Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-05-02
The Worlds Kaxt Step
NJ. 5
!. the issRne ~ Nations a Workable
Plan
Il, cLARENcr 1. SPEED

I the opposition that has come ont Ia
/ the ratification of the peace treaty
! containing the draft of the league of
nations as II stands, scarcely n single
responsible American statesman has
come out hatly against the principle
of league to enforce peace.
Many have expressed serious doubts
as 10 whether or not 1t would work.
Others have said~that this was not
the time To establish IT, and that il
should wait until after peace was
signed. still more have pointed out
this difficulty and that and. because
the American people are very largely
headline readers. the impression has
gone out that II great number of spna-
tors are unalterably opposed To any
sort of league of nations whais0-
ever.
There is no doubt that some Of
these objections 10 the ratification
providing for treaty are sincere.
Some of them may not be. But the
fact remains that nearly all these
statesmen who depend upon the
people for votes have left open a way
of retreat So that. If il finally dcvc!-
ops that public sentiment demands
the league it can never he shown that
they were unaItcrahIy against it.
There are many, on the other hand
who have so definitely committed
themselves to the idea of a league of
nations HAT they leave no loopholc
through which they may crawl If the
idea is not favored by American yot-
crS. They have the courage Of their
convictions. They are 80 sincere that
they are ready to stand or fall on
their records.
Such a man is Willan Howard Taft.
formerly president Of the United
States. by no stretch Of the magi.
nation could he be considered ae back.
ing II league Of natious favored by
President Wilson through partisan mo
lives. Here is what Mr. TAFT had to
say in public speech at Helena,
Mont The day after he had had the
opportunity Of reading the draft Of I.
the constitution OF the league OF ma (
firms os cal.fel from, p,ris.
.,. ,.,. ..,.......-.
t,,.,. ~ ,,'...,.t., 5'' ,0''"'' "''' a.,
Your influence with our senator's ia
have the treaties cmhodving the
league of ratfnpg .laa ratified # e
- rroI ,rorln or p..tions n +. MOT M
that ! wished hp, cniues mar # is
a circuit drol bottn, tbor ! h,,,,a 4
contains within i,s terms provisions
for IFS own growth Indeed the owl.
gencics of tho Turonoon sitnatioo in
the enhcrr If The leoour viii rro,,ahIv
rooYira addifinn3l and mara strfnocn,
rroyt,ons in Some rrgp.ctq than nm.
rcy- IN Tho rrn-art man
-, ''''''' w Nv ''''''' W ~ "'' 4
go, ~ '"V 9'''',, ""0u II 10 en-
a. ,',,''''''' - t''' '',''" ,'i..'
.an 1t. I'm I'm, '..,,''"' W."
-, WI - i-,'' "
-. VIZ
80 49,. r...,',, ,.' 49, rol''',''
-, :. ..,,, ~,
t,,..., :.
NJ, -, =. -, >
IT an OF li'eSe people ana these ma
''ons "e"''e l'e lt1s"e VIII WORK no"
can II IAN 20 W"fNf me Only aPpar-
H., g. ua,. ,,,. '''.,','- w. ''.," ,,,'''','
nn1 ,,n,a'91 ,a ,'s ,. C., '' '"u'7
nnt h',a.,.,,, ga ~, W,
who is ynipe to fry IN unsat it--soo,o
uover like Iiherfo or beoton and
helnleqS Garmauyq Why oyen Cor
many uow homes if will wort. ann WORT
In Il hurry for without If tbere is no
limit to the peno}tics thar victorious
neichhors uisrht iinuooe
,,5 tho ,ooo,,, 80 a., ,,.,,,, -, ,
-. ~, ~. ...,..,. ;. {
-. ,a,.. ,tal,,.. ,,,, ea,.s.,. -
80, 49,, ,,,,t,,, 49,. A.. ,n,,.
,,a4,,afei1. 30 r-.,, =.
,va,,,a,,' ,,.,,., ho,.a S,,, ,ono1 ,,i,,,,,.
~ -. - 1T, ,,.,'.,..
~, a., ,,oo,,.,,r r,,,,,, .,,,,. -
- n,atl /, n.,r t,a+ - n,',,. 49,,
,,o.a4,,., ,r,,.r.,,,, 81, ~, So.