Evening journal., 1920-04-14

publican County Committee, OF which
he Is chairman. on Saturday referred
20 his attitude toward the peace treaty
and the Leagus OF Nations. Senator
Ball, who has been county chairman
Tor twenly-six years, announced that
he did not desire recollection as chair
snan. as Senatorial duties are requiring
practically ell his time. After discuss
ing local campaign matters, the Sena-
tor continued:
This is the first opportunity have
had of meeting the committee since
my election as a representative of
Delaware 20 the United States SEN
ate, and take this opportunity to
express my appreciation of that act.
I owe much TO this committee, both
towards my nomination and for your
generous support on election day
hence you are entitled to receive
from me a report of my stewardship.
THE most important matter-th
United States Senate has been called
upon to consider, since my election
20 that body, is the treaty of peace
with Germany together with a
League of Nations. These matters
were so entwined with each other that
they became one psot. ! visited
Washington in March of last year
that | might be present at the ad-
journment OF Congress, and while
there performed my first public act
By signing a statement, that l was
unwilling 10 vote for a League OF
Nations as embodied in the draft that
the President had returned with him
from France. signed this protest
with SO other Senators. My purpose
in signing that paper was two-fold; ;
;irst-that the Allies might know,
while sitting at the peace convention,
that the United States was unwilling
to surrender so much of her soy-
creignty 10 any super body controlled
by European powers, and second
TO emphasize the fact that the United
states Senate had certain response
bilities and duties resting upon It in
the treaty making power.
For this act ! was severely criti-
cised BY some OF our people and a
portion Of our press.
"a general propaganda was start
ed by certain people and organiza-
tiOns 10 bring pressure and compel
the Senate TO accept this League.
Any one daring 10 crit.eise any por-
tion OF this covenant was termed a
traitor to public welfare and unfit for
responsible positions in life. The
country was told this League would
give to the world continued peace;
and as a result of this propaganda a
general wave Of hysteria passed over
the whole country. We were told by
the President OF the United States
that this League must be accepted
without crossing a or dotting an /,
and in New York, Immediately before
sailing again for France, he notified
this country, in q public speech, that
when the League came back to us IL
would be so entwined with the treaty
that the United States Senate must
accept il. That treaty was signed on
the 18th day OF June, 1919, and the
President presented it 10 the Senate
with an address on July 10, 1919, and
as he had promised in the New York
speech, we found the treaty and the
League of Nations was one pact, so
entwined that they could not easily
be separated. The matter was re-
ferred TO the Foreign Relations Com
mittee and was reported 10 the Sem
ate with certain amendments on Sep
tember 10. 1919.
Il shall briefly discuss this League
because il is bound 10 be one OF the
principal issues in the coming cam
paign. The President has so ordered,
and by preventing the necessary two
thirds vote, has forced this issue.
This covenant provides .or two
bodies of control; council and an
assembly. The council is composed
OF nine members, FIVE of whom shall
be the principal allies, and the other
four are to be elected from time to
time from members OF the League. |
The council may deal at its meetings
with any matter within the sphere o.
the action of the League or Affect !
ing the peace OF the world.
"The assembly shall consist of rep
resentatiyes of the members of the |
League, but each member may have |
three representatives but can have !
only one vote The assembly may |
deal at its meetings with any matter |
in the sphere of action OF the League
or effecting the peace of the world
hence the action OF the assembly and |
the council, as described by the |
League, are equal in power. This |
places the control of the world under |
this super body, controlled as It is
by European and Asiatic powers.
"If we join this League. we surren-
der our independence 20 the super |
body controlled by those forces. We
are taught to forget the teachings OF
of Jefferson, OF Monroe,
of Lincoln and of Roosevelt. We be-
come a participant in all European |
affairs and hence a part of all their
wars.
But we are told by the advocates
Of this League that il the United
States will become a member Of that |
body that there will be no more wars
that this covenant will prevent all
future serious troubles. Has human
nature changedS Have nations
ceased to strive for Supremacy Was
there anything in the action OF the
Allies at the peace table TO lead US 10
such a conclusion? Did England re-
fuse to accept the additional territory |
acquired as a result of this WARP Did
France seriously object to having
forced upon her Alsace-Lorraine
Did Japan, very seriously protest
when the economic powers of China
were turned over TO her? Or did |
Italy leave the peace conference be-
cause she would have forced upon (
her Fiume or parts of the Adriatic
coastp / cannot so understand it.
human nature has not
changed. II is just the same as it was
in 1914. The nations have shown the
same greed and avarice that was dis
played previous to the conflict. All
these spoils had been agreed upon
long before the war was fought out.
True, the United States wanted and