The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1920-10-21
ROOT APPROVES
WORLD PACT
UNITED STATES. OBJECTIONS
CAN ALL BE MET.

palgn, declared that the treaty OF
peace with Germany would have
been ratified and America would
have been member of the league ii
President Wilson had been willing y
Mr.. Wilson, however, was not
willing. He insisted upon the treaty
absolutely unchanged" Mr.. Root
said, adding later on in his speech
II do not question Mr.. Wilson Is
beliefs that the disposition of the
treaty for which he was contending
on May 81. 1919, were just and fair !;
but. without disrespect, do ques-
tion Mr.. Wilson's infalibility; 1 do
question the complete control of abb
stract justice in the processes by
which the four men who dictated
these treaties which undertook to
make over eastern Europe, reached
their decisions.
81 have m impression that there
was the accommodation of conflict
ing interests, the giving of something
here to get something there; the
yielding of some things in order to
avoid losing others; the shading of
justice by expediency which has char
acterized suck conferences since his
tory began. l have a strong impress
sion, that some of their conferences
were mistakes.
And / think it most objection
able that the American people shall
enter into a solemn and positive
n oroa,nart 40 g,oronta, ,pd v,o;nto |; ~
by force of arms for all time the dis
positions of territory and sovereign
ty which these four men made in the
year 1919.
THAT is what part of what ar
ticle 10 undertakes to do. 1t is an
alliance to enforce perpetually
through the operations of the league
the decisions of Mr.. Wilson and his
associates in the year 1919. 1t Is a
throw-back to the old discredited al
liances of the past. 1t speaks Ian
guage of power and not the spirit of
progress 1t is an attempt to do what
the holy alliance 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 genera
tions."
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 unchang-
ed from the time he voted for ratifi-
cation of the peace treaty and league
of nations with the senate reserva-
tions. The election of Gov. Cox, dem
ocratic presidential nominee, he said,
meant the effort to have the United
States join the league Of nations
without changes as it was brought
back from Europe by President Will
son.
After "restating the situation" OF
the league, Mr.. Root declared that 1t
was we'll understood in 1919 and "is
well understood now. that the other
parties to the treaty would have been
content to accept" the senate reserv-
ations, adding:
Several European nations already
have given notice Of half dozen
changes in the covenant which, they
propose to urge at q meeting of the
assembly of the league next month.
The only reason why the changes
necessary to meet American objec-
tions have not already been consid-
cred is that Mr.. Wilson simply would
not negotiate for them.'
At the outset of his address, Mr..
Root said:
81 think a large majority of the
American people earnestly wish for
an organization among civilized ma
tions, through which the nations
shall cooperate to prevent future
wars and that the United States
shall do her full share in that organ
ization. I certainly desire this very
strongly"
The plan Of the league of nations
relied upon the effect of four things
taken together to prevent war, Mr..
Root asserted:
1. Upon delay to afford time
for investigation and for passions to
cool and sober Judgment to prevail.
20. Upon having the facts ascer-
tanned and determined and made pub
lie to all the world, 80 that the mis-
understandings and deceptions under
which the people Of . country are 80
after led to consent to war may be
obviated.
"s. Upon having fairly repre-
sentative body. not party to the dis
pute, express publicly = responsible
and matured opinion AZ to how the
controversy ought to be settled and
thus bring TO bear upon the action Of
the partieslthe well-informed opinion
OF the civilized world.
Fourth. II any party to the agres
ment were to violate It BY making
var without the stipulated delayi
necessary for arbitration or investi'