Gilpin observer., 1919-08-28
LEAGUE FULFILS
AMERICAN ideal
Herbert Hoover Says DemoCra-
cies Replaced AutocraCies
at Our Bidding.
FOOD ADMINISTRATION CHIEF.
Urges Ratification on Ground That
Peace Treaty viii Collapse
Without League of
Nations.

Herbert Hoover is so deeply con-
cerned over the opposition TO the
League of Nations in the United
States that he has let himself be in
ferviewed at length on the League sit
nation. In talk with the New York
Times correspondent in Paris, the
Food Administration Chief asserts that
having caused the League idea TO pre-
vail America cannot abandon ii. We
cannot withdraw, he says, and leave
Europe to chaos. ITO abandon the
League Covenant now means that the
treaty itself will collapse
Nr. Hoovers wide acquaintance
with conditions both here and abroad.
mis- reputation as an administrator. a
man of great affairs who deals with
facts, not theories, make his state
5nent one of the most important con-
gributions to the recent League discus
=sions
There are one or two points in con-
nection with the present treaty. said
Mr.. Hoover. that need careful consid-
Grafton by the American public We
need to digest the fact that we have
for century and a half been advo-
eating democracy not only as a
remedy for the internal ills of all So
ciety. hut also as the only real safe
guard against war. We have believed
and proclaimed, in season and out,
that world in which there was
free expression and enforcement of
the viii of The majority was the real
basis Of government, was essential for
The advancement of civilization. and
that we have proved its enormous hu-
man benefits in our country.
American Ideas Have Prevailed.
We went into the war to destroy
autocncy rs a menace 10 our own and
all other democracies If we had not
come into the war every inch of Euro.
pcdn soil today would be under auto.
cratic government. We have lmnoscd
our VIII on the world. out OF this
victory has come the destruction of
ihe four great autocracics in Ger
many, Russia, Turkey and Austria and
The little autocuoy in Greece. New
democraC.cs have sprung into being in
Poland. Finland, lotvia, Llthmnla
ilsihoBia, .Carchus 0yaklu Greater
Serbia, Greece, Sihcr,a. and even Ger
many and Austria have established
democratic governments. Beyond
these q host OF small republics, such
as Armenia. Georgia. Azcrhaiiun and
Others, have sprung mp. and again as
u result of this great world movement
the constitutions Of Spain, Rumania.
and even England, have made final
ascent to complete franchise and de-
mocracy, although they sdn maintain
a symbol of royalty.
I'VE have been The living spring for
This last century and half from which
ihese Ideas have sprung. aud we have
trumphed. The world today, except
for comparatively few reactionary
and communistlc autocracies, is dem
Ocrauc, ana we did 1t.
"a man who takes wife and
hlesSes the world with several Infants
cnnnoi 60 away and leave them on
The claim that there was no legal mar
riagc.
"These infant democracles all have
political. social and economic prob.
lens Involving their neighbors thar
are fraught with the most intense
friction There ure no natural bound.
aries in Europe Races are not com.
pact; they blend "a every border. They
need railway communication and sea
outlets through their neighbors terri
tory.
"Many of these states must for the
next few years struggle almost for
bare bones to maintain their very
existence. Every one of them Is go.
ing to do its best; to protect its own
interests, even TO the prejudice Of its
-neighbors.
Governments Lack Experience.
1--WE In America should realize thai