The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1920-10-20
LEAGUE DEFEAT
WILSON 'SFAULT
ROOT DECLARES
In Only Speech of Campaign He
Says President Killed
COnVenant Himself
EUROPE READY TO CHANGE
Would Not Object to Covenant
Being Altered to
Meet Objections

New York, Oct. 20.--Elihu Root,
in his only address on the league of
nations during the presidential cam
,paign last night, declared that the
treaty of peace with Germany would
haye been ratified and America would
have been a member of the league
if President Wilson had been will
ing"
, "Mr. Wilson, however, was not
willing, He insisted upon the treaty
absolutely unchanged" Mr.. Root
said, adding later on in his speech:
Il do not question Mr. Wilson'S
beliefs that the disposition of the
treaty for which he was contending
on May 81, 1919, were just and fair
but, without disrespect, do question
Mr. Wilson's infallability. | do ques-
tion the complete control Of abstract
justice in the processes by which the
four men who dictated those <trea-
ties, which undertook to make over
eastern Europe, reached their con-
clusiOns.
Extend Plan Indefinitely
81 have an impression that there
was the accommodation Of conflict
ing interests. the giving of something
here to get something there, the
yielding of some things in order to
avoid losing others, the shading d
justice by expediency which has
characterized such conferences since
history began. have a strong i'm
preston that some of their conclu-
sons were mistakes.
"And | think it most Objectionable
that the American people shall enter
into a solemn and positive agreement
to guarantee and maintain by force
of arms for all time, the dispositions
of territory and sovereignty which
these four men made in the year 1913.
"That is a, part OF what Article X
undertakes to do. 1t is an alliance to
enforce perpetually through the opera
tions of The Hague the decisions OF
Mr.aWilson and his associates in the
wear 1919 1t is thrOW-back to the
old discredited alliances of the past,
1T speaks a language Of power. and
rot the spirit of progress. 1t Is an
attempt to do what the holy alliance
sought 100 years ago with just as
noble expressions Of purpose) to I'M
pose by force the judgment OF the
rulers of the present generation up
on all future generatiOns.'
Would Elect Harding
Mr.. Root declared that" we. shall
promote the peace Of the world by
electing Seator Harding, Republican
candidate for, president, whose stand
on the league, he said, was un-
changed from the time he voted FOR
ratification of the peace treaty and
league of nations with the senate
reservations. The election OF cover
nor Cox. Democratic presidential
nominee, he said, meant the effort TO
have the United, States join the
league of nations without change, as
lit was brought back from Europe by
President Wilson.
After "restating the situation OF
the league, Mr.. Root declared that 1t
was we'll understood in 1919 and "is
we'll understood now, that the other
parties to the treaty would have
been content to accept the senate
reservations adding:
}"Several European nations already
have given notice of half dozen
changes in the covenant which theV
propose to urge at meeting of the
assembly of the league next month.
The only reason why changes nee
essarv to meet American objections
have nGt already been considered IS
that Mr.. Wilson simply would not
negotiate for them