The diamond drill., 1919-05-10
The Worlds Next Step
No.
IL the League of Nations . Workable
Planr
BY CLARENCE L. SPEED


II Is a remarkable fact that. in all
the opposition that has come out 10
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 10 whether or not IL would work.
Others have said that this was not
the time TO establish IL. and that 1t
should wait until after peace was
signed. Still more have pointed out
this difficulty and that; and. because
the American people are very largely
headline readers, the impression has
gone out that great number OF sena-
tors are unalterably opposed to any
sort of 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 be. But tho
fact remains that nearly all these
statesmen who depend upon the
people for votes have left open n way
OF retreat so that, IL II finally devel-
ops that public sentiment demands
the league it can never be shown that
they were unalterably against It.
There are many. on the other hand.
who have so definitely committed
themselves to the idea OF n league OF
nations that they leave no loophole
through which they may crawl IL 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 man Is William Howard Taft.
formerly president OF the United
| States. BY no stretch of the imaN-
nation could he be considered as back
ing a league OF nations favored by
President Wilson through partisan mo-
tives. Here is what Mr.. Taft had TO
say In public speech at Helena,
Mont, the day after he had had the
opportunity of reading the draft OF
the constitution OF the league OF ma
tions as cabled from Paris:
GAS lovers OF your country and as
lovers of mankind ask you to use all
your influence with our senator's 10
| have the treaties embodying the
league OF nations idea ratified. II is
real league of nations. II is not all
| that / wished, but comes near. Ii is
a great deal better than / hoped. IL
contains within its terms provisions
| for its own growth. Indeed the exi-
gencies 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 APP
! proval by the senate when IL is en-
bodied In the treaty"
Mr.. Taft evidently is convinced that
the league will work. President VIII
son believes IL will work. Lloyd
George believes It will work Even
! Clemenceau of France believes It Will
work II has the complete support
of the Italian government, which be-
/ lleves II Will work. The little nations
turn TO II as their only hope Of safety.
They believe IL will work.
If all OF these people and these ma
tions believe the league will work how
can II fail to work? The only appar-
ent chance Of its failing 70 work would
| be I'm case there were enough strong
| powers against il. while II IS young
and untried, 10 keep il from working.
But here YOU find the powers all for Il.
who Is going 10 try to upset it-some
! power like Liberia, or a beaten and
helpless Germany? Why. even Ger
! many now hopes II will work and work
/ In a hurry. for without IL there Is no
| limit to the penalties that victorious
nclghbors might impose.
And the peoples Of the world, even
more than the governments, want Il
10 work Mothers and fathers whose
sons are buried by the million on the
battlehelds OF Europe are for &C.
| Women who have suffered violence at
the hands OF invading armies. or who
have fled hendlong from their homes
TO avoid It. pray that IL may become
operative. Workmen who are hungry
because factories are closed see In II
n preventive OF wars. People who
have seen their savings jeopardized or
swept away stand behind IT,
No one. apparently, wants IT to fail
yet there are some who doubt its sue
cess because. by careful searching
they can find difficulties in the way
They may be of good cheer, and you
may rest at ease. too. because. IL by
any chance this league which every
body wants should fail to work, there
Is nothing 60 prevent you lighting for
your rights just as you did In the past
The United States faced world In
arms with very little preparation FOR
war. She can face world leagued
| for peace with an army or navy Just