Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1920-09-09
TAFT VS.. B0RAH,
WAY PARKER
PUTS It

Editor Free Press
Who tells the truth about the lea
que of nations, Borah or ex-President
Taftl
Speaking for the league of nations,
Taft has repeatedly said:
"The league was the result of the
demand of those people who had suf-
fered in the war and longed for
permanent peace.
THE peace conference took it up
first and Mr.. Wilson brought it back
to the United States and delivered
1t to the American people. The
senate had been considering it eight
or nine months and continued to
discuss it six or seven months more.
am not eriticizing the time they took
for it is most important subject.
There were many of them who did
not relish any departure from our old
policy of non-interference in Euro
pean affairs still insist, however,
that the world would not have lost
much if the time they took in dis
cussing is had been compressed into
half.
'Some say the league means a SUI
persovereignty to which we must
yield our independence and part of our
sovereignty. differ from them radi-
cally. Government exercises power to
compel obedience. These are not to
be construed or enforced by any
court, and there is sno legal or exc
cutive authority IRE sanction is in
the honor of the nations. The lea
que is constituted on voluntary good
faith, each to determine what per
Torrance is required of it under its
obligations Some say that makes
weak league. That depends on the
spirit of honor and conscientious CO.
operation among the nations. If there
is none, the league will be failure.
If there is, it can be made successful.
"The council recommends, advises
and. proposes plans to the nations-a
sort of clearing house-always on du-
ty, keeping touch with conditions in all |
parts Of the world, warming of
problems that might lead to war and |
plans to met the emergency. |
cit has been said the council is the
super government. 1t exercises no
power We must assume
that words have their ordinary and |
usual meaning-it does not order, di-
rect or command. That is provision
of the meaning of words defining
its function. The whole argument
falls under that strained impossible,
"The general purpose of the league
is to make war as improbable as pos
sible. 1t does this in four ways-by
ornaments; by guarantee
ing to the smaller nations of the lea
que protection against predatory ma
lions seeking to steal their independ
ance or territory; by submitting
differences that might lead to war
70 a tribunal; and by furnishing
nation that violates its obligations by
4 boycott and by open diplomacy.
Z" 1t has been said disarmament would
our arm of defense and lay
ourselves naked to the world. This
S eloquence but not fact. Every
,ther nation would lie naked to us as
we'll. The league would limit defen-
i've armament and prevent offensive.
Cor 100 years we never have had ar
nament adequate to do our police
work. When we enter the league, as
nope we may, nope our llinlI
nay be generous, but we will never
ONE within gunshot of it until we
re in actual war.
- Article X has caused much dis
ussion. 1t is a mutual guarantee by
IL members of the league to pro-
ect the weak members against preda-
DRY nations. It's warning character
will be its most useful function.
''The league of nations is the great
st step forward ever recorded in
he relations of nations. It has n
local and personal color and
avor, due to the condition of cold
ess that exists between the majority
f the senate and the chief magis-
rate. 1 am merely stating his