New-York tribune., 1920-10-22
Candidate Has Proved He
Wants Wilson League
Unchanged, Says the
Ex-Secretary of State
Suggestions ggge by
Lodge Approved
Reservation for Congress
to Declare War Is
Gale d Superfluous

Ellhu Root yesterday answered the
open telegram sent to him by Governor
James M. Cox requesting Mr. Root to
correct the statement he made in his
Carnegie Hall speech that Governor
Cox, if elected, would insist upon the
ratification of the League of Nations
treaty Just as President Wilson nego-
tiated it." Mr.. Root addressed a tele-
gram to Governor Cox at Dayton, Ohio.
"Your telegram to me undertakes to
state your case" said Mr.. Root in con-
clusion, "and both what you say and
what you refrain from saying confirm
the unders standing / expressed IN my
speech that your position and purpose
are to impose upon the United States
the covenant negotiated at Paris with
out any real change Whatever"
Mr.. Root declared in his reply that
any change in Governor Cox's attitude
on the league by which he would be
willing to accept reservations was
not indicated by "the vague and gem
eral expressions of your telegram"
Right of Congress Unassailable
He pointed out that the reservation
which Governor Cox says he is willing
to accept in regard to Article so that
it be clearly understood that Congress
and Congress alone has the right to de-
clare war, amounted to nothing No
body denies that Congress has that sole
power Mr.. Root declared. His telegram
in full follows:
II have to-day received your tele-
gram dated yesterday. l would not
willingly do you injustice and | do not
think [ have. You began your cam
raign by an interview with the Presi-
dent and an authoritative statement
tina. you and he were in complete ac-
cora upon the League of Nations.
cannot be mistaken about his position.
Throughout the long struggle Gin the
Senate he steadfastly refused to give
his assent to any reservation which
substantially changed the covenant as
he brought it back.
"Ie certainly has not changed. His
very recent utterances show that. If
You have changed from that complete
accord with him | have not heard of
it. Such change is not indicated by
he vague and general expressions of
your telegram saying that you will
accept re~rvations that will clarity,
that will be helpful, that will reassure
the American people; that you would
sit down with the members of the SEN
ate; that you would confer with Mr..
Wilson, Mr.. Taft and myself, and all
others who have a sincere purpose,
etc, because you are the one who
would determine what was helpful.
what would reassure the American DO
pie, what advice you wolld follow, and
you are solemnly publicly pledged to
an agreement with Mr.. Wilson con-
ternlng the covenant he brought back
from Europe.
Question Of Article X
There Is one statement of your
telegram that does give definite idea
Of where you stand upon what Mr..
Wilson declares to be the heart of the
league-the general alliance of Article
by which the United States would
undertake to guarantee as against ex-
ternal aggression the territory and in
dependence of every member of the
league and to make that guaranty
good by war if necessary. You say in
your telegram that you will accent
our associates in the league that Con-
gress and Congress alone has the right
to declare war and that our Constitu-
ton sets up limits in legislation or
treaty making beyond which we can
not go
THAT, it seems, is what you are
willing to do about Article X. Well,
it is absolutely nothing Everybody
knows already that only Congress has
the right to declare war, and that
there are limits to legislation and
treaty making power. All governments
of all civilized nations know it, You
accomplish nothing by telling them of
it again.
The trouble about giving the guar
anty provided in Article X is that the
making of a treaty containing it is q
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 members of our government
to maintain the plighted faith of the
CONTINUED on pace three)