The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-02-23
KEEP TREATY OUT
OF ELECTION" PLEA
OF HERBERT HOOVER

BALTIMORE, Feb. 23-Herbert c.
Hoover, former food .administrato tor, de-
clared today in an address at johns
Hopkins university his opposition TO
making the ratification Of the treaty
with Germany an issue in the presl-
Dental campaign.
He insisted the injection of the ar
guments for and against reservatlons
would "obscure our pressing domestic
issues by conflicting over question
in which the country already has made
I'D it's mind, and adding: ''It is my i'm
preston that there is no party In
this position"
Hope for Immediate ratification of
the treaty rested, he said, in the ac-
ceptance by the "lesser reservation
lists" of the proposals of the mild
reservationists". The two combined,
he said could secure ratification.
"It also appears to u.s." he continu-
cd, that ever from the point of view
of the lesser reservationists' they will
have secured all of the major functions
and values of the league. If 1t be
put into being and if it prove its liv-
ing value in the world, no one can
doubt that any necessary changes Will
be granted to it by common consent
as the years go on. For my part, II
the league cannot prove its value
under the latest proposals of the
mild reservationists' it will never
prove them under the proposals OF
the lesser reservationists'."
Europe Faces Degeneration
The present danger Europe is fac
ing. Mr.. Hoover said, is not so much
a revolutionary cataclysm as the
STEADY degeneration of the standard
of living and the slow decay of the
forces of stability" Restored pro-
ductivity, he insisted, is essential if
the allies are to receive the maximum
repara ton. Until then we shall not
have real peace" he said. 'It will
be delayed as long as we hang the
treaty in the air, for we are part
Of it,
Il do not believe the adherence of
the American people to the league
requires any demonstration" he con-
tinued. 'It has been under discussion
for eight months. 1t has been given
able debate and consideration in its
every complexion. l believe that the
majority of our people are convinced
of the necessity of reservations with
the league. Both parties to the con-
flict appear to concede this. The con-
flicting groups over the character OF
the reservations have gradually aban-
doned their extreme ground and have
come closer and closer to common
mind.
Great Ideas in Accord.
'1t would appear to an outsider
that both sides were in agreement on
all the great major ideas of the league
and the major ideas of reservations,
but that they are in disagreement
mostly over secondary questions IN
the reservations. e.. .-.s.z.-s,
"In the meantime the world is held
in suspense. Infinite misery goes on
accommodating. Forces are set in mo-
ton that may yield new conflicts. Al
ready the distrust and undermining
of confidence and credit in the world
has crippled our export market
Regarding the part the United States
will take in the rehabilitation of Eur
ope, Mr. Hoover counseled modera
ton. I'VE have two extreme views
among our people," he said, upon
the policies we should adopt in all
these matters. One contends that the
ideal is isolation-leave Europe tc
herself; the other contends for at
least moral domination as mission
of international justice. Many OF Us
want neither extreme