The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1919-05-21
The Worlds Next Step
NO. 8
Is the League Of Nations q Workable
Plan?
by CLARENCE L. SPEED


the ratification of the peace treaty
containing the draft of the league Of
nations as II stands, scarcely a single
responsible American statesman has
come out fatty against the principle
Of league to enforce peace.
Many have expressed serious doubts
as to whether or not it would work.
Others have said that this was not
the time to establish 1t. and that ii
should wait until after peace was
signed. sill more have pointed out
this difficulty ana that; and, because
the American people are very largely
headline readers, the impression has
gone outt that Il great number of sena-
tors are unalterably opposed TO any
sort Of IA league of nations whatso-
ever.
There Is no doubt that some of
these objections to the ratification
providing for a treaty are sincere.
Some Of them may not he. But the
fact remains that nearly all these
statesmen who depend upon the
Of retreat so that, If 1t finally devel
ops that public sentiment demands
the league 1t can never be shown that
they We're unalterably against 1t.
There are many, on the other hand,
who have so definitely committed
themselves to the idea of league of
nations that they leave no loophole
through which they may crawl If the
idea Is not favored by American vot-
ers. they have The courage of their
convictions. They are so sincere that
they are ready to stand or fall on
their records.
Such n man Is William Howard Taft
formerly president of the United
States. by no stretch of the imagi.
nation could he be considered rs back
ing Il league of nations favored by
President Wilson through partisan mo-
tiycs. Here is what Mr.. Taft had to
say In public speech ut Helena,
Mont, the day after he had had the
opportunity of reading the draft Of
the constitution of the league of ma
tons as cubed from Paris:
| "As lovers of your country and as
lovers Of mankind ask you to use all
your influence with our senators to
have the treaties embodying the
league of nations idea ratified. 1t is
Il real league of nations. Ii is not all
that I wished, but comes near. 1t is
a great deal better than hoped. 1t
contains within its terms provisions
for It's own growth. Indeed the ext.
gencles of the European situation in
the sphere of the league will probably
require additional and more stringent
provisions in some respects than APP
pear in the present PLAN"
"rhere should be no doubt of its ap-
rroyal by the senate when it is en-
bodied in the treaty."
Mf. Taft evidently is convinced that
the league will work. President VIII
son believes 1t will work.. Lloyd
George believes it will work. Even
| Clemenceag OF France believes 1t will
work. 1t has the complete support
of the Italian government, which be-
lieves It will work. The little nations
turn to it rs their only hope of safety.
| They believe 1t will work.
II all of these people and these ma.
| lions believe the league will work how
can II fail to work? The only appar-
ent chance of>its failing to work would
| be in case there We're enough strong
| powers against it, while it is young
and untried, to keep it from working
But here YOU find the powers all for it.
Who Is going to try to upset it--some
| power like Liberia, or Il beaten and
helpless Germany? Why, even Ger,
| many now hopes it will work and work
(, In a hurry, for without it there Is nc
limit TO the penalties that victorious
| neighbors might impose.
And the peoples of the world, even
| more than sle governments, want II
| to work. Mothers. and fathers whose
| sons are buried by the million on the
| battletleds of Europe are for It,
| Women who have suffered violence at
| the hands of invading armies, or who
| have fed headlong from their homes
10 avoid II, pray that 1t may become
| operative. Workmen who are hungry
| because factories are closed see In il
! n preventive of wars, People who
| have seen their savings jeopartlized OF
| swept. away stand behind it,
No one, apparently, wants 1t to fail
yet there are some who doubt its sue
cess because, by careful searching
| ihey can find difficulties in the way
They may be of good cheer, and you
may rest ut ease, too, because, if by
/ any chance this league which every.
/ body wants should fail to work, there
Is nothing to prevent you fighting fol-
/ your rights just rs you did in the past
! The United States faced world In
arms with very little preparation fol
| war. She can face world leagued
for peace with an army or navy just
rs large or small as she chooses. There
is not even the most remote proI,a
bility of the United States ever fight
Ing The league, unless it, too, becomes
insane and needs Il licking. If it does
become necessary for her to fight ma
| lions which cannot be controlled by
So