New Britain herald., 1919-03-24
The George Washington League.
Waterbury Republics

(Waterbury Repu bl1can.9
 The George Washington league formed in this city to oppose the league of nations will, we predict, fall very far short of enrolling the 10000 members that it hopes for
 unless it shows more understanding
 of the attitude of the people than
 appears in it's declaration of prin-
 ciples and it's resolutions endorsing
 the position of the senators from
 Connecticut. Nowhere in either of
 these documents does it appear that
 the George Washington league de-
 sires to see established a league of
 nations of any sort. The great ma
 jority of the people of this country
 undoubtedly do.
 | The new organization does not
 say specifically that it is opposed to a league of nations of any sort, but 8 definite statement upon this point is conspicuous by it's absence. The declaration of principles says: We regard the draft as now pre-
 sented for a proposed covenant of lea que of nations as fla tai to our independence sovereignty and hberty.' Again the resolution
 endorsing the position of the sena- tors from Connecticut says: This
 league heartily endorses the patri-
 otic position of the United States senators from this state in their forceful opposition to the draft of constitutiop of a league of na- tions as submitted by the presi- dent." In both these sta tements there seems to be a slight recogni-
 tion of the possibility of there be- ing offered an acceptable plan for league of nations but nowhere does the George Washington league state clearly it's position upon that point.
 Furthermore the general tone of the documents is hostile to the league idea. The impression is conveyed that the George Washing ton league would like to see this l country stand pat--would like to see the world return to the status quo
 ante. The closing sentence of the
 resolution on the stand of the Con- necticut senators reads: We pledge 1 to them our undivided loyal support i in their leadership in the cause of 1 American nationality as opposed to | the ethereal dream of a world gov
 ernment." The George Washington l league apparently does not realize 1 that the league of nations is no 1 longer an "ethereal dream" but is
 practical reality now being ham,. l mered out upon the forge at Paris ! by the sledge beats of world wide ! public opinion. That it is at pres ent in it's final form or it's most de- ! sirable form, no one contends, but l that the purposefu determination
 of the world has created nothing but 1 dream is hsurd
 It may be that the George Wash i ington league has simply failed l through careIesSness to make clear it's
 position, and that it stands ready ts
 support the league when it shall
 have been amended so that this
 country's more powerful dbjeotiorx 1 to it arc removed If so. the new 1 organization should hasten to issue definite statement to that effect. 1 With the new leagues stand upon the matter of congressional free
 dom We are in entire accord We also approve it in so far as 1t may promote intelligent discussion of the ! league of nations and assist in the
 task of framing the constitution of
 that league. We insist. however,
 that the social and political world
 does move; that no everlasting po-
 lt'cal policy may be enunciated
 and that if "steadfast adh erence"
 to the policy laid down by George
 WashiIgto m his farewell address
 would prevent this country from
 joining league of nations to help rid the wofio Of the curse of war.