Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-10-22
ROOT COMES BACK
At COX ON LEAGUE
CALLS GOVERNORS PROPOSAL
ON TREATY ENTIRELY
FUTlLE.
SAYS ARTICLE x BINDS
CONGRESS COMPLETELY
United States Would BE Compelled
to Send Troops Abroad on Demand
Of League and Join in Declaration
Of War-Root Says cox's Stand Is
Indefinite Except In One Particular

4
he had been misrepresented, former
Senator Root telegraphed the demo-
cratic candidate last night that he
remained convinced your position
and purpose are to impose upon the
Unitsd States the covenant negotia-
ted At Paris without any real change
whatever
Analysing the attitude adopted by
the candidate toward reservations to
the league Of nations covenant, Mr.
Root draws the conclusion that Gov
ernor Cox opposes the exemption Of
the United States from the obligation
TO declare war, II war should be rec
commended by the league council. This
II tho obligation which President
Wilson said would be absolutely
compelling"
To refuse to declare war and dis
patch troops. when so advised, would
be breach Of the treaty. says Mr..
Root, and he adds that the Cox po-
sition would leave congress bound
by the solemn pledge of faith Of our
country to pass the resolution for
war no matter what the merits Of the
controversy might be-"
Can't Mistake Wilson's Stand.
4 II have today received your te!e-
gram dated yesterday" Mr.. Roots
telegram says. II would not willing
! " do you injustice and do not think
have. You began your campaign by
an interview with the president ana
authoritative statement that you and
ne wAre In complete accord on the
league OF nations. Z can not be mis-
taken about his position. Turnout the
long struggle In the senate he stead
lastly refused to give his assent to
any reservations which substantially
changed tho covenant as he brought
Il back. He certainly has not
changed, Eis very recent utterances
show TINT.
III you have changed from that
complete accord with him, have not
heard OF It. Such q change is not In
Dictated BY the vague and general ex-
PRECISION Of your telegram saying that
you viii accept reservations that
will clarity, that viii be helpful, that
will neassure the American people
that you would sit down with tho
members Of the senate, that you
would confer with Mr.. Wilson, MT.
Taft, andN myself and all others who
have Q sincere purpose etc.. etc., pc
cause you arc the ono who would de-
termino what was helpful, what
would reassure the American people.
what advice you would follow, and
you are solemnly publicly pledged to
an agreement with Mr.. Wilson con-
corning the covenant he brought back
from Europe.
one Definite Cox Statement.
There II 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 x BY which the United States
would undertake to guarantee rs
against external Aggression the terri
tory and Independence OF every
member Of the league and to make
that guarantee good by war II neces-
sary. You say In your telegram that
I you viii accept reservations that
will clearly state to our associates in
7 the league that congress and
congress alone has the right to de-
clare war and that our constitution
sets up limits in legislation or treaty
making beyond which we can not
co.
THAT, it seems II what you are
willing to do about article x. Well,
III 10 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 govern
ments OF all civilized nations know 1t.
You accomplish nothing by telling
them Of It again.
The Thorn In Article X.
THE trouble about giving the
guarantee provided In article x is
that the making Of the treaty con-
tanning It il solemn assurance to
AL the nations that It Is within the
treaty making power, and that the
promise to make war binds congress
rs fully as 1t binds all other mem
hers OF our government to maintain
the plighted faith Of the United
s,tates. In all governments the
power shall be 80 exercised by the
officers In whom It rests. A refusal
by congress to pass the necessary
resolution would simply be a breach
CT the treaty.
An analogous case Is the power
OF congress to appropriate money.
There Is no other power in our gov
eminent to do that, but, II the United
States makes a treaty agreeing to
pay q billion dollars to another
country, would any one say that the
obligation could be cancelled by a
refusal OF congress to appropriate the
money! Certainly not; the only eff
fact would be that the United
States would have broken faith.
The real question Is whether we
shall enter into q guarantee under
which the faith of treaties will re-
qutre congress to pass a resolution
declaring war. That is what the
president proposed. That is what
your telegram makes clear you pro-
pose.
A Missed Opportunity.
On the same day when you sent
the telegram, according to the press
reports, In meeting at Providence
some one in the audience asked you:
Would You accept the Lodge reser-
vations to the league Of nations?
There was your opportunity. Among
those reservations was one which
said!
2. The United States assumes no
obligation to preserve the territorial
integrity or political independence OF
any other country by the employment
Of it's military or naval forces, etc.,
unless In any particular case the con-
gross, which under the constitution
hai, the sole power to declare war or