Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-01-03
League Women
Voters Oppose
LenrOOt Resolve

new j OTk. jan - j no department
of International Cooperation to Pre-
vent War of the National League of
, Women Voters has sent a letter to
President Coolidge protesting against
Senator Lenroot'S resolution propoS-
ing adhesion of tho United States to
the World Court and calling upon the
President to support the position of
the League in favor of the Harding
resolution with the Hughes reserva-
tions.
The letter calls to the attention of
the President the fact that there are
large numbers of women voters
throughout the country who are los
ing faith in unfulhlled promises and
states Eve are aware that the har-
monizng Of the world is not the re-
sponsiblity of the United states
alone nor will it ever be ain easy task
but it is no ligE. matter for leaders
of any party to Shake the faith of
their honest supporters" 1t, is signed
by Miss Ruth Morgan. chairman Of
this department of the League Of
Gait. Mrs. Willard Straight. Mrs. Cor
don Norrie and Mrs. Whitney Shep-
ardson. 1t reads as follows:
"As an organization. We are pro-
foundly interested in the entry of tho
United States into tho Permanent
, Court of International Justice and tho
support given in your meseagc to
Congress has encouraged us to issue
the following statement:
1.-The Department of International
Cooperation to Prevent War Of the
League of Women Voters. calls the
attention of the members of the
League and the public to the grave
objections to Senator Lcnroots reso-
luton. proposing the adhesion of the
, United States to the World Court.
such Reorganization of the
Court. as the resolution contemplates.
even IL the powers. now members OF
the present Court, accepted II. would
involve incredible delay: but this is
not the most serious objection to the
rcsolut ion. il excludes all the small
or powers. notably Belgium Gf Ger
many adhered). Czecho Slovakia.
Spain ct cetera. from the membership
in Group A which takes the place OF
the Council Of the League Of Nations
in the election Of Judges. Where
there is disagreement these two
bodies in the selection OF Judges. II
throws the election into the hands OF
group OF six. Of which three come
from Group and three from Group
y. This automatically gives dispro-
, portionate power to Group A. which
!
crs. This producing very undemo-
cratic situation and one which Sena-
tor Root was deeply concerned in
avoiding.
, There IL further objection in
the entire elimination OF the optional
clause for compulsory Jurisdiction.
Many people do not understand that
the present Court is without any ju-
risdictior over international Affairs
until after this clause has been ac-
ceptcd except in the specific cases
where all the parties in the dispute
have invited the Court to act. On the
other hand, a nation may accept this
clause with respect TO any other ma
ton or with respect to all other ma
, tions which have signif'ed their ac-
ceptance. II the United States defin-
itely rejects such possible agreements
to affirmative Jurisdiction in advance.
the substitution of law for war will
be indefinitely retarded.
The League of Women Voters
numbers women Of all parties and is
therefore a non-partisan organization.
il is true that the women voters Of
this country may not be very learned
in foreign policies but they have