The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-16
LEAGUE, SAYS BECK,
Is A CRAZY SCHEME
Ambassador Davis's Argu-
ments Riddled Before Cheer
ing Cooper Union Crowd.
POINTS TO WARS NOW ON
".Going Concern Travels So
Fast 1t Soon Will Reach
Invisibility Point"

James NJ Beck fired the answering
debate with Ambassador John w. Davis
on the League of Nations which was ar
ranged by the Board of Education and
concluded In Cooper Union last evening.
He left ten words branded upon the
minds of his audience, and he was APP
plauded vigorously as he indicted the
fabric OF the League OF Nations cove
nant.
"A crazier. madden scheme was never
Matched by responsible statesmen" he
declared near the close Of his address.
and the crowd which had been listening
for more than an hour and half thun-
dered out agreement that could not be
doubted.
Mr.. Beck at the outset challenged the
Ambassadors tribute on Thursday even
ing that the covenant ''breathes the
spirit OF Americanism." and then by
way of rebuttal attacked the major
premises of his opponents argument.
He pointed out also that not once the
previous evening had the covenant or
any modifying reservation been directly
quoted by Ambassador Davis. and he
made the contrast more marked by
himself turning to the text and citing
several articles in the course of his
attack.
IT say that essential Americanism is
independence he said. IF America
does not mean an independent America
its history has been altogether falsified.
I am not contending for isolation, for
that Is an altogether different thing.
That for which / am contending r.
that we should play great and-please
Coda benefcent part, and that 1t
should always he the part we elect to
play as crisis after crisis arises. If
America does not mean that in all Its
history. what does 1t mean?"
Turning to the arguments of disarma-
ment and the abolition of war, Mr.. Beck
disposed of the former by asking what
had been done in the year and half
IS that the league had been going con-
Germ" not only in reduction but in the
prevention Of nine wars and the civil
wars of five nations. which he cited as
In progress.
He agreed that the league was going
concern but he amended it by telling the
audience that lit was going so fast that
in a short time it would reach the point
OF invisibility."
In refutation Of the advantages con-
tended by Ambassador Davis for the
arbitration of justiciable disputes and
the establishment of permanent court.
Mr. Beck pointed out their weakness
compared with compulsory arbitral
agreements which. he said. were in ex-
lstence among most countries. ITO call
advisory opinion n court" he said, is
travesty of words
In closing Mr.. Beck referred TO Wash
ingont's Farewell Address, and said
that "in the last analysis II is a quar-
rel or an issue between George WASH
ington and Woodrow Wilson. Their
Ideas cannot be reconciled. venture
the prediction that when the returns
are read on the second of November
the immortal spirit of George WASH
ingon again will have been indicated"
Herbert L. Bridgman of the Board OF
Regents was presiding officer at the
debate. Mr.. Beck was introduced by
Gen. c. Herbert De Fosse. who spoke
briefly of intimate war experiences In
Europe.