Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1920-01-06
Hooper .4le~ander Says
Sen0tOr Harris Sh0uld
Defend Peace Treaty

MANCHESTER, Ga.-An lnNl-,
tation to Senator William ]. Har-
rfs to present the arguments in favor
of the League of Nations to the peo-
pie of Georgia, and an invitation to
Senator Holle Smith to meet him
(the speaker) in public debate OF the
questions involved in the peace
treaty, were delivered here last week
by Hooper Alexander, United States
district attorney zor the northern
district of Georgia, in the course of
an address upholding the covenant
The address was delivered at the
invitation of the parent-teacher asso-
citation of Manchester, and was heard
with interest by a large audience.
Mayor I. H. Davis introduced Mr..
Alexander. There was band con-
cert in connection with the program,
and motion pictures were shown.
1.-THE seriousness of conditions in
voIved in the action of the United
States senate upon the peace treaty, -
said the speaker, makes it import
ant that there be full discussion of
the issues before the people, not in
any partisan fashion, but in a spirit
of the utmost candor, and the peo-
pie should insist on having such dis
cussion and should not permit any
man to appeal to partisan rancor or
old political alignments.
"Those who presume to give coun-
sci on the subject owe it to the peo-
pie to know themselves what facts
and principles are involved, and to
be able to present them with Sim
plicity and candor.
Senator Harris should assume the
duty of presenting the treaty side
of the question, for his position not
only entities him to take the lead
in Georgia in defense of the treaty,
but demands that he assume the
leadership. If, however, for any rea-
son, Senator Harris does not take
up the fight, there are plenty of men
who can and who should be called
on, and if none other will do so,
am ready to do it in the same
spirit that animated me in 1917 and
1918 to canvass Georgia in defense
of the great war measures then be-
ing so bitterly assailed.
Would Discuss Treaty
''When my country went to war l
determined that to the best of my
ability and as long as my strength
and resources held out I would do
my best to see it. through. We have
not yet seen it through. The pres
ident has negotiated the treaty, but
the senate has pigeon-holed it. They
have reviled the president in merci-
less terms, and he is lying there in
Washington today, the physical VIC
tim of a boundless and consuming
zeal for the honor of his country
and the peace of the world, and can
not go on and fight it out in public
speech, but must rely on the peo-
pie to seize the torch he has flung
to them, and for one stand ready
to help him, and 1 believe all the
people of Georgia will do SO.
while as a private citizen would
hardly have the right to invite SEN
ator Smith to discuss the League Of
Nations with me in public debate, I
would be glad to do so if the SEN
ator would feel warranted in meeting
me-
'"rtIa affirm that the treaty, as writ
ten, including the covenant Of the
League of Nations, was wisely and
capably framed, and was as nearly
perfect as was humanity possible
where so many divergent and con-
flicting interests were involved; that
most, if not all, of the criticisms
that have been brought against it
are demonstrably the result Of a
search for defects and dangers, rath-
er than the outcome of an unbiased
examination; that the dangers to
which it is said to expose us are
mere Pigments of the imagination,
without the slightest foundation.
Document American
IT affirm that the document as a
whole follows and incarnates Amer
lean doctrines and traditions, and in
stead of being, as it's enemies declare,
a cunning trap to put us into the
power of world conspiring to over
throw American, ideals and lead us
into our downfall, it is an open ac-
ceptance by the world of American
ideals, and a placing of our coun-
try in position of acknowledged
leadership and conspicuous authority,
and glad consent by mankind to
follow American policies that most
of them would have followed long
ago if they had dared to trust each
other, and rejoice to follow now be-
cause America extends them a help
ing hand and consents to lead them
into the paths Of Righteousness. and
peace.
I'm respect particularly to the
third covenant proposed for the
league, affirm that practically every
requirement in it is consistent with
what we have long ago consented
and bound ourselves to do, and that
it does not bind us to new and I'M
tried policies, but is intended gently
to coerce other and willing nations
to walk with us in the path we have
already chosen
In addition to the high moral con-
slderations involved in our accept
ance of the league, Mr.. Alexander
enumerated various material consfd-
erations that so into the scales in
favor of it, these consisting of re-
neWed commercial relations between
the allied nations and Germany by
their acceptance of the treaty, while
the United States will be left out
side if it fails or refuses to ratifv
How to Heal Leg Sores
A WONDERFUL treatment that
heals leg sores or varicose Ulcers