Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-10-11
GOV. COX SHOWS
LLHAD HANDIN
WRITING LEAGUE
Every Honest Suggestion Fol
lowed Regardless of
Source.

| TERRE HAUTE, Ind, Oct u.-Gov-
ernor James NJ. Cox, speaking before an
audience in this city, made statement
rgarding the League Of Nations, excerpts
from which follow;
THE time has come in this campaign
when it seems necessary to bring before
the American jurS the recorded evidence
of the fact that the League Of Nations is
the composite thought Of the leading
statesmen Of the world to secure peace
not only, but also that incorporated in it
are all the suggestions that were hon
estly offered by leading United States
citizens to accomplish the same end and
for the further purpose of meeting quer-
uIous objections that might arise in par
tisanship.
when the Great War began in 1914,
LOO or the best human intelligences IL
all the world were applied to the task of
attempting something which would mako
wars in the future practically impossible.
"They recognized that civilization
could not endure another war Ike the
one through which we have just passed.
They labored with a zeal, an enthusiasm
and a devotion to high purpose quite
without precedent.
FINALLY, after months Of conference
and consultation a plan was evolved
I
Paris and there adopted without dis
senting vote.
"Then it was presented to men of all
countries and of all shades of political
opinion
PARTISAN ATTEMPT
TO CLOUD ISSUES.
I'm carrying out the partisan conspir-
acy, attempt has been made to confuse
the issue by assertion frequently re-
d.. FNrrTll1 tFtrr
TO confer with the Senate with reference
to the League Of Nations.
Nothing is farther from the truth.
public attention Is directed to the
fact that VIXEN the President returned
from France in February. 1919, with
the first draft of the covenant Of the
League of Nations, be invited all the
members OF the Senate committee on for
eign relations and all the members OF
the House committee on foreign affairs
to the white House to a dinner for a
formal consultation.
Republicans and Democrats alike were
there. and the President discussed the
proposed covenant then.
But before this meeting, Henry Cabot
Lodge, as this arch conspirator OF the
ages. had uttered his defiance and Is
sued the mandate that peace should not
be if it came as the result OF effort In
which the President had a directing
hand.
"A partisan victory, born in hatred
and discomfort, was his goal, let the cost
to civilization be what 1t might.
ADOPT FOUR OF
TAFT's SUGGESTIONS.
"In sequence few days after the
conference, Senator Lodge produced his
Infamous round-rOhin, signed by thirty
seven Republican Senator's who declared
that the league was not acceptable in the
form presented, but who, under partisan
leadership made no suggestions o: any
kind for its Improvement as a means OF
preserving the peace Of the world.
"In this connection, let 1T be empha-
sized that not one single suggested
amendment, received from any response
BILE source went unheedej; instead. the
majority Of suggestions were requested
by the President to be put into writing.
and were Incorporated in the revised
draft, virtually verbatim.
Former President William Howard
Taft made four amendments and they
were adopted. Charles r. Hughes. for
mer Justice OF the supreme Court OF
the United States offered seven amend
ments and FIVE OF theme were adopted.
Elihu Root, twice member OF the Cabi-
net in succeeding Republican administra-
tions. presented six amendments, and
FIVE of them were adopted.
"Then after the President returned in
July, 1919, with the treaty and the 1nai
draft OF the covenant. he again conferred
with all the members Of the Senate COM
mittee on foreign relations.
1.-THE conference was public In che
sense that official stenographers werN
present and the questions and answers
were given to the newspapers as rapidly
as transcripts could be made.
"At this meeting there developed the
visible evidence that the senatorial ring
Of the reactionary forces had perfected
their partisan conspiracy, that they had
no desire TO understand the covenant,
and that they purposed to becloud ana