New-York tribune., 1920-08-08
Declares First Act WoulI
Be to Ratify Treaty o.
Versailles; Suggest
2 Minor Reservations
No Mention Made
Of 18Th Amendment
Denounces ''Sanatorial
OligarcIly'' and Stand
Of Opponent on Peace
From q star corresponder.

From StaG Correspondent
DAYTON, Ohio, Aug. Tn the
event Of his election, ratification OF
the Treaty of Versailles would be
the first duty of his administration,
Governor ames M. Cox declared to-
day in accepting the Democratic
nomination for President. Proud Of
the leadership and achievements of
the party in war, he said Democracy
faces unafraid the problems of
peace.
Governor Cox and Franklin D.
Roosevelt, Vice-Presidentia nominee,
headed the parade, which led 10 the
Dayton fair grounds. There they re-
viewed the marchers. The speech of
formal notification was made by Sem
ator Joseph 7. Robinson, of Ar
kansas.
Governor Cox did not include in
his speech the ''insert" which it had
been announced would be read by
him to-day. 1t was said that he had
an announcement to make that ne
wanted to come as a surprise to
everybody, including the newspaper
men, who had advance copies of his
speech. No inkling was given as to
the nature of this undelivered mes
sage
The Ohio executive proposed two res
ervations which he believes will be sat
isfactory to the friends Of the league
in the Senate who will be in the major
ity, he says. after "the people have
spoken
One of these applies to Article K.
which, in the opinion of Senator Hard
ing, the Republican, Presidential nom
inee, takes from Congress and confers
on a foreign council the right to send
Americans to war Governor Coxs
reservation is a reminder that the Com
stitution of the United States cannot
be altered by the treaty-making power.
In the other reservation the Demo
cratic nominee proposes that the CO.
operation of the United States depend
upon the adherence OF the league 10
It's fundamental purpose of maintain
ing peace and comfy among the ma
tions of the earth"
interpretations may be unnecessary.
Governor Cox said, but they will at
least be reassuring to many citizens
who feel that there should be no reser-
vations that are not expressed in plain
words. The Democratic platform, he
said, lays no bar against any additions
that viii be helpful, but stands against
anything that will disturb the VITA,
principle
The formal and effective peace prom
sed in his speech of acceptance bv
Senator Harding, $50 quickly as a Re
publican Congress can pass its declara-
tion for Republican Executive to
sign was denounced by Governor Cox
as designed for separate peace with
Germany infinitely more unworthy on
our part than it was on that of the
Russians.
This plan the Governor said,
would not only be a piece of bungling
diplomacy, but plain, unadulterated dis
honesty as we'll"
Senator Harding's proposal to begin
afresh with an Association Of nations"
would be regarded the Democratic
nominee said, as "arrant madness or
attempted international bossism'
Chides Republican Leaders
Governor Cox chided the Republican
leaders far what he called their in
consistencies, and declared they had
attempted to satisfy too many d.
vergent views because obsessed with a
determination to win the Presidential
election. He quoted a paragraph of
approval Of Senator Harding by Sena-
tor Hiram johnson to show that thew
are one on the question of the league.
and added:
The threatened revolt among lead
ers of the party is averted, but the
minority position as expressed in the
Senate prevails as that of the party. In
short, principle, as avowed in support
OF the Lodge reservations, or of the
so-called mild reservations, has been
surrendered to expediency"
Envlslonlng the next war as a con-
ilct In which the guns and poison gases
of modern science would wipe out Of
existence entire armies and the popu-
lations of cities. Governor Cox said:
1T IS planned now to make this inn
possible. definite plan has been
agreed on. The League of Nations is
IN operation. very important work
under its control, just completed. was
participated in by the Hon. Elihu Root,
Secretary of State under the Roose-
velt Administration"
ihe question confronting the United
States, the Governor said, was whether
we should or should not join this
humane movement" adding:
president Wilson, as our repre-.
sentative at the peace table. entered
the league in our name in so far as the
executive power permitted. Senator
Harding, as the Republican candidate
for the Presidency. proposes in plain
words that We remain out of it. AS the
Democratic candidate favor going
into it."
Governor Cox then proceeded to
analyze Senator Harding's plan of
making what he called a German
American peace" and calling for "a
new relationship among nations" We
should have to appoint another com
mission to assemble with those ap-
pointed by the other powers, ne said.
and with the Versailles instrument dis.
carded the whole subject of partition.
and divisions Of territory on new