Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1920-10-28


In his desire to becloud the league
of nations issue, to be apparently
for the league as it now stands and
yet to appear favorable to reserva-
tons that will clarity" the coven-
ant, Governor Cox challenged Elihu
Root to correct" an alleged "false"
statement made by Mr.. Root in his
Tuesday address, at New York. When
he challenged Mr.. Root the Ohio
governor forgot with whom he is
dealing
Mr.. Roots reply would cause any
one except an Ohio politician to feel
abashed, to say the least. In words
which, if they were brutally direct
instead of carefully considered, pol
ished and circumspect, would read,
"You don't know what you're talk
ing about" Mr.. Root makes the
meaning of Article X clear to all.
For this we all owe him an express
sion of gratitude. A portion of the
Root telegram to Governor Cox is
worth repeating here. He says:
"There is one statement of your
telegram that does give a definite
idea Of where you stand upon what
Mr.. Wilson declares to be the heart
of the league-the general alliance
of Article X, by which the United
States would undertake to guarantee
as against external aggression the
territory and independence of every
member of the league and to make
that guarantee good by war if nee
essary.
you say in your telegram that
you will accept reservations that
will clearly state to our associates
in the league that congress and con-
gress alone has the right to declare
war and that our constitution sets
up limits in legislation or treaty
making beyond which we cannot go.
THAT, it seems, is what you are
willing to do about Article X. Well,
it as absolutely nothing Everybody
knows already that only congress
has a right to declare war and that
there are limits to legislation and
treaty making power All govern
ments of all civilized nations know
it. You accomplish nothing by tell
ing them of it again.
'The trouble about giving the
guaranty provided in Article X is
that the making Of treaty contain
ing 1t is solemn assurance to all
the nations that it is within the
treaty making power and that the
promise to make war binds congress
as fully as it binds all other mem
bers Of our government to maintain
the plighted faith of the United
States. In all governments the pow
er 10 declare war rests somewhere,
and an agreement to make war is
an agreement that that power shall
be so exercised by the officers in
whom it rests A refusal by con-
gress TO pass the necessary resolu-
tion would simply he a breach of
the treaty.
'The real question is whether we
shall enter into a guaranty under
which the faith of treaties will re-
quire congress to pass a >resolution
declaring war. This is what the
president proposed That is what
your telegram makes it clear you
propose.
Your telegram to me undertakes
TO state your case, and both what
you say and what you refrain from
saying confirm the understanding
expressed in my speech that your
/ position and purpose are to impose
upon the United States the covenant
negotiated at Paris without any rea
change whatever"
The democratic nominee, and hi.
party with him, had determined Il
make the league of nations the rea
issue of the campaign, which they
/ proposed TO wind up with a nation
wide plea to the people to stand b.
the president and Governor Cox
Mr.. Root has taken all smoke out o
those plans. He has demolished TIT
whole false structure of politica
buncombe which Governor Cox s.
laboriously has built up. The whirl
wind wind-up of the democrati
standard-bearer and his follower
promises to be only whirlwind wit
a boomerang appendix.-Grand Rap
ids News.