The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-10-28
MORAL OBLIGATION
 UNDER LEAGUE IS
 DISCUSSED BY COX
Home Folks Turn Out By Thousands When Nominee Champions League In
 Home Communities
By Associated Press


 morally to adopt recommendations
 from the League of Nations was dis lcussed today by Governor Cox during
 demonstrative day spent in his rome communities. including Middleto VII. EOhio. his boyhood home and here to- might in his home city.
 The question of moral obligation was
 asked point blank by man in the democratic presidential candida se's
 audience at Mlddletown. Without giving 'yes" or mo" answer, Gov
 ernor Cox declared that there would
 be no legal obligations upon the United States, but that the presumption Is
 the conscience of the world will de-
 termne some action which will nos lonly be right, but which win be effec- tive" He added that the Monroe Iec- Urine had been maintained without the Hiring of d shot and that he favored a Hitchcock reservation, declaring lCongress should be free 10 accept OF ireJect league advice as to employing American military force
 The governors home folks turned lout by thousands joining n giving l.im lenthusiastic testimonials of welcome. ire made live speeches devoted to lchampi pioning the League of Nations in ms home communities. Many delega- tions from nearby cities were here to- might After two addresses at Mfddle- town, the governor spoke to a womenls laudlence which packed Eagles hall to- lnght; to another audience that cro,yd- led Memorial hall, and to large over- flow meeting outside A red torchlight procession containing numerous bands land thousands of persons in marching lclubs. preceded nights rallies. Of which Fireworks were q feature. In the events the governor was the cen- ter of cheering and surging throngs. 1 REFUSED TO GIVE NAME l Discussion of moral obligations Ln- lder the league was the first during the governors campaigning and vas oroached by a stranger in the gover-
 nor's Middletown audience. It was said
 that the man, who stated that at one time he had taught school, refused to lgive his name.
 He and Governor Cox held lengthy land spirited, but friendly joint debate
 that lasted several minutes regardins
 the moral obligations and several other
 league questions.
 The incident caused the governor to
 relate other circumstances of the canl-
 paign in which he said .'heclSlers < d tother means had been used by Chair4
 man Hays of the republican national
 committee in attempt at embarrass-
 ment.
 Governor Cox also continued hot rs lin all of today's speeches against sen.e jator Harding, reiterating that the sen- ator was "wigglfng and wopblines'
 upon the league issue and trying to Isecure election under false pretensas. .The governor reiterated that great wave of league sentiment was sweep ing the nation
 league obligations followed his state
 ments made in most of his speeches to
 meet contentious that the league would as the governor put it take American boys into every back alley row in Europe"
 When he reiterated the contention ! that Congress only had power to de-
 clare war fin or out of the league. and that the league council was Iin.-
 tied solely to advice. the governors | questioner interjected:
 l The President would advise Con lgress as to the recommendations of
 the council. Would not that morally
 bind Congress2"
 IS NOT BINDING | "Tt is very distinctly stated.,s tbe
 governor replied. "in one of the Hitch | cock reservations that we undertake 1 nothing which binds the United States l tc go to war, because 1t has no power 10 make such an arrangement in view | os the limitation under the constitu-
 ton. This covenant of the league is l based upon the idea that civilization has had a lesson and this covenant is
 simply bet on the morality of the I world. You say to me. How do know
 moral force will be suricient@ I will
 sive you historic precedent. Isn't
 the covenant of the league interaa- 1 tionally. precisely what the Monroe Doctrine is on this continent? What : l L. behind the Monroe Doctrine except l Jur moral force? Have we ever had fe fire shot in 100 years to main
 tain it?'
 l That doesn't answer my question: l the governors qnestioner Interrupted Well. then. I will answer it In an- 1 other way the candidate resumed. "Whst you have in your mind is | this. What will lay upon the consci-
 ence of the world in the face of .
 grave world wide disorder9 '~The presumption is that the cons, science of every nation will deternins some action which will not only bs right but which will be erective- ! Governor Cox then read the Hitch-
 cock eservation, stating that Con- sress would decide when Americanl armed forces should be used. and l asked:
 1 Does that answer it7" ! Will the recommendation of tho council" the governors interroeaspr pressed. bind the Congress morally l 10 follow the councils recommenda- 1 ticn; yes or nor
 Amid cries from the audience oe throw hir out" the governor insist ing that the man be given a hearingl responded
 BET ON WORLD MORALITY Wait pinate. am going to do | this in my own way. If a grave mat
 ter arises We are not legaily bound to do it. You ask it we are morally ! bound. If it is grave matter. we are going to accept message from God Almighty. We are making bet oa the morality of the worldn The governors guestioner replied tbat Article would sign away Amert- can sovereignty and the candidate re- piled: "who signs with us? All the nations that go into the league Then each onel according to admission. signs just a2 much away as the other one signs. and as they are all giving it up wherS does il gos Into the airs ff we sguaa away our sovereignty wouldn't that h4 in conflict with the constitution. The supreme court would stop it as quckl1 as they would stop burgiarv'' Governor Cox then reiterated his state. 7 uent that America had declared tha league constitutional in every respect and asked hs anestioner if he know whsrs his candidate" stood upon the leagual t'te isn't so dvinely inspired '' the gov- ernor's co-debater replied, that he csm