The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1919-09-04
SENATOR JOHNSON
TALKS ON LEAGUE
MAsTERLY EXPOSITION ON THE
SUBJECT FROM COMMON
SENSE VIEW
SOUTH DAKOTA MAN GIVES PLAIN FACTS
This Is An Argument For Proposed
League That Carries Mark OF
Study and Thought.

Senator Ed. S. Johnson of South Da-
kota delivered the following address
in the Senate on the League of Ma
tions, and it so plainly states the
common sense view of the matter, that
the Register presents it for the con-
sideration of our readers:
Mr.. President, the foremost question
in the minds of the American people
today is, What can we do, if anything
to prevent future wars?" The ques,
tion is pertinent and is now up for
decision. Have we reached the time
in the history of the world when man
kind shall be ruled by law and order
or by the sword?
The greatest question the Senate of
the United States has been asked To
consider since the formation of the
Government itself is before us now,
coupled with consideration of a treaty,
the magnitude of which has never had
an equal. They are presented to us
to adopt or reject. We are here today
to study and discuss the plans worked
out at the peace table at Versailles,
unanimously presented to us by the
representatives of the civilized nations
CT the world, who spent many months
in its consideration. 1t is a question
which will affect the welfare and hap
piness of more people in the United
States in future years than any that
h., hoco+ofoyo ham onrci1arnI
They have presented us with this
wonderful document-this league of
ltions plan-as their conclusions.
ow strange it has been in our imagi-
.tion and how intricate our concep-
lions of its provisions until we have
received it. But it has come at last,
and we find on careful study that it's
obligations ard requirements are sea-
sonably plain and clear.
President Wilson said in his speech
when presenting it to the commission
constituted by the preliminary peace
conference that the simplicity OF the
document seems &c be one Of its
chief virtues" He further said that
it was a definite guarantee of peace.
1t is a definite guaranty by word
against aggression. 1t is a definite
guaranty against the things which
have come near bringing the whole
structure of civilization unto ruin"
And so, my friends, we are today
face to face with what we are asked
to do, and upon each of us rests a
solemn, sacred duty; and we will do
our duty as we see it.
The foundation idea of this league
of nations, as | see it, is to force all
treaties between nations out into the
open so hat the people of all nations
may knaw what is going on between
their government and other govern
ments, and thereby give them an OPP
%portunity to have something to say
in the settlement of any differences
that may arise in the adjustment Of
the same, instead of having everything
done by their rulers, which has caused
most of the trouble in the world in
past ages. This is a great step in
the right direction and will no doubt
make the people of all countries in
clined to perform their obligations and
agreements with other nations. If for
any reason they do not live up 20
their promises, this league of nations,
interviewer with the peace treaty, will
surely encourage them to do so, be-
cause there will be force enough be-
hind it to compel them if necessary.
think WI all realize to a great ex.
tent that fear of the law, pu' licity and
punishment are among the most pow
erful inducements for men or nations
to obey the laws of the land. The
real object of this covenant is to en-
courage nations, and, if necessary,
compel them, to live up to their
treaties and prevent future wars.
The entire world has been shaken
to it's foundations in the past four
years by the greatest war in the his
tory of mankind. The lands of Eu-
rope have been bathed in blood. On
b%attlefields and in the seas sleep
millions of it's victims. Destruction
anu wait SoNCi EuioPc loudy, anu
famine and desolation reign every
where. Fifty thousand Of our boys
are buried in that land and many thou
sands more lie under our own skies.
A hundred billion dollars will be our
price to pay when we are through, and
we had made only a beginning when
victory was won Our country knows
practically nothing of the horrors of
it all. Can you reason that we gained
anything by helping to conquer a peo-
pie who sought To enslave the world
If we still permit old conditions to ex-
list, and thereby make 1t probable that
the same great sacrifice will have to
be made again?
Let me repeat what Maj. Louis W..