The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-09-04
Roosevelt's Denial ct Control
of League.

Roosevelt. Democratic candidate for
vice president. has denied a. statement
attributed TO him in the course OF
speech IN Butte. Mont IN which he
was quoted as saying that n the United
States went into the league Of nations
1t would control the league by reason
of having some twelve or fourteen votes
to six held by Great Britain The state
ment OF denial was given to the Assoc
ciated Press at Kitteray. Me. some
three weeks after the report OF the
speech in Montana.
The public has been surfsited with
quotations from the Montana speech
BY newspapers that were content to
accept what WAS apparently mis-
statement Of facts on It's face, but seized
upon as conclusive proof that the Uni
ted States would dominate the league.
For our part We prefer to withhold
comment upon a statement SO obvious
ly ridiculous attributed to a candidate
for the important office OF vice-presi-
dent OF the United States
The press dispatches carrying Mr..
Roosevelts Montana speech Indicated
that he had a pocketful Of votes In
the league of nations. Three or four
votes were In his possession at that
time. according TO the report OF the
speech. Secretary Daniels had
batch and Mr.. Roosevelt had left nm
other block In an old suit Of clothes,
or somewhere. The report OF the speech
indicated that he had as many votes
in the league In his pocket as Chi
cago alderman has UP his sleeve, They
were Dis plentiful in his clothes as
dollar Sills in the pockets Of a tin horn
gambler.
Mr.. Roosevelt 10 a sensible man. and
we are satisfied made no such speech,
the newspaper reports and press serv-
ices to the contrary Notwithstanding
We do not believe Mr.. Roosevelt made
one statement In Montana where the
league sentiment Is strong and one In
Maine where It is weak. That would
have been too truly Rooseveltian. On
the other hand, II II was a question Of
standing by something he should not
have said or denying something he
foolishlv said, we believe discretion Ia
the better part Of virtue.
Those who have made 30 much over
the alleged speech of Mr.. Roosevelt
will be COMPOUNDED and confused to
read his subsequent speech In which
he says:
ION my return TO the East l find
that wide publicity has unfortunately
been given an erroneous report Of
speech made by me In Butte, Mont,
nearly three weeks ago in regard to
the votes OF various American republics
In the assembly Of the league of ma
lions. feel certain that the misduo-
tatlon was entirely unintentlonaL II has
been charged that I declared that the
United States would, II member OF
the league. control or have the votes
OF at least twelve West Indian. Cen
trail or South American republics. /
should think II would be obvious that
one who has been so largely In touch
with foreign relations through the
navy department during the past seven
years could not make a deliberate false
statement OF this kind"
Il is impossible to conceive how any
one who processes to believe in the
sanctity OF the league could seize upon
the claim that the United States would
dominate 1t by chicanery TO advocate
II. q document with a high and alto
gether holy purpose. and this, too, In
the face OF the declaration Of Gov.
Cox that he proposes that the United
states shall get out OF the league at
the first indication Of bad faith on
the part OF any nation.
The league Itself affords the best
evidence Of the obligation the sigma
tory powers assume, The United
States, as has been repeatedly said, has
one vote and Great Britain has six
The action Of the council In which the
United States would have voice must
be unanimous to be binding upon the
league. As long as all the nations Ere
IN thorough accord and hearty sym
pathy the league functions smoothly
and satisfactorily. As long as the ma
tions are In full accord and there IL
no conflict OF Interest. there is no need
Of 3 league.
When the powers are striving Tor dii-
fersnt ends and seeking to attain dif-
ferent goals, that Is the time a league
is needed and that is the time that the
league Will fail
Article IL Of the leaEu, provides
that when the council fails 20 reach
a unanimous agreement tho members
81 Is l..
right TO take s4ch action a> the, shall
consider Necessary for the maintenance
OF right and Justice"
Plight and Justice IN the language
OF European diplomacy may mean any
thing or nothing Each nation places
its own construction upon what Is right
ard what * Just
The league Of nations Is a going con.
cer1 today More than thirty ~ The
nations II tie world. great and small.
are members, Poland was among tnc
first 70 sign. There are something
more than twenty wars IN progress In
Europe at this tir0r The league 81
nations has done nothing to stop or
prevent the riot and hloodshed. We
would like 10 see some evidence Of Its
benevolent authority
The advocates Of the league without
reservs lions claim that It only lacks
the mem bership OF the United States
TO attain perfection We do not know
what the United States would be eK-
pccted to do. We assume that the
powers comprising the council are not
in accord. or otherwise there would
be a demonstration Of the compelling
authority II is assumed to possess. II
there Is no unanimity in the council
at present. participation by the United
States would not make unanimous
verdict.