The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-02-19
SOVEREIGNTY Of
j. s. THREATENED
CLAIMS SENATOR
League Of Nations Means Sur
render Of American Rights,
Poindexter Charges.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19-In the
first prepared address on the league of
nations delivered in the senate since
the constitution of the proposed
league was made public, Senator Poin-
dexter, of Washington, Republican,
today declared the entrance of the
United States into the league of ma
tions would mean a surrender Of
American rights, privileges and SOW
ereignity, the abandonment of the
Monroe doctrine and a violation Of the
constitution. The constitution of the
league, he asserted, was conflicting,
indefinite and uncertain and the ma
chinery which it proposes to set up,
similar to the soviet government of
Russia"
mo such colossal ENHANCEMENT or
alliance was ever conceived in the
world" the senator said. Instead of
using an instrument of peace it is the
fertile seed of war-the dragons teeth
from which, when sown, armed sol
diers will spring."
Through participation in the draft
ing of the leagues constitution, Sena-
tor Poindexter declared, the United
States has been led to a point where
I'VE are now facing an abyss" If the
senate should ratify the proposed con-
stitution, without submission of the
question "to the American people in
political campaign where it shall have
been made the issue upon which they
will have an opportunity to render
judgment in an election" he declared,
then self-government in America will
have disappeared"
Must Determine sovereienity.
.'In adopting or rejecting this con-
stitution," said Mr.. Poipdexter. and
thereby becoming or not becoming
q member OF the league established
under 1t, the government and the peo-.
pie of the United States will determine
whether they will remain the great
sovereign and independent nation, a.
people controlling their own destiny.
determining for themselves the extent
of their military preparations, the size
OF their army and navy and estab-
fishing for themselves their interna-
tional relations; or whether they are
to merge their destinies with those of
other nations of the world, sharing
their burdens, participating in their
quarrels and becoming party to all
international complications"
Referring to the request of Presi-
dent Wilson that the congress refrain
from discussion Of the league until
he could meet with the foreign affairs
committees, Senator Poindexter as
serted it was a matter of too much
importance for us to remain altogether
SILENT" and that mo harm can be done
by full discussion" of document of
which the world "was purposely kept
in entire ignorance" until ''it came
forth full fledged. as though born from
the head Of Jove."
Taking up the provisions of the
leagues constitution, the senator de-
clared that the document contained no
provision for its abrogation or for the
withdrawal of nation. He said that
doubtless the leagues advocates would
contend that the agreement might be
abrogated at any time but such he said
was the contention of many of the
only to learn differently through the
bloodshed of civil war. By the
terms of the constitution, he contin-
ued, ''the decision as to the relative
reduction Of the army and navy of
the United States, in proportion to
that of great rival powers, would be
taken absolutely out of the jurisdfc-
ton of the people and government of
the United States, and vested in the
jurisdiction OF the league, where the
United States has but one vote amid
a large number Of alien powers" This
in itself, he added, would be in conflict
with the constitution of the United
States.
Takes Power from Congress
The power of congress to declare
war, he said, would be taken away,
also in violation OF the constitution.
and vested in tribunal. "the great
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