The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-10-20
ROOT
SAYS WILSON
DELAYS PEACE
Noted Jurist Tells New York
Audience Other Nations
Would Accept Reservations
for League.
HARDING MEANS PEACE

NEW YORK, Oct. 20.-Declaring
that the treaty with Germany would
have been ratified and America would
have been a member of the League oil
Nations If President Wilson had
been willing" Elihu Root delivered his
only address on the league during the
presidential campaign here Tuesday
night
"Mr. Wilson, however, was not will
ing. He insisted upon the treaty alb
solutely unchanged" Mr.. Root said,
adding later on in his speech:
Il do not question Mr.. Wilson's be-
liefs that the disposition of the treaty
for which he was contending on May
81, 1919, were just and fair; but, with
out disrespect, I do quetion MI Viii
sons infallibility: L do question the
complete control of abstract justice in
the processes by which the four men
who dictated these treaties, which un-
dertook to make over Eastern Europe,
reached their conclusions.
Il have an impression that there
was the accommodation of conflicting
of combating, the giving of something
here to get something there; the yield
ing Of some things in order to avoid
losing others. the shading of justice by
expediency which has characterized
such conferences since history began.
have strong impression that some
Of their conclusions were mistakes.
Opposes Territory Guarantee
And think it most objectione BILE
that the American people shall enter
into a solemn and positive agreement
to guarantee and maintain by force of
arms for all times the dispositions of
nd oh, "a
four men made in the year 1919.
THAT is part of what Art. 10 under
takes to do. 1t is an alliance to en-
force perpetually, through the opera
tions of the League of Nations, the de-
cisions of Mr.. Wilson and his asso-
ciates in the year 1919. 1t is a throw
back to the old discredited alliances Of
the past. 1t speaks language of pow
er and not the spirit of progress. 1t is
an attempt to do what the Holy Alli-
ance sought 100 years ago with just
as noble expressions of purpose)--to
/ impose by force the judgment of the
rulers OF the present generation upon
all future generations"
Mr.. Root declared that 1--WE shall
promote the peace of the world by
electing Senator Harding, Republican
candidate for President, whose stand
on the league, he said, was unchanged
from the time he voted for ratification
of the peace treaty and League of Ma
tions with the Senate reservations
The election of Governor Cox, Demo.
cratic presidential nmoinee, he said
meant the effort to have the United
| States join the League of Nations
without change, as it was brought back
from Europe by President Wilson.
Other Nations Willing.
After 'restating the situation" of
| the league, Mr.. Root declared that it
was well understood in 1919 and lis
well understood now that the other
| parties 10 the agreement would have
been content to accept" the senate res
ervations, adding:
Several European nations already
have given notice of half a dozen
| changes in the covenant which they
| propose to urge at 4 meeting of the
assembly of the league next month
| The only reason why the changes nee
essary to meet American objections
have not already been considered is
| that Mr.. Wilson simply would not ne
gotiate for them"
AT the outset of his address, Mr..
| Root said:
Il think a large majority of the
American people earnestly wish Tor
an organization among civilized nd
tions. through which the nations shall
Continued on Page Fourteen)