The Delta independent., 1920-10-08
SENATOR THOMAS ON THE
LEAGUE TO HIS DEMOCRATIC
FRIENDS IN COLORADO


bein, Chairman. Gertrude A Lee,
Chairman, G. B. McFall, Secre-
tary, and John H Mitchell. Watt G.
Sheldon, John W. Maloney, W. H.
Gates and A. w Grant. Members OF
the Democratic State Executive
Committee. Denver, Colorado
Gentlemen:
l am in receipt of your resolutions
endorsing the Covenant of the League
of Nations, deploring efforts made by
the opposition to belittle and embar-
rass the President. and requesting
me ito exert every effort to bring
about the immediate ratification OF
the League of Nations without re-
servation or amendment" which 1
have read with due appreciation of
its recitals.
In replying to this resolution.
shall assume, and l hope with your
approval, that it is not partisan. al
though emanating from party COM
mittee. The proportions of the sub
ject are international in their scope
and operation; their stupendous i'm
portance to US, to posterity and to
the world lift it far above the limita-
tions of party organisms. Efforts have
been made to confine it to that mar
row and sordid plane, and many hope
that it may become an issue of the
next national election. l trust not
but if it should become such an issue
popular sentiment will destroy exfs-
ting party lines. and create new pol
nal feiC ,t
bilities of danger to our institutions
and i'll equipped for the formidable
tasks now within the horizon of our
future.
The Covenant of the League of
Nations consists of two of fifteen
parts, and sixty seven of four hundred
negotiated at Versailles on June 2sth
last, between twenty-seven allied and
and forty one articles of the treaty
associated powers. including the
United States and the new Govern
ment of Germany. Three of these
powers were born of the travail of
the war just ended. The operation
Of the covenants of this treaty upon
us will be neither individual nor par
tisan but national. Our attitude to-
ward the treaty should be national al
30. 1t is an old and ! trust a true
saying that we are partisan within
our geographical boundaries and are
Americans beyond them. The truth
of this aphorism now approaches the
supreme test and it will be sad
hour for our country If it does not
survive the ordeal
] am fully aware that some emf
nent Republicans, of whom Senator
Borah is an example, insist that the
Covenant of the League not only
should be. but is in fact party issue
] know too that much of the opposi-
tion to it Is inspired by partisan
motives; and Republicans have no
monopoly of this attitude, for many
Democrats are similarly disposed in
the other direction But the wisdom
of the mass, too obviously resentful
of this tendency. will effectually
check its general acceptance.
Since ! entered public life. I have
affiliated with andrecognized the OBJ
legations of the Democracy, but I
have never for a moment permitted
any party consideration to influence
my Judgment in the exercise of the
treaty making power. and so long as
/ remain in the Senate ! never will
Lest / have Inexperienced the
character of your resolution. how
ever, / must add just here that while
concede the right of your committee
to officially advise me as to all mat
ters of a party nature, | am unable
to acknowledge its extension into
other domains of public duty. Hence
I shall treat yor communication as
embodying the view of eight of my
esteemed friends and fellow citizens
and reply to 1t in similar fashion.
do not know how many Of you
have READ the treaty, nor how IA
miliar you may be with its terms
Several times / have read and pom
dered over its many and complicated
covenants; and my task is still in
complete. Indeed, l have done this
so long and so anxiously that some
of my constituents reproach me will
being unable or unwilling to reacl
definite conclusions thru timidity
vacillation- or some equally ignobl'
Impulse. ana nave Deeh dSeu'h'e'
at all times by the very earnest de
sire to support the treaty by squarini
its provisions If possible with tn
dictates Of duty and of conscience
This task ] have been unable to at
complish.
II the League when establishe
would function as SO confidently al
serted by it's supporters, many G
whom are not familiar VITA us prt
visions, / would accept 1t. I''i. II
does not, and ] fear II viii MT c