The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-01-12

CLARK LAUNCHES
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Once Federal Jurist Spoke
In New York City \
OPENED WITHFLING
Nom Partisan Association For
League of Nations Heard
Eloquent Words
ASSOCIATED Press Dispatch.l


New York, January 10.-The work
that John H. Clarke of Youngstown,
Ohio, set for himself when he re-
signed his seat on the bench of the
United States supreme court, was
formally launched last night when
he delivered the keynote address at
the first meeting OF the Non Parti-
san association for tn League OF Ma
tions.
The jurist, whose resignation on
the grounds that he might so better
serve humanity, was taken-until he
denied it-as the opening of a cam
paign for the democratic nomination
lOr President in 1924, addressed an
intent audience made up in almost
equal parts of democrats and repub-
licans. \
He opened with a fling at political
partisanship which, he declared had
defeated the League Of Nations In
America defeat that he declared
already had proved "a great mis6or-
tune" and that. uncorrected, would
result in permanent disaster to our
country.
1.-The subject never had a fair
hearing in the United States" he
declared 'for as soon as it appear
ed, it became immersed in party
politics with all the misinterpreta-
ton and misrepresentation which
that implies. 1t is the purpose of the
organization for which l am speak
ing tonight to do what it can to lift
this fateful question out of the NOR
ass of party politics and to candidly
submit it to our country, the presi-
dent and senate for consideration
upon its merits.
Recent Electioes
Our recent congressional cleo
| tons" he continued, "are interpret
ed by men of all parties as showing
an unrest-a deep and widespread
political, moral, social and economic
iiscontent-such as has seldom been
seen in our favored land.
There is one thing, however, up
on which we all agree. That is that
after two years of isolation, of hold :
ing aloof while our former allies and
! friends have been sinking deeper
and deeper into poverty and despair,
iAmeri@ is profoundly dissatisfied.
No taunt wounds us so deeply as the
suggestion that in pride of wealth
and material power. our country is
losing, If, indeed it has not lost, its
soul. The conscience of the United
/ 0Idl6S ITOuD1SO WIJllu uS.
Turning from the moral to a more
practical plane, Justice Clarke pic
| tured America as standing on the
brink of the most disastrous of all
wars, and argued that since this was
the case, America could lose moth
ing, and might gain much, by enter
| ing the League.
General Pershing," he said, who
speaks for us the authoritative word
on the subject. is urging our people
to prepare for the next war.
Secretary of the Navy DENLY de-
ciares that we must have a navy
second to none in the world-in pre-
paration for the next war.
Secretary of War Weeks advices
Congress that our army has been
reduced below the safety limit al
ready and that our national safety
in preparation for the next war.
President Commends Congress
''The president of the United
States in his message on December
eighth commends to congress a pro-
posed survey Of a plan for national
defense so that we shall be pre-
pared for a universal cali to armed
defense-in the next war;"
Painting q vivid and terrifying
picture of what science would make
"the next war" he demanded:
eff another war is inevitable with
out the League, why not join the
League? Any refuge, any experiment
even. would be better than to push
blindly, helplessly, stupidity forward
into the hell of another world war"
But the League, he argued. even
without the membership Of the
TInifod Cfofoc had rprnvpn moro
than AN experiment. He declared it
had brought peaceful settlement
-four as promising prospects of war
as the worst enemy of the League
could have wished 10 see provided TO
test its usefulness and power, emu
merating the settlement of the dis
pute between Finland and Sweden
over the Aaland Island; the dis
agreement between Poland and
Lithuania; the dispute between Ger
many and Poland and that between
Jugoslayia and Albania.
Referred To Other Work
He also referred to the Leagues
work in organizing a permanent
court of international justice, devils,
ing q program for the betterment Of
labor conditions and stamping out
the white slave traffic.
He then took up provisions of the
League covenant on which the prin-
cipal objections to Americas en-
Itrance into the League were based.
Only three Of them, he said, were
really worthy of discussion.
Tit first, he said, was in sub
stance, IAN agreement that we will
not go to war against any member
nation until after we, have submitted
our differences to the council or as
sembly for decision',-an obligation
which he thought America should
find no difficulty in assuming, since
she already has treaties with more
than 20 nations, containing provi
sions for delay and investigation.
The second objection, he said, re-
lated to the limitation of armamentS
concerning which he declared that
"the enthusiasm with which the
people and even the senate of the
United States accepted the treaties
for naval limitation a year ago as
sures us that again we are on solid
ground in urging the present admin
istration not to delay entry into the
League on accounts of the response
bidties which this obligation in
wolves"
The Third Objection
AS to the third objection-that
against participation in q world
wide economic and social boycott
upon any covenant breaking mem
ber of the League, he said:
1.-THE statesmen of all nations are