The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-10-15
LEAGUE BONDS MENACE
HARDING SCORES WILSON
STAND ON TERMS
Cites Grave Dangers Into Which
This Nation Might
Be Led
ASSOCIATED Press Dispatch. ]

emphasizes, his infieXible determine
Kansas City, October 9-Pointing
out the danger of President Wilson's
League Of Nations Senator Harding
addressed an audience here last night
ton TO secure the adherence Of the
United States TO the league precisely
as the covenant is written. We know
from authoritative declarations that
The mind Of the democratic candidate
and that OF the democratic president
are in perfect accord We may as
sumo therefore that the president
speaks lor the candidate and announ-
ces the policy which he will follow If
erected.
IN the presidents statement the
people are told that the election is TO
ne genuine national referendum,
and they ale instruct their own
- ern4..N-I what Lney WISH done.
So far as the league is concerned he
sdys The Question Hnlcn their votes
will answer is: Do they wish the
treaty OF Versailles ra.In.,., ..... =.
Lney-l quote his exact words-"in
particular approve or the League o.
Nations as organized anu empume.tN
in that treaty? Those who oppose
the treaty IN its present fornl-and
there a;e quite a number OF respect
oppose lt-are charged with gross
ignorance and impudent audacIty."
he tells the people that there Is
nothing IN the covenant which in the
least lntertereS with or impairs the
rlgnt OIL congress 10 declare war, Or
not to declare war, according to its
own independent Judgement as the
constitution provides.
OpiigaA.ons Are Binding .-
THE Iallacy OF this position has
been exposed again and again. Ar
ucle 10, III worcs of the utmost pre-
cision, binds us to an obligation which
under certain easily IorseeaDle cir
instances, will require the use Of
armed forces. 1t is true that the con-
sritution invests congress with the
sole power 10 declare war, but If war
shall become necessary In order to
fulfill this or any other treaty provi-
sion, congress aust either declare war
or repudiate the obligation. This OBJ
legation assumed by the signatories
to the covenant is absolute and un-
qualified. Whenever certain specified
circumstances arise, no matter how
much We might regret it, We would
have to keep our promise or sneak
ont of it. Lot NO Une Ue doceivod;
the choice would be between two
things-war or dishonor.
Article 10 is not only the most
dangerous provision in the covenant,
but, in its sinister possibilities, it Is
the most dangerous proposition ever
presented TO the American people.
Let me read'it 10 you-it is very short
and then ask you to follow me in a
brief inquiry as to its meaning. 1t
reads:
( Text OF Terms.
THE high contracting parties un-
dertake TO respect and preserve as
against external aggression the ter
ritorial integrity and existing politi-
cal independence Of all states, mem
bers of the league. In case OF any
such aggression, or in case of any
threat or danger OF such aggression,
the executive council shall advise
upon the means by which the obliga-
| ton shall be fulfilled" .>-..
| If the democratic ticket be elected
! the statement of the president makes
, IT clear that in his. opinion the new
Executive will be bound to insist that
this obligation shall stand as the
solemn pledge of a people who keep
their pledges At whatever extremity
OF cost; for according to the presi-
dent with whom the democratic can
didate' says he is in accord, such re-
suit will constitute an approval OF
the league "as organized and empow-
cred in the treaty" 1t is important
then-nay, it is vital-for us to know
exactly what under, Article 10, we
shall have bound ourselves to do.
AS one of the high contracting parties,
We shall undertake first to respect.
:. the territorial integrity and exist
ing political independence" of the
other members of the league. If this
were all Mr.. Wilson would be quite
correct>i saying that the right of
congress to declare war or not to de-
clare war had not been interfered
with. thus far, we are bound only to
exercise that degree of self control
which will enable us to keep our hands
off our neighbours territory. But un-
fortunately this is not all indeed,
compared with what remains, it is
negligible. We undertake not only to
respect the territorial integrity and
| political independence Of CO. members,
but to preserve them against exter-
nal aggression.
Meaning Is Plain.
I'VE do not need to bring to bear
upon these words any fine processes
of logical analysis. Their meaning
1t so plain that he who runs may read
Inc ODllSatlOn assumed is as free
from ambiguity as a written promise
to pay $50, thirty days after date
To preserve means to defend and
save. When ratified the obligation
becomes that of the nation, not mere
ly the promise OF the president and
the senate or congress. The national
honor will be pledged TO it, as it is
pledged to the performance of every
treaty. America will never counter
ance the cynical doctrine that treaty
! is mere ''scrap of paper" For con
gress to refuse, in case of necessity,
| to carry the obligation into effect
would be gross and shocking betra-
val OF every other member of the
league. Reputation can never take
the place of performance. / am a
plain, average man like most of you,
little skilled in legal and diplomatic
! intricacies, and know no way to keep
a promise Except TO keep it.
Let us take an illustration. Two
ranch neighbors, having adjusted their
respective boundaries, agree to abide
by the adjustment and respect the
possessions Of one another. But liv-
ing in frontier country and subject
to hostile interference from others
they further agree 10 stand by one
another against outside attack. What
would any man of honor think If one
of them in the hour of the others