The public ledger., 1919-07-26
LEAGUE DESTRUCT.
IvEOF POPULAR FORM
OF GOVERNMENT
Says Republican Publicity Associa,
tlOn's President in Statement on
League Of Nations.

Washington-The Republican Pub
licity Association, through Its Presi-
dent, Hon. Jonathan Bourne, Jr., today
gave out the following statement from
its Washington Headquarters:
do you realize that the adoption of
the league of nations by the United
States means the destruction of popu-
lar government in this country; not
entirely, perhaps, but to an extent
which no man cal foresee and to which
there is no limit? Contemplate for
moment the situation in which we
would find ourselves were we to be
bound by the league covenant. In
Geneva sits council of nine, eight
foreigners to one American; also an
assembly composed of from 81 to 1872
foreigners and not more than Aemr-
| leans. Those bodies, constituting the
instrumentality of the league of ma
tions, upon the complaint of the most
Insignificant country in the world can
take jurisdiction of any circumstance
whatever if somebody alleges that
such circumstance threatens the peace
of the world.
Votes are taken, a decision is ar
rived at, and orders for enforcing that
decision go forth from Geneva to the
nations of the world. Those orders
| CALL upon the United States to levy
/ other country with which we are at
peace. The 11O.OO0,OOO people of the
| United States have but one alternative
They must abide by the decisions of
the league or repudiate their solemn
obligations under the league covenant
There is provided absolutely no oppor-
tunity for referendum; the people are
| given no choice whatever in the mat
ter. Theirs not to make reply, theirs
not to reason why, their but to do and
die
| "Enraged at the predicament in
which they find themselves, our citi-
zens look about for a remedy. But
there is no escape We find that we
are bound to give two years notice be.
fore we can leave the league. We find
that if we do not fulfill our obligations
to accept the decision of the league We
will be set upon by the other nations
of the world, and compelled by force
of arms to subordinate ourselves or
the council and assembly, who may
have voted with their catalogues
cannot be recalled and chastised fol
betraying the welfare of their country
In foct 110,000,000 Americans baskint
in the glory of perfect freedom sud
denly awaken to the realization tina
they have been virtually sold int
slavery, that their lives and fortunes
are at the command of a league over
whelmingly dominated by foreigners
and thatthey have been called upon t,
make good their signed covenants o
be destroyed.
"In the United States those VIII,
misrepresent us can be defeated at tn
polls. If they are appointed officers
OF 1t the end of their terms are to-
far distant, they can be impeached an,
summarily removed from office. I'm
der all conditions every person clothe
with authority is responsible to tn
people whose affairs he has been en-
trusted to administer. Never for
moment do the people relax their hol
on their own government.
But in the league of nations hoy
different! or course the foreign mem
bers of this supergovernment are be
yond our reach. While they meddle a
pleasure in the affairs, of Americ
there is no way provided for their re
moval or punishment by the peopl
whom they control. Even our own rep
resentatives would probably be con
strued to be denationalized officials G
the world rather than Of the Unite
States once they had come under tn
organization of the league. In an
event 1t is perfectly competent for tn
league to prevent the people OF tn
United States from disciplining thei
own delegates, on the ground that sue
actio nwould be prejudicial to inter
national peace. Where Is the Amer
can, worthy OF the name. who wishe
to make the exchange and live unde
such conditioner"