Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-04-26
THE WORLD COURT

isn't the most important matter lor
the residents of the United States to
consider. but it is worthy our atten-
ton and support. Discussion Of 1T
1t ought to be temperate and in
formative. 1t is likely to be neither,
for the reason that several noisy
people don't wish it to be. Those
who seek political preferment by con-
demnirg it will declare that 1t is
surrender of our sovereignty, which,
of course is silly, but always some
people like to believe silly statements.
This attitude naturally will be an in
centve to those opposed to eXagger-
ate the Importance of the World
Court.
This Court is already functoning.
a distinguished American. Root, was
among those instrumental in 'estab-
fishing it. A distinguished American
jurist is already a judge in that
Court, though not representative in
the full sense he would be If the
United States wero in membership.
The country in 1920 approved Candi-
date Harding when he declared him.
self in favor of an international
tribune governed by fixed and definite
principles of law, and not in favor of
the League CT Nations.
There has been much discussion
respecting how that court might be
formed and how it's decision might
be enforced. The machinery of the
League of Nations formulated plan
for establishing the Court but no plan
has been formed for putting its de-
crees into effect other than by means
OF public opinion. Most of the promi-
nent nations of the world now have
representation in that Court and have
expressed no apprehension respecting
the method of appointing the judges.
- TO boone one of the eleven judges
Of the court a man must receive a
majority Of the votes in the League
Assembly and in the League Council.
In the former, Great Britain, Eng
land and each of her great dominions,
has six votes, one for each, but in
the Council all nations have like
number of votes. Pertinent objection
was made in this country against
participating in any super-govern-
ment in which Great Britain had six
votes and this country but one. But
a Court which has no force back of
It save that of public opinion and
from the membership of which a
participant may withdraw is not a
super-government, and there is no
good ground so far as we can see for
apprehension from participating
through the medium already pro-
yided. The judges of the Court are
not chosen as diplomats, as arbiters
Of expediency, but as judges of ques-
tons of International law, decided
iy different proposition.
Root, Hughes, Harding, not to men
ton many others distinguished for
their judgment and Americanism, see
no cause for apprehension. but pre-
sumably I.aFollette of Wisconsin and
Reed of Missouri will be uneasy un-
til they door try to make the peo-
pie think they do. There will be tor
rents of words designed to overflow
the boundaries of common sense.
There will be smoke screens with no
enemy in the neighborhood. there will
be effort to hitch it up with member
ship in the League of Nations. which
the present administration will not
tolerate.
The President, of course, foresaw
all this as these words of his address
show:
II would not have it thought that I
hold this question paramount to all
others confronting our Government.
I do not hold it menace to the
unity of any political party. 1t is not
to be classed as party question, but
II any party, repeatedly advocating
world court, is to be rended by a
suggestion of an effort to perform in
accordance with it's pledges, 1t needs
a new appraisal of its assets
The Republican party already has
the best assets in the world if it has
lhe good sense to use them and its
slogan might be something like this:
"NNhat we have done: look it over
carefully and say what you think OF
It," The World Court is but part of
the days work. The President hav-
Ing promised to do what he might to
further international justice. belev-
ing that the American people wish to
do their part, wish 10 assume re-
sponsibilities and obligations right
fully theirs. is keeping the faith. 1t
would seem to be up to the rest of us
to do likewise in as reasonable and
effective q manner