The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1920-10-27
LEAGUE or NATIONS
THOROUGHLY PLACED
BEFORE Big CROWD
Judge Kerr's Discussion Of the League
of Nations Tuesday Night Was a
Most Wonderful Address : Miss
Carpenter Pleads With Women

at the big Republican Rally which
was addressed by Charles Kerr, of
Lexington, and Miss Pearl Carpenter,
of Covington. Long before the ap-
pointed hour, every seat in the court
room was filled and all of the avail
able chairs on the third floor were re-
moved to the Circuit Court room and
occupied. Many then stood in the
aisles and in the front of the room.
Judge Charles Kerr, of Lexington,
was introduced by Mr.. Robert A. Coch-
ran and Immediately launched into
discussion of the League of Nations.
The address was one of the most mas
terful political addresses delivered in
Maysville in recent years. The League
of Nations has been made a study by
Judge Kerr, who is considered an au-
thority on the document and whose
notions on the League have been en-
dorsed by some of the greatest think
ers in the nation. Judge Kerr has
written articles on the League for
some of the greatest periodicals in the
country and his statements have been
widely quoted.
League Unconstitutional.
Two reasons were given by the
speaker for his opposition to the
League, The first was that it is un-
constitutional and the second that II
is inexpedient. He at first showed that
the League of Nations was not
treaty but combination Of nations.
Quoting Jefferson, Marshall and
others, Judge Kerr stated that a
| treaty was a contract and that in a
contract everything must be set out
in the writing while in the League Of
Nations little was set out in the Cove
nant and all was left to the Council
and the Assembly. Under their con-
stitutional rights to make treaties,
Judge Kerr said the President and the
Senate had no right to adopt the
League of Nations He also referred
to the well known rule of law that
delegated rights could not be dele
gated to others by the one to whom
those right were first delegated and
said that Congress could not delegate
to the League of Nations rights which
had been delegated to Congress by the
Constitution.
The League itself was taken up by
the speaker and discussed in most
satisfactory manner. Under Article
One the public is led to believe that
the United States could withdraw at
pleasure from the League but Judge
Kerr pointed out that it would be ne
cessary to give two years notice and
then it would be impossible. to with
draw until all of its international OBJ
legations have been fulfilled. The
members Of the League are to deter
mine when the United States has full
filled its international obligations and
in this consideration the United States
will have no, voice.
Unanimous Consent.
| Article Five Of the Covenant has
misled many into believing that no ac'
tion can be taken except by unan.
imous consent, the speaker declared
He then pointed out that the article
began with these words, Except
where otherwise provided" ant
showed that in most every important
provision it was otherwise provided
For amendment, however, 1t is n'eces
sary to have unanimous consent ant
he showed that oDa little nation nigh
stop amendment of the Covenan
should America discover that amend
ment was necessary to protect 1t!
rights.
Judge Kerr called particular atten
tion to: the word "severally" in tn,
agreement of the League members t,
carry out its provisions. He pointet
out the danger of this word to tn
United States and asked the member
Of the audience If they had ever sign
ed note agreeing to "severally pay
which they had not been required t.
pay when the other fellow who ha
signed the note fell down.
HSafe For Democracy"
The speaker said that while tn
purpose Of the League, according t
President Wilson, was to make TO
Universal peace, It was an instrumen
Of force The President had said tn
war was fought to make the worl
safe for democracy" and yet tn
League of Nations made 1t practically
impossible for any oppressed natiol
to gain It's freedom from Its oppressoI
Had the League Of Nations been II
force In 1898, Judge Kerr said, Cub
would not have been free today no
would Porto Rico or the Philippine
as the League guarantees the terri
torial integrity Of the members of thu
League and guarantees against ex
etrnal aggression. This guarante
would prevent any stronger natIoI
coming to the assistance Of the weak
I, or and oppressed nation as did Franc
come TO the aid OF the American Col
onies nnd az dId the UnIted Stafes n