Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-06-14
Saturday, June ~, 1919.
Organize. Standardixs, Advertise
and Patrenixe Maine products. This
slogan Of the State Agricultural
and Industrial League 10 = pretty
good one for the people Of Maine to
follow.


follow.
Couple Withdrawal with Ratifiea.
tion7
THE resolution in effect provides that
all European and other nations which
wish to adopt the League can do SO At
once. so that no interference with the
propo:ai; q 70 them. Is susgestsd;i ~ I ne
It's approval uatil the judgment of its
people had been ascertained. senator
Knox.
From. the beginning confusion has
marked the discussion Of the cove
nant Of the league Of nations. con-
fusion 1T hrst because no analysis
had bean made and no one under
stood the document, and later be-
cause biased and baseless statements.
half truths. and partisan pretense
had served only to confound all the
clarity that common sense and hon
esty had presented or obtained.
On the conviction that the desire
Of the worlds people is for guaran-
tee Of permanent peace, for security
against the greed and intrigues Of in
terests and leaders Of their own as
we'll a. other nations. we have had
faith in the instrument at hand as
the basis OF the desired security.
We still believe in 1t. We believe in
It more and more as we analyze it
more carefully and as we study and
dissect the weak attempts of politi-
clans and others to destroy it.
From the start We have taken the
ground that this was not a perfect
instrument but that it could be i'm
proved If honest attempt were made.
We hoped fer such purpose in the
U. S. Senate. but instead we see a
determination to destroy 1t If posi-
tle. 1t matters not by what the op-
position is inspired, politics. mill
taristic greed. or Germanism, we
have no sympathy with it. We
know that these men most actively
engaged In destroying the, league
covenant. separating it from the
peace treaty, or delaying the peace
progress for selfish purpose. could.
II animated by the right spirit. be
the means Of procuring the very
thing for which the world hungers:
lasting peace.
The other powers associated with
the United States in settling the war
controversies Of Europe. have signi-
ned their willingness to follow
Americas lead in the peace league
plan. America has spoken her
wishes in no uncertain phrases. and
has approved every utterance of her
plenipotentiaries in advocacy Of such
. league.
And now We have arrived at a
point where our leadership can
make the provisions desired, or oul
opposition can forever destroy the
entire fabric. We believe the rati-
flying body Of our form Of govern
ment should act At once in response
to the will Of the people.
Ratification with reservations ha:
been the American practice. Our
records are filled with presidents
Even tho bitterest enemies Of the
covenant admit that it has merits
Then why not ratify at once, max
ing our present objections plain
without the formal amendments that
must go to the other powers and
thus delay the peace treaty?
Why not express certain provi-
sions and qualifications if they are ir
the minds Of q majority Of the U. s.
Senate. and then ratify the measure
as 1t stands. forgetting pique
political prejudice and other emo
tons that may animate opponents?
Why not. in the ratification, ex.
pressly provide that, whereas. a,
the moment Of such ratification, nc
one claims the United States ha.
any unified obligations under the
covenant. therefore. the United
States IN its ratification serves no.
tee that It win withdraw at the end
a Two years from such date. reserv.
Ing the right to rescind such with
drawal notice II. prior to the ex-
pasa&ion Of two years. such amend.
meats have been adopted a. will
make It desirable for the United
sea&as to continue a. . member, o,
the Light Of time upon the covenan,
itsa1 shall have removed the pres
ent opposition?
Il - not our purpose to attempt
construction Of such provision but tc
convey our suggestion In terms tina,
all may grasp. we otter the follow.
ing:
"1he United States submits the
fellev,ias amendments which Il de-.
sirss Adopted BY the Isssus Of Ma.
tiens in seeerdanee with Article q