Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1920-08-10

W II
modern science brought new forms o.
destruction in great guns, subma-
rlnes, alrships and poison gases 1t
is no secret that our chemists had
perfected. when the contest came to
preclptate close. glasses so deadly
that whole cities could be wiped ou,,
armies destroyed, and the crews OF
battieships smOthcred. The public
prints are filed with the opinions Of
military men that in future wars the
method, more effective than gases or
bombs. will be the employment of the
germs of disease, c9rrying pestilencp
and destruction. Any nation prepared
under these conditions. as GERMANY
was equipped in 1914, could conquer
the world in year.
League Now Operating.
1t is planned now to make this ira
possible. A definite plan has been
agreed upon. The league of nations
is in operation. A very important
work. under it's control, just COM
pleted, was participated in by the
Hon. Elihu Root, secretary of state
under the Roosevelt administration.
At a meeting of the council of the
league of nations. February IL, an
organizing committee of IL of the
most eminent jurists in the world was
selected. The duty of this group was
todevise a plan for the establishment
OF permanent court of international
Justice, as branch of the league
This assignment has been concluded
by unanimous action. This augurs
well for world progress. The qucs-
tion is whether we shall or shall not
join in this practical and humane
movement. President Wilson, as our
representative at the peace table, en-
tered the league in our name, insofar
as the executive authority permitted.
Senator Harding, as the republican
for the presidency, proposes
in plain words that we remain out
of it. AS the democratic candidate,
l favor going in.
Let us analyze Senator Hardins's
plan of making a German-American
peace, and then calling for new
relationship among nations" ASSUME
Ing for the purpose of argument only,
that the perfidious hand that dealt
with Germany would possess the
power or influence to draw 29 nations
away from plan already at work
and induce them to retrace every step
and make a new beginning. This
would entail our appointing another
commission to assemble with those
selected by the other powers With
the Versailles instrument discarded,
the whole subject of partitions and
divisions of territory on new lines
would be reopened. The difficulties
in this regard, as any fair mind ap-
preciates, would be greater than they
were at the peace session and we
must not attempt to convince our
selves that they did not try the genius,
patience and diplomacy Of statesmen
at that time. History will say that
great as was the allied triumph in war
no less victory was achieved at the
peace table. The republican proposal
means dish0nor, world confusion and
delay. 1t would keep us in perma-
nent company with Germany, Russis,
Turkey and Mexico. 1t would entail,
In the ultimate, more real injury THAI
the war itself. The democratic posi-
tton on the question. as expressed in
the platform, is:
We advocate immediate ratifica-
ton Of the treaty without reserva-
lions which would impair its essen
tial integrity, but do not oppose the
Of any reservation making
clearer or more specific the obliga-
lions Of the United States to the
league associates
The first duty of the new admins
trattOn clearly will be the ratification
II the treaty. The matter should be
approached without thought of the
bitterness of the past. The public
verdict will have been rendered and
Am confident that the friends of world
peace as it will be promoted by the
league, will have in numbers the con
requisite to favorable SEN
hat our platform reference to reser-
rations is vague and indefinite. Its
meaning, in brief, is that we shall
state our Interpretation of the cove
lant as matter of good faith to our
and as precaution against
my misunderstanding in the future
The point is. that after the people
shall have spoken, the league will be
n the hands of it's friends in the sem
lite and a safe index as to what they
will do is supplied by what reserva-
ions they have proposed in the past.
Some months ago, in contributed
article to the New York Times, l ey-
pressed my own opinion of the situa
ion as it then was. l reproduce it
here:
There can be no doubt that some
have been conscientious in
heir desire to clarity the provisions
If the treaty. Two things apparently
nave disturbed them: First, they
to make sure that the league
vas not to be an alliance and that it's
,asic purpose was peace and not con-
,roversy. Second, they wanted the
)ther powers signing the instrument
o understand our constitutional limi-
ations beyond which the treaty-mak-
ng power cannot go. Dealing with
hese two questions in order, it has
always seemed to me that the inter
)retation of the function of the
eague Nigh have been stated in these
words:
In giving it's assent to this treaty
he senate has in mind the fact that
he league of nations which 1t en-
bodies was devised for the sole pur-
pose Of maintaining peace and comfy
among the nations of the earth and
the recurrence of such de
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