The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-07-14

| Special Dispatch to The Intelligencer.
WASHINGTON, d. c., July 10
Senator Davis Elkins today gave 10 the
press a statement of his views on tho
league Of nations. 1t is the first since
he signed the so-called round robin in
which the views Of thirty-ninc senators
were set forth briefly. but clearly. That
was given out at a time when the senate
had not received the completed docu-
mcnt.
Senator Elkins says in his statement
issued today:
The LEAGUE Of nations as presented to
the senate calls for change Of policy
on the part of the United States which
IL has adhered TO strictly and with sue
cess since it's foundation. We have.
following tho wise counsel Of Washing"
ton and the fathers Of the republic. kept
clear Of cntangling alliances with all
foreign governments. The proposition
now is very plainly that we abandon
that policy, and as an inevitable result
Of that abandonment enter at once into
partnership and alliance with the poll
tics, intrigue. wars and revolutions and
all the fcrmcnt q racial discord and
European ambitions and srlhshncss with
which We have wisely not meddlcd
since We have been a nation. Under this
policy we have grown in greatness and
independence. and by reason OF II have
been able To WELD a:r influence and enact
p righteous part in world affairs that
We could not have had we been en-
tangled in such n league or alliance as
is now proposed.
IF W. are 10 depart from this life
long policy W. must do II within the
limits OF orr constitutional powers. tax
InC every prccnution TO safeguard and
nrotrct our government and its inS,itu-
ticns as established under our constitu-
ton In number Of respects. most
vital and all-important to US. the cove
na-rt MS presented violates that in
most astonishing extent. II we are 10
enter upon this new policy. this anti
Washington and Rnc-Amcrican ponoy VI
forming cniarGlinE alliances with each
and every foreign government that &c
slrcs our partnership, then these several
provisions Nirlativr Of our constitution
and our country's domestic peace and
safety must hc eliminated. amended or
rendered incrcratlvr by wise and SUI
Nctcn, rcs"rYtt"ns t" insure the Sreat.
csc mrasurr!rf safety. No precautionary
measure should NC neglected II we arc
to do this Unprecedented thing.
81 have little heart In the success or
tho adventure We arc asked TO embark
this natii1 on. 1t IL not the sort or
league that tho people cnvisioncd or
political parties put into their plat
forms. ltls n most wild and visionary
cxrcrimcnt that is proposed. in which
ours IL "a 10 the performance OF tho
greater part with the least authority
md freedom OF nctio given us in which
10 do IT, We are asked to surrender
measure Of our national sovereignty TO
mn international or supcr-Hovernmcnt.
tn state II more UNDERSTANDABLE to tho
average American citizen. we arc invited
into an international corporation IN
which We arc allotted a small per cent
of the stock and given single member
upon the board Of directors. We are
expected to supply. in return for this.
the bulk Of the capital for It's operation
n capital that is represented by not only
money and its equivalent in supplies
and credit. but in armies and in ships
in all parts OF the world. Is there my
business man possessed OF large capital
who would for a second listen to any
such an, absurd proposition as that?
we arc TO underwritc the peace Of
tho world and We are tod that the
world is looking hopefully 10 us to do
this thing. Is there any wonder that it
is? DO you blame the world for look
ing hopefully TO US. prayerfully and
tcarfully. to do this thing? Particular
" those parts OF the world. those gov
ernmcnts which. so far az the terms Of
the peace treaty are concerned. have
protited much and have. so far as that
document discloses. sacrificed little, II
anything at all. to that high and vague