Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-10-21
Wins
Approval Of
Republicans
Speaker at r ally
Quotes Taft, Hoover
and McNary as En-
dorsing Pact


tions had been welcomed as thor
oughly practical plan for world
peace and that it's popularity was
universal until reactionary politi-
clans burglarized the issue for par
tisan purposes, Elton Watkins,
recognized league advocate, elo-
quently defended the league at the
Salem armory Wednesday night.
Point by point, Mr.. Watkins dis
cussod the great plan and held his
audience by carefully analyzing
each issue and then clinching his
arguments with extracts from ad-
dresses made by many G. o. p.
leaders in their supper of thei
league. For every statement on the
validity of the various articles, Mr.
Watkins brought forth the endorse
mcnt OF such republican leaders as
William Howard Taft, George W.,
Wickersham and Herbert Hoover. :
McNary Quoted.
Senator Charles H. McNary, a
Salem man, has given his heartiest
endorsement for the league and int
a senatorial address made in JULY
1919, defended the league against
such onslaughts as those made by,
Senators Reed, Borah and Johnson
| will read extracts from this ad-
dress" q
The extracts read are as follows:
Il am stoutly in favor of the
principal embodied in any effort to
insure the permanent peace of the
world, and l am willing to accept
the covenant OF the league of mas
tions contained in the peace treaty;
1t is my sincere belief that the
league of nations is the great est
step the world has ever made to-
ward peace; therefore | shall sup
port the league, as it is he hope of
the world"
The speaker stated that much of
the opposition to the league was
voiced by those who had not care
fully studied the plan. MANY have
not even read the document" he
declared. This opposition is usual
ly sincere but is arrived at by com
pairing surface arguments for and
against the league and not by per-
sonal Investigation of it's merits.
Article X Misquoted.
Article X has been deliberately
rnfsquoted by its opponents. This
article will not force us into war
should we become one of the sigma
tories. We could retire at any time
If cause for dissatisfaction arose.
Nor could we be forced into any
action, as any decision must be
unanimous. This means that it
would make no difference whether
Great Britain was represented by
six or sixty colonial emisaries. In
event of lack of unamity, any pro-
posed action would be blocked"
Monroe Doctrine Safe.
While discussing article 10 Mr..
Watkins again referred to Sent tor
McNary's stand on the plan. He
asserted that Herbert Hoover and
Ex- President Taft had also ex-
pressed views similar to the fol-
lowing quotation from the oregon
senator's address as contained in
the Congressional Record, July
1919: Il am one of those who con-
tend that the Monroe doctrine is
already preserved in the covenant,
but l will say that it will be harm
less to restate it; that it is already
there, but it might find its reward
in comforting some of the tiruid
minds that oppose the covenant"
In conclusion, Mr.. watkins stat
ed that he is willing to debate at
any time, upon the league aud its
| issue.
1T is mighty hard to find oDpo-
nents," asserted the league advo-
cate. "I have issued this challenge
MANY times but have discovered
that when petty partisanship is
sues are discarded, the opposlrior
fades into thin air."