Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1920-10-01
titudes assumed by Senator's Lodge,
Knox, johnson, Brandegec, Borah,

iiaruing, &C.; that their attitudes
were often inconsistent with their
previous statements; that many of
them frankly say in private conver-
sation that tho opposition to the
treaty consisted mostly in "politics"
Ito win the election OF 1920-Pres-
ldentinl ambitions of several Sena-
tors, hatred of Wilson, and offended
Senatorial dignity for not having
been invited to Paris.
1t is fair to add that if the Rcpub-
lican Senators were wholly sincere
we would have expected their findings
to have been sustained by the Demo-
Gratis. But the Republicans scarcely
got any real support from the Demo-
Gratis except from one Senator who
had long-standing personal grudrcs
against President Wilson.
| mention all this not because |
nm intent on proving that the "fnulu"
is wholly with the Senators and not
, with President (who is blamed for
vctoing the Knox resolution "dcclnr-
ing peace" and for asking Senators
to vote against multiplying rcscrvn-
tions as distinct from intcrpretative
ones). My one and only object is to
help remove II great stumbling block
in the way Of the League, the dispo-
sition To accept the Senator's state
mcnts mt face value. The votor who
sincerely and patriotically wants to
do his duty ut the polls should be-
ware. Let him think for himself md
not take his opinions secondhand
from people who have so many uxes
TO grind.
This being said, | shall not waste
time defending MIR. Wilson, because,
in the first place, he is not the cnn-
didntc; because, i'll the second place,
his record speaks FOR itself, md be-
cause, in the third place, believe
there is much truth in some of the
fault which the Republicans find with
him.
Even if the Wilson record were us
bnd AZ il is painted by his worst
enemy, The only part of il which Wit
ally concerns this campaign il the
League of Nations. IL is the League,
not Mr.. Wilson, that is the issue, and
tho Lenguc must stand or fnll on it's
merits, not on our opinion of Mr..
Wilson.
Before the blight of politics Ind
come, the Senate, Aug. 2S. 1918, by
unanimous vote, passed II measure
requesting the President TO take the
lead in such world movement ns
| etC iStNB vi lNuIiOilS. HI v,
| 1919, tho first and tentative draft of
tunity was given to all To subm;
criticisms. William ii. Taft offered
four amendments, Elihu Root nix,
Charles Il. Hughes seven. Most OF
those were Incorporated in the final
draft. Al the White House dinner to
tho Congressional Committees on
Foreign Relations the President spe-
officially asked for "ndvicc." In IL de-
bate between President Lowell and
Senator Lodge in Boston President
Lowell asked Senator Lodge to send
his suggestions to Paris. Mr.. Lodge
refused. He refused To accept even
Mr.. Tnft's proposed compromise, al
though ratification would have been
assured thereby.
Tho Treaty Of Versailles was sub
mittcd by the President to the Scn-
ate July 10, 1919. The first vote cnmc
Nov. 10, when the reservations pro-
posed failed for lack of II two-thirds
majority. The snme wns true March
10, 1920. The resolution terminating
the state of war was vetoed May 27.
IT. took about three times as long
for our dendloclscd Government to do
nothing as it took our Allies to draft
tho whole treaty of $4,000 words.
And the Senators ut first complained
of tho slowness of the peace ncgotin-
tions.
When the Senators bcgnn their dis
cussions the League did not exist.
While they have been discussing it it
has been born. and all other eligible
nations of consequence (thrty seven)
have joined IL.
The League is n Fact.
The League of Nations is no long
er II plan, but IL fact. All, the nations
OF the earth of any consequence, ex-
ccpt Germany, Austria, Ru,Esia, Mex
leo and Turkey are already members
SO far US l know mono of the thirty
seven nations of members of the
League made any reservations, al-
though the League was the subject
of n hatred debate in Switzerland be-
cause of the German cantons. Swift
zcrland joined after IL popular refer
cndum May 16, 1920, resulting in n
vote of 114,830 for and 322,939
against. This result il remarkable
when we consider that the German
Swiss, with encouragement from Ger
many, conducted most active cam
paign against entering the League.
and two-thirds Of the Swiss are Ger
man speaking. French-speaking Vaud
polled G3,284 for and 1890 against,
mixed Freibourg 20,080 for and g.
l01 against. German Zurich 16,280,
for and GG,8S7 against. German
Americans are likewise opposing the
League in this country.
The League is "going concern"
administering the Sarre Valley and
The city of Danzig, conducting pub
lie health campaign to shield the
world from typhus and other di-
seases, and for the elimination of
the opium trade, establishing an in
ternational labor bureau, and already
settling international disputes which
otherwise would have led to war.
especially one between Sweden and
Finland over the Aland Islands. Po-
land has recently submitted TO the
League her case against Lithuania,
It has developed plans in which Elihu
Root participated to organize an In
| ternatiOnnI Court of I,tcf;oo Ui.sz