Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-02-25
TAFT ANSWERS CRITICS.

William H. Taft, president of the
League to Enforce Peace, has given ou
a statement in which he reiterated his
assertion that "those who oppose" the
proposed league Of nations covenant
ION the ground that we should main
tain the so-called policy against en-.
tangling alliances have narrow vision
or our national duty"
The former president declared he
was confident that without specific
provision the league of nations would,
under the covenant, as it Is, maintain
the justice and wisdom Of the whole
Monroe doctrine" but If Article 10 was
not sufficient, he had no doubt such
provision would be inserted.
Mr.. Taft denied that the Carnegie
Peace Foundation was financing the
congresses of the League to Enforce
Peace.
IT observe" the statement said, that
I have been misquoted in dispatches
from San Francisco. have been made
to say that would not trust overnight
senator's opposing this treaty. What
said was this:
"I yield to no man in my profound
respect for the constitution Of the
United States as the. greatest funda-
mental instrument ever struck from
patient to see perversion Of its mean
ing and purpose urged in order to keep
this great country out Of covenant
to secure peace among men; that
among those engaged in this were
men whose adherence to the guaran-
tees of civil liberty in that great instru-
ment and the means of maintaining
them through the courts, had not been
conspicuous in the past, and whose
disposition to amend or weaken them
in the past made me feel that would
hesitate to trust them with the consti-
tuition overnight"
"I have said that those who oppose
this covenant on the ground that we
should maintain the socalled policy
against entangling alliances and would
withdraw us again into an impossible
status of world isolation without re-
sponsibility for the peace of the world,
have a narrow vision Of our national
duty. They fail to realize Gus enormous
power Of assistance to the world In Sc
curing peace by concert. Thus they
minimize Americas proper part as
factor in the advance Of civilization.
They thereby belittle America and be-
come little Americans.
I'm reference to Senator Borah's
question whether 1 would recommend
an amendment to the covenant of Par
is specifically reserving from its re-
strictions any Limitation Of the power
of the United States to enforce the
Monroe doctrine, I have to say be-
lieve the whole spirit and essence of
the covenant is not only to preserve
the Monroe doctrine in the western
hemisphere, but also to extend it to the
world and to give it the sanction not
of the United States alone, but also Of
the whole league Of nations. This Is
particularly and specifically shown in
Article 10 Of the covenant
IF it be said that Article 10 does
not prevent a foreign nation from
buying it's way into territorial owner
ship in the western hemisphere, with
out the consent Of the United States,
and other American powers, then l
doubt not that before the covenant is
signed and embodied in the treaty OF
peace, the concert Of nations at Paris
will consent to have such a provision
inserted. OF course, I would favor
this, but personally am confident that
without this specific provision the
league would, under the covenant as 1t
is, maintain the justice and wisdom OF
the whole Monroe doctrine"
Senator Borah In Reply.
| Senator Borah Of Idaho, made an
other speech in the senate last Friday,
especially because OF what he termed
misi cading statements Of Former Pres
ident Taft. He vigorously disagreed
with Mr.. Tafts assertions that the
league does not conflict with the Mon
roe doctrine or Washington's injunc-
ton against entangling European alli-
ances.
Declaring that America would be
outvoted five to one by England alone,
because of the recognition OF British
colonies, Senator Borah said the league
constitution was the greatest triumph
of English diplomacy Of three centu-
ries." He declared that the tentative
constitution was almost identical with
that presented to the peace conference
last month by General Smith, the Brit
ish drafting representative. and added
that the English press and other for
eign authorities concede that the plan
involves the end Of the Monroe doc
trine.
Articles appearing in newspapers
urging the people to write President
Wilson and thank him for his part In
drafting the proposed constitution OF
Friday by Representative Hersey by
Maine.
why should the president be thank
ed for something which has not yet
been approved by the country" Mr.
Hersey asked. "The thanks should be
postponed until it is seen whether OF
; not the constitution will be accepta-
ble."
Mr. Hersey appealed to the member
Of the house to carefully study the
proposed constitution, declaring thai
IL it conflicted with the constitution OF
the United States congress should re-
ject 1t.
A bill Of statewide interest passec
last Tuesday night was that by MT
McAdams Of Abbeville. to require phy-
sicians practising in motor vehicles tc
procure special tags, so that auto
mobiles of physicianS may be readll!