Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-03-29
SMITH UpHOLOS
c. 0. P. STAND
ON PEACE PACT
Georgia Senator Pays a
Striking Tribute to Those
Who Stood for America;
People Behind Republicans
Isrre,.l o.spArer 70 MORNING .ouenALl

ESPECIAL olspArea TO MORNING JOURNAL
Washington, March 2S.-When
democrats differ honest republican
reservations proposed for the
league Of nations covenant gel their
dues. Few stronger speeches for
these safeguards of American lib
erty came from either side of the
senate than the upholding given
them by senator Hoke Smith of
Georgia who spoke without parti-
san bias. Some of the tributes to
the foresight of a republican senate
which prompted the offering OF
these guarantees for American
safety paid by this prominent dem
ocrat of the south an acknowl-
edged leading authority on consu-
tutional law, are illuminating.
These were among them:
Il believe a large majority Of the
American people favor the ratifi-
cation of the league covenant with
substantially the reservations that
are now presented small minority
would take it without them a
small minority would reject il alto
gether. The middle ground is
sound.
1.-THE American people are UNI
willing for any council of seven for
eigners to determine for us whether
problem we insist is domestic is
hi fact domestic or International
our reservation provides that the
United States alone shall pass upon
domestic questions and determine
for itself the character of any par
Ocular problem; one of these is i'm.
migration, which the league shall
not touch.
Those who made our constitu-
ton were wise when they provided
that the president should negotiate
treaty with the advice and con-
sent of the senate For the well
fare of our country this advice is
most important
unfortunately in this case the
president was not in touch with the
senate, Unfortunately he did not
have the benefit of the advice the
Constitution offered him, if ii did
mot require him to take. If he had
used it he promptly would have
been told that this language could
not be ratified by the senate Of the
limited States, that the American
people would not stand for ii and
That the senate was committed with
difference to domestic questions
and he would have been advised to
unit it from the treaty.
Il am unwilling for the instru-
1nent to be left in such shape that
one man in Switzerland can COM
init this country in grave and most
Important problems. We Ameri-
,Tanize the league covenant by pro-
Viding that those who represent us
abroad, growing out of this League,
irhan act in compliance with legis-
aation passed by the congress OF the
United States. My plea is not so
much for congress as for the peo-
ple. because congress must con-
saantly respond to the wishes Of the
people.
"Vhat are we undertaking 20
do? We must here decide whether
lwe will obIigate generations un-
horn to furnish their boys and
their money TO intervene practic-
ally in every war that will come
anon the earth. The president
is mistaken when he SAYS ar
ticle 10 is the heart of the league,
There is no heart in it at all TINS
is league pledged to war. The,e
was a heart in the covenant but
they struck it out. 1t is not the
league of nations the president
talked about TO the French acad-
envy; it is war. We are told, SEN
ators, that this league means
peace. Why do we forget history ?
About 100 years ago the great
league of peace of England,
France, Germany, Austria and
Russia was formed, Before ten
years they were fighting each
other; it did not stop war. This
league before us would not be as
powerful as that of 100 years ago.
You will never stop war until you
eradicate human nature from the
human body and the human body
from the human heart. The reser-
walton proposed for article 10 Is
essential or the United States
should never enter the league.
article 10 would bind in chains
the congresses of the future and
require them to send our boys
and spend our resources for the
wars of the world whether the
cause for which they fought was
deemed by them right or wrong.
DO we propose to assume such an
obligation? ! want to warn my as
SOCRATES on this side not TO take
that issue to the American people.
They will never approve 1t. ! have
never known anything politically
except to be member of the
democratic party and I should dis
like to see the crushing defeat
that party would receive if 1t UNI
dertook to carry on in this coun-
try a campaign on the proposition
that we insisted upon assuming all
the obligations of article 10. !
suppose / would have to vote the
ticket as I did for the free coin
age of silver but | should hope
that might not live long enough
to see a heresy enacted into leg
islation."
lseH