The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-10-21
a WOMAN'S VIEW OF THE
LEAGUE OF NATIONS COVENANT
[By Mrs. r. A. kesrns, wayIand, Mol

I see that many prominent men Of
both political parties are undertaking
to inform the women voters on the
league of nations. This is as it
should be. But instead of advising
us to read the covenant in order not
to be misled by the opponents OF the
league. why not study SO as to be
misled by no one, be he opponent or
supporter? / shall study for knoWl-
edge, for / surely want to know exact
ly where / stand upon this question
before election day.
In the first place, began to study
the subject because / found it inter-
esting; but after the Jackson day din
ner / studied it because ] knew it
would be put into the campaign. |
kept an open mind on the question,
because l was like Mr.. Wilson said
he was. I did not think it political
matter Whenever l read anything
either for or against the league of ma
tons l went right to the covenant.
Now I find that all supporters OF
the league, from Mr. Wilson down,
explain that the fact that England has
six votes to our one does not in the
least endanger us, because the coloni-
al votes are cast only in the assembly
and that the council, where England
has one and the United States one,
lis the controlling body of the league,
and that the provision of unanimous
vote here protects us absolutely. Here
lis an extract from speech by Frank.
lin D. Roosevelt. which is very fair
sample of the explanation.
They tell you that Great Bri-
tain has six votes to our one in
the league, but they dent explain
that the league is run by a coun-
Gil composed of five great powers,
of which we are one if we JOIN the
league, and four smaller powers,
and that in this body, which has
the power to advise what action
the league members should take,
each member has but one vote. 1t
is true that in the assembly, which
is a short of big debating society
in which each nation may lay its
case before the league, England
has one vote, Canada one vote,
Australia one vote, the United
States one vote, and every other
nation, including Haiti and the
republic of San Marine. But it
is the council which determines
the policy of the league, and In
that each member has but one
vote.
It would appear to me that this is
a very weak explanation to give ant
very foolish one to accept, as thu
place of the body IN which vote j!
cast does not determine the power o
the vote, but the matters voted OF
and the rules of voting decide this
II have never heard nor seen Thu
given. so / go to the covenant and il
article four, find:
!, 1. That the assembly selects tn
four movable members OF the couI
Gil
I Q. That with the approval OF
majority of the assembly, the couI
ell may name additional members Q
the league whose representatives shal
always be members of the council.
8. And with like approval may II
crease the number of members of tn
league to be selected by the assembl
for representation on the council
1 So article four proves to me tina
by majority vote in the assembly tn
council may increase its permaneI
membership and admit new member
to the league.
4 Certainly, here a majority vote
important.
/ have read that Mr.. Wilson assure
England that her colonies were elig
BILE to election on the council. ! hav
also read that Mr.. Wilson, Lloy'
George and Premier Clemenceau gay
Canada written statement assurin
her that she and the other Engifs
colonies were eligible to election @
, the council and that General Smut
the Englishman whose draft was TO
lowed more closely than any other
. forming the league, assured Sout
Africa that she was eligible.
, If this is all true, we have gotte
to the place where England can NJ
only get her colonies elected to tn
council, but may make them perm'
nent members with just those so-calle
harmless votes; for while the covel
ant does not say these council men
bers are selected or elected by a mi
jority vote, / think / am reasonabl
safe in concluding that such is tn
case.
Now it is time to see about thu
unanimous vote provided for in tn