Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1920-10-01
(Polltioal AdvcrtlslaG.l }
DEMOCRATIC COLUMN

Tho Democrats OF Bear Lake ceun-
g feel that tho people OF this county
should know exactly where the Dem4
oeratic party stands upon tho League
of Nations issue aud that the people
should bo acquainted with the pro-
yistonB contained tn tho League eave4
nant before Wa enter into a discuss
SION of HIS merits. We have pref
pared and will forward soon TO eacl
elector in the county copy of the
draft OF tho League of Ntions covef
nant" IN order that the people themI
selves may SEQ what II contains and
what Il standa for.
Tho Democratic National platforml
o. ta2O contains tho following ex.l
tract upon the League of Nations
issue;
We advocate ratification OF the
treaty without reservations which
woula impair tta essential integrity:
but do not oppose the acceptance OF
any reservations making clearer or
more specific the obligations Of the
United States 10 the League asso
ciRtes, Only by doing this may we
retrieve the reputation Of this ma
tlon among the nations Of the earth
and recover moral leadership which
President Wilson won and which
republican politicians at washing
ton sacrificed. Only by doing this
may wa hnpo 10 aid effectively In
tho restoration OF order throughout
ha fURF
which we should assume IN tho front
rank Of spiritual commercial and
Industrial advancement.
We reject as utterly vain, II not
vicious, the Republican assumption
that ratification or tho treaty and
membership Ia the league Of ma
ttons would in amy wlao impair the
integrity or independence of our
country Tho fact that tho covenant
haa been entered Into by twenty
nine nations all Jealous of their In
dependence aa wa arc OF ours, Ii
sufficient refutation OF any charge.
Tho president hna repeatedly de-
clared ana this convention rGaf-
firms that all our duties aud ohiign-
tions as a member OF tho league
must be fulfilled In strict conform
| ity with the constitution OF the Uni
ted States, embodied IN which II the
fundamental requirement OF decla-
tory action By the congress before
this nation may become q partlei-
pant In any war"
I'VE believe that tho peace OF the
world will onen more bo in jeopardy
II tho league OF nations IL permitted
TO fall apart because Of our failure
10 enter Il. and fulfill our pledges.
During tho war. we announced re-
peatedly that Wa were fighting "a
war 10 end war" We promised that
when the war was won VS. could sign
the death warrant Of all future vars
10 make and keep the world safe for
democracy, We believe that IN order
to do this there must BE- i general
association Of nations formed under
specific covenants for tho purpose
OF affording 10 great and small ea-
tatea alike: definite plans have been
agreed upon. The league Of nations
In now In operation. THAT this plan
would succeed ali men we're agreed
prior 20 the injection or the question
into politics BY Republican p0liti.
clans. No later than last month
William Howard Taft, ex-president
OF tho United States. said:
Had / been NJ the senate I would
have voted for the league and treaty
az submitted: and advocated its
ratification accordingly. / did not
think and do not think now that any
thing III tho league covenant az sent
70 tho senate would Violate the con-
stitutiun OF the United States Of
would involve ua Ia wars which d.
would not be to tho highest interest
of the world and this country 70
suppress b. universal boycott and IL
need be By military force.
Moreover. believe that the la-
sue Of the league tfanseends IN its
Importance any domestic issues and
would Justify aud require one who
believes 70 70 ignore party ties and
secure this great boon for the world
and this country"
The world has reached d stage Of
progress where tho people are ed
manding that vital international
problems be THOUGHT out, not
FOUGHT out, and the American
people have now 70 choose between
military preparedness for future war
and political preparedness for ~
ture peace. II Ia . question 0f saving
the mothers ~ future generations
from sending their sons to var.