The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-07-30
THOMAS Of
COLORADO IS
UNCERTAIN

WASHINGTON. July 29.-ENprHSSinE
doubt as TO the merits OF the leagu" Of
nations and pointing out that either th''
league covenant or the peace OF force
with which II is linked must III III" end
perish, Senator Thomas Democrat. Colo
RADIO, told tho s"rat" today he ha!
reached no final decision as 10 the treaty
OF Versailles.
While hoping that he great war had
So upliftcd human morality and iatellect
as to make permanently peace possible.
senator Thomas said he could see no
evidence Nt such 4 change
The world Is today NOR" turbulrrt.
and scarcely less bloody. than hctor" the
signing of the armiStice." he continued.
The people ~ no nation on Garth Se"n
inclined either 10 p"ac" or to the arts
Of peace. The passions &nG dISc"ntcnl
Of man rock the earth.
Wars cannot h" aVrrt"J by any plans
leagues or precautions unless N" minds
OF men become averSr 10 war: and am
unable 70 accept IN" theory that men can
be made mcrclful, wise and mOdcrat" ~
treaty regulations. | make no plea TOT
Germany. She richly merits every se-
uutrCmCnt which III" treaty has I'M
posed upon her Ru; tn" Germans are
human beings. inspired by human i'm
pulses Thoy have not accepted this
treaty. II will &!T respected only so long
as the allied powers can dictate.
THE league OF nations is international
in it's frame work. II not in its sub
stance. The spirit Of nationalism was
never more as4ertive than II is now
President wilson's announcement OF the
right OF self determination was Ike
deep calling unto deep. The response
greeting It was universal 1nternation-
alisrn would De = menace " II were not
an unattainable dram. Through no
such agency can ware be oanished from
the affairs Of mer.
: MY study Of the causes OF human
strife have convinced me. much against
nv tnclinations, that the optimism or
those in times past and OF those now
diving regarding the establishment OF
permanent international relations Of any
sort must prove disappointing. am
also aware that we cannot return to the
old conditions and expect (" avoid the
Md consequences. Hence this address
Is not a plea for treaty rejection IL may
b. better in operation than II seems IN
theory. have read the draft OF the
league many times and l am not yet
prepared 10 pass final Judgment upon us
merits.
But have learned that league for
peace iS the unwei|Ome companion OF
peace or fOrCr. NOR ways are u''''
gent. their objects Pntagon!stic then
"details inconsistent. The league IN
Rpired by unselish and uplifting I'M
rulscs. typlfies peace and reconciliation.
The treaty based upon passion and Selt-
INTEREST. Nei-'>-dIcs suppression. repara-
tion. tndcmni',"s. partition. punishment
The league proposes a plan for ne"
order in world affairs, the treaty per-
petuates the order.
The treaty is doubtless the best thar
the conflict Of ideals end interests could
have produced. But its cont"nd'ng ere
fncnts cannot Cr-rXIst for they are mu-
tuallv destructive. II tao conditions or
the treaty persist tn" league will perish
II the covenant survives tho treaty
must temper its hArShcr features to con-
Form With ,he mission OF the league.
II | could writ" covenant Tor
league 10 enforce peace. ! would. Dear
ing IN mind IN" arbitration treaties OF
1913. and continuing allied association
for treaty enforcement. coniln" II to th|
English-S3rak ng nations and colonies OF
The world Theirs ar. tho institutions
IF free men. th"lrs ~" wealth. the COM
nicrcc II ICY cannot save the world
!, - paSt' all, redemption.