The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1919-09-18

killing amendments with the full
beat the treaty just as effectively as a
refusal to ratify.
"A few, a very few senator's have
declared that they would vote against
the treaty because Of the league of
nations, but 1t has remained for the
senator from Pennsylvania (N[r. Knox
to declare boldly against our purtici-
patton in the treaty settlement.
'"ro say that he has amazed the
country is TO put it mildly-he has
shocked the country
strangely enough after months Of
time and Il number of speeches In
which his attack on the treaty has
been on account Of Article l. which
contains the league of nations. he now
takes new position. He formerly
favored taking the league Of nations
out OF the treaty and ratifying the
peace settlement with Germany. Now
he suddenly changes front declares in
favor of DESERVING the nations asso-
ciated with us in the war and advo-
Gates an unconditional peace or
negotiated peace with Germany.
was there ever a more insane in
ternational policy proposed? In the
mixture Of poltroonery and folly it is
difficult. to see which prelominates.
Senator Knox goes the limit. He not
only proposes that we desert our
friends and abandon our obligations
but he suggests that we release Ger
many from all promises of indemnities
and reparations.
why not 90 further and propose
that we compensate Germany? That
would be still stronger appeal to
German sentiment"
Senator Hitchcock said that he had
full faith that the treaty would re-
ceive different treatment In the SEN
ate than it has in the foreign relations
committee. I'm the senate he said,
there are few men who favor desert
ing the cause of civilization until the
victory in the field has been rendered
permanent by peace settlement with
ample guarantees. In the senate are
few senators who favor releasing Ger
many from all responsibility for the
war, few senators willing to sacrifice
the material interests of the United
States which this treaty alone can
protect"
In concluding what was without
doubt one Of the ablest speeches that
has been made in the senate for the
ratification of the treaty without
amendment. Senator Hitchcock said ::
II cannot close without a few words
on the league of nations feature of the
treaty, which has been so persistently
and unreasonable attacked in this
chamber. To most of these attacks |
have listened. They have varied some
what, but they all have one character
>istic in common tremendous eX-
aggeratiOn of possible disadvantages
to this country.
'ThoSe who conjure up these pos
sible disadvantages seem to ignore
altogether the enormous advantages
Of organizing the world for peace.
They appear to have lost sight Of the
horrors, evils and dangers Of war
while in the contemplation of possible
disadvantages under the league Of
nations. They make mountains out of
molehills in reviewing difficulties in
the league plan. They are suspicious
! that while it may benefit every other
nation on earth it is so devised as to
bring disaster to the United States.
They crawl upon the ground with a
! microscope searching for pitfalls and
are unable to look forward to the
promised land of peace and order and
justice to which the new movement
leads"