is, not prepar-
ed to agree with Mr.. Taft's extreme
melancholy view of the future even if
the United States does fail to join the
| league of nations. While it believes,
in that event, wars are liable, it does
not believe wars of the magnitude of
the one through which we have just
passed are inevitable. Nor is it cock
sure that league Of nations can pre-
vent all wars. 1t hopes it can and is
willing to give it fair trial.
! There is middle ground that can
be occupied between the extreme OPP
ponents of the league principle and it's
most ardent advocates. Such league
| is not going to usher in the millennium,
nor is it going to bind, gag and deliver
the United States in helpless condition
over to it's enemies. There are some
apparent objections to the proposed
plan. That<is inevitable. But on the
whole it promises improvement and it's.
advocates insist the promised advan-1
tages overbalance any possible disad-
vantages that might appear disquiet-
| ing now.
| President Wilson, we believe, is over
jealous. He says utter chaos will fol-
low in Europe if the United States fails
to enter a league of nations, as the
league will not he organized without
the sanction of this country. The
president may be right about it. Bat
his Judgment is not infallible and those
who remember the numerous times he
has been at fault during the past five
years are not convinced by his argl-
ments now unless they are in agree
ment with his veiws.
However, there is difference in OPP
posing the league Of nations policy and
in opposing the proposed draft OF the
constitution as given out. Yet those
who are against The league ought to
suggest something better, as MI. Taft
says, and those who favor league but
are opposed to the constitution as al
ready submitted ought to furnish a
draft that overcomes the objections of
which they complain.
A FALLEN CONGRESS.