The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1920-10-26
ELIHU ROOT REPLIES
TO MESSAGE OF COX
Continues to Cite as Serious Objec.
ton to Position Wilson's Support
of Candidates Stand.

New York, Oct. 21.-Elihu Root
tonight made public the following
telegram to Governor Cox, replying
to his request to correct" an alleg-
ed ssfalse' statement in Mr.. Roots
New York address Tuesday regard
ing the governors position upon the
league of nations:
81 have today received your tele-
gram dated yesterday. would not
willingly do you injustice, and | DO
not think I have. You began your
campaign by an interview with the
president, and an authoritative state
ment that you and he were in COM
plete accord upon the league of ma
tions. can not be mistaken about
his position. Throughout the long
struggle in the senate he steadfastiy
refused to give his assent to any
reservation which substantially
changed the covenant as he brought
it back. He certainly has not chang
ed. His very recent utterances show
that. If you have changed from th"e
complete accord with him, have not
heard of i. Such a change is not IN
dicated by the vague and general ex-
uressiors of your telegram saying
that you will accept reservations that
will clarity, that will be helpful
that will reassure the American peo-
pie, that you would sit ddown with
the members Of the senate, that you
would confer with Mr.. Wilson, Mr..
Taft ard myself, and ell others who
heve a sincere purpose, etc., because
Won are the one who would deter
mine what was helpful, what would
reassurc the American people, what
advice you would follow and you are
solemnly pledged to an agreement
with Mr.. Wilson concerning the cove
nant he brought back from Europe.
Article Ten Again.
"There is one statement Of your
telegram that does give definite
idea of what you stand upon, what
Mr.. Wilson declares to be the heart
of the league-the general alliance
of Article 10, by which the United
States would undertake 70 guarantee
as against external aggression the
territory and independence OF, every
member cf the. league, and to make
that territory and independce OF
every member of the league, and to
make that guarantee good by war II
necessary. You say in your telegram
that you will accept reservations
that will clearly state to your asso-
ciates in he league that congress and
congress alone has the right to de-
clare We and that our constitution
sets up limits in legislation or treaty
making ;,cyond which we can not go.
'Thst, it seems, is what you are
willing to do about Article 10. Well,
it is absolutely nothing. Everybody
knows already that only congress
has a right to declare war, and that
there are limits to legislation and
treaty making power. All govern
ments of all civilized nations know
it. You accomplish nothing by tell
ing them of it again. The trouble
about giving the guarantee provided
in Article 10 is that the making Of d
treaty containing it is a solemn as
su..nce to all the nations that IL IS
within the treaty making power, and
that the promise to make war binds
congress as fully as It binds all 9TH
er men5ers of our government to
maintain the plighted faith Of the
United States. All government S
power to declare war rests some
where, and an agreement to make
war is an agreement that the power
shall be 50 exercised by the officers
in whom il. rests. A refusal by con-
gress to pass the necessary resolution
would simply be q breach of the