The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-24

COX T-YAGUE, NOT
ROOT, SAYS HUGHES
Democratic Nominee Offers
No Alternative to Wilson's
Covenant
CONTROVERSY ANALYZED
Great Crowd in New Haven
Cheers Former Justices Ex- .
position of Issues.
CONTROVERSY ANALYzED

Special Despatch to THE NEW YORK HERALD
: NEW HAVEN. Oct 23.---It Is Gov. Cox
and not Elihu Root. who refuses to be
definite about the covenant of the League
OF Nations. Moreover. despite all of
Cox's vagaries OF speech he offers the
country no alternative than the cove
nant as President Wilson fetched it from
Paris-without reservation that means
anything to the American jealous of his
country's sovereignty. Thus spoke
Charles r. Hughes here tonight TO a
crowd that Allied the National Guard
Armory. Senator Harding originally
was scheduled to address the crowd to-
night. Mr.. Hughes was substituted when
it was found that the Senator would be
unable to get here. In part. Mr.. Hughes
said:
There Is still valiant old guard.
which. In spite of a complete demonstra-
ton as to what Article X. means and its
antagonism to our most fundamental
principles. are determined to resist to
the last the assaults Of the cearest rea-
soning. But the more astute advocates
of the position of the Democratic party
are running to cover. They are making
a last effort, not to meet the issue but
TO hide defeat on that issue by attempt
Ing to raise another. They use very
harsh language. charging their oppon-
ents with Justification They say that
Mr.. Wilson did not insist on the agree
mont without change. They also assert
that Mr.. Cox Is willing to accept reser-
vations. I wish to examine this last
stand of the opposition-first, as to Mr..
Wilson's attitude, and, second. as to
that of Mr.. Cox.
what is meant when 1t is said that
Mr.. Wilson did not insist on the cove
nant without change? Is 1t meant sim
ply that Mr.. Wilson was willing to agree
to reservations or Interpretations which
did not AFFECT the substance or true inn
port Of the covenant as he submitted 1t?
II 20. the issue remains precisely the
same. for the Republican party objects
to the covenant in substance as he SUBJ
United It, and especially because that
covenant contained in Article x. pro-
vision vicious in its substance and true
import. Is 1t meant that Mr.. Wilson
was willing to agree to reservations
which eliminated the obligation to be as
sumed by Article x? If so. to use their
own mode Of expression. the assertion
In false. demonstrably false.
Platform II Quoted.
1--WE assume that in discussing the at
ttude OF the candidate we may properly
start with the platform of the Demo-
cratic party. This platform said: We
indorse the Presidents view Of our in
fernational obligations and his firm stand
against reservations designed to cut to
pieces the vital provisions OF the YER
sailles treaty What was meant. by the
vital provisions? Gould they be other
than what the President had termed
vital? Had he not said that Article X.
was the very heart and life of the cove
nantf What Is more vital than the
~ q ND Tr,1A L..
platform intended grossly to deceive the
people. 1t meant to say that the party
Endorsed President Wilson In his firm
stand against any reservation which
would impair the effectiveness of Article
X.
''Then. what Of the candidate? Did he
not say explicitly that he stood upon the
Democratic platform? Is he not now
standing on the Democratic platform?
VIII he now say that he repudates/ the
Democratic platform? How vain II Is
then to say that Mr.. Cox Is running for
President and not Mr.. Wilson, For Mr..
Cox is running as the representative of
his party. which has unequivocally In
dorsed Mr.. Wilson.
This question came up acutely at
once, and to settle II Mr. Cox made the |
pilgrimage to the White House, SO that
there should be no mistake OF the entire |
concord OF the two leaders. After his |
visit to the White House Mr.. Cox said [: |
We are agreed as to the meaning and |
sufhciency of the Democratic platform |
President Wilson announced that he |
found that he and Gov. Cox were 'abso- |
iutely at one with regard to the great |
issue of the League of Nations Did Mr.. |
Cox deceive the President? Or did the |
President yield to Mr.. Cox? Ia Mr. Cox |
appealing to the voters. as a supporter OF |
President Wilson in his attitude regard |
ing Article Y or as his antagonists |
Is Mr.. Cox ready to cut the heart and |
life out of the covenant upon which |
Mr.. Wilson insisted7 Is Mr.. Cox to do |
this thing which Mr.. Wilson said would |
be most discreditable act Of bad |
faith? or course. It is unthinkable.
What Governor Says.
Mr.. Cox says that he favors the |
Hitchcock reservation. as follows: That |
the advice mentioned In Article X. of |
the covenant of the league which the /
Council may give to the member ma
lions as co the employment of their
naval and military forces Is merely ad- |
vice which each member nation Is free |
to accept or reject. according to the |
conscience and Judgment of its then
existing Government, and in the United
States this advice can only be accepted |
by action of the Congress ut the time |
in being, Congress alone, under the Con-
stitution of the United States, having |
the power TO declare war
but this does not properly or ade-
quately meet the case. 1t is more sig
nifcant In what II does not say than
in what II does say. ta
'The President has recently said that |
there Is nothing In the covenant which |
In the least interferes with or lmpairs /
the right of Congress to declare war or
not declare war. according to It's own In
dependent judgment as our Constitution
provides confess that we're this state
ment not over his signature / should